SHIDOSHI Wilfred Mashaya continued his impressive international run after winning four gold medals at the 2026 ICO Scottish Open Martial Arts Tournament in Glasgow, Scotland, at the weekend.
Mashaya, popularly known as “Zim Ninja”, dominated all four weaponry categories he entered at Easterhouse Sports Centre, winning gold in Traditional Weapons, Freestyle Weapons, Creative Weapons and Musical Weapons.
The clean sweep underlined the Zimbabwean’s growing reputation as one of the country’s most decorated martial artists and added another chapter to a career built on international competition, coaching and development of the sport at home.
Mashaya’s latest success came less than a year after he won two gold and two silver medals at the 2025 ICO Martial Arts World Championships in Wales.
At the same championships, he coached eight young Zimbabwean athletes, four boys and four girls, who collectively won 43 medals and were crowned world champions.
His four-gold haul in Glasgow also follows his recognition at the Annual National Sports Awards, where he became the first martial artist and member of the uniformed forces to win the ANSA People’s Choice Award, while also receiving the Coach of the Year Silver Award.
Mashaya has built his reputation through competition in several countries, including England, Wales, Russia, India, Poland, Montenegro, Bangladesh, Spain, Italy, Serbia and Portugal.
He is recognised as the first African World Champion in Kobudo weapons and holds black belts in Kobudo, self-defence, Ninjutsu and Kyokushin Karate. He has attained the rank of Shihan and is the founder of Zim Ninja Academy.
His influence has also extended beyond his own competitive career, with athletes trained under his guidance winning more than 200 medals in international and virtual competitions since 2020.
Mashaya has used the Zim Ninja Academy to promote Ninjutsu, Kobudo and self-defence in Zimbabwe, particularly among children and young people.
His work has also carried a strong community-development component. In 2021, he partnered with the Sports and Recreation Commission and the ministry responsible for sport to provide free self-defence lessons to women with disabilities and albinism.
The initiative earned him international humanitarian and self-defence recognition.
Following his latest success, Mashaya paid tribute to Zimbabweans in Scotland and England who supported him during the tournament.
He singled out Fungai Sagwidza for transporting him to the competition venue and supporting him throughout the event, while also acknowledging former Dynamos player Sebastian Mutizirwa, known as Ngonjo, and his wife, as well as John Mhundwa and his family in England.
Mashaya said the support from Zimbabweans abroad made him feel at home and demonstrated the importance of unity among Zimbabweans living outside the country.
He also thanked Thaton Property, Coach Rambo, Allen Badzarigere and members of the Zim Ninja Academy for supporting his international campaign.
The Scottish Open victory further strengthens Mashaya’s standing as a leading ambassador for Zimbabwean martial arts, while his continued success provides a platform for the development of the next generation of local fighters.
For Mashaya, however, the Glasgow triumph represents more than another collection of medals.
It is another step in his long-running effort to put Zimbabwean martial arts on the international map while using the discipline to promote fitness, confidence, self-defence and discipline among young people.
