Editor's note: Kung fu has been gaining popularity in East Africa's Kenya, serving as a bridge for cultural exchanges. This page takes a closer look at two Kenyans with deep connections to kung fu as well as tournaments showcasing kung fu skills in the country.

 

Ngaruiya Njonge gives instructions to students during a kung fu class at Kiambu Community Hall in Kiambu County, near Kenya's capital Nairobi, on April 23. XIE SONGXIN/CHINA DAILY

 

Two Kenyans chart different paths to popularize Chinese martial arts among children, youth
 

While kung fu is fast becoming popular in Kenya, it has been a tough journey for both Ngaruiya Njonge and Charles Otieno, who have faced odds to hone their skills and are promoting the martial art form in a big way.
 

They are optimistic it will be embraced across the country and that one day Kenya will have a "Shaolin Temple".

Otieno trains in traditional Shaolin kung fu, while Njonge focuses on modern kung fu.
 

While traditional kung fu focuses on theory and application of self-defense, contemporary kung fu focuses on performance.

Unlike Njonge who has depended on YouTube to sharpen his skills, Otieno received training at the Shaolin Temple in Central China's Henan province for five years.
 

However, he has no certificate to prove but for his skills. Hence, it has been an uphill task for him to secure a job in private schools.
 

A kung fu teacher who recently saw Otieno train at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, said his kung fu level was above average. "He has trained in a traditional way and you can see (the results)," he said.

Born in Kenya's Siaya County and brought up in Kariobangi in northeastern Nairobi, Otieno was so passionate about kung fu that he gave up studies to pursue martial arts. His father fully supported him.

He met Master Feng Junjie, who was running a business in Nairobi, and also trained him. It was not long before Otieno's training at the Shaolin Temple was sponsored by his father.

In 2005, at the age of 14 — a year after he joined the kung fu program at the temple — his father died. Soon, he lost his mother.

Jiu Wang, a master in the Shaolin Temple, became his guardian. However, Jiu died of depression-related sickness in 2008 after losing his wife and daughter in an accident.

"I was heartbroken," Otieno said. "I had nowhere to go."

With no other option but to leave China, Otieno went to Tanzania, where he received kung fu training for a few years and then left for Zambia, where he worked for three years.

He was asked to teach kung fu to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a role he performed for some time.

He returned to Kenya last year. "I'm depressed. I hope that one day I will be recognized as a kung fu master because I have spent all my life on it," he said.

Njonge, on the other hand, was recommended by the county government of Kiambu, enabling him to get a job in private schools.

However, it has not been a smooth journey.

Born and brought up in the Kangoya village in Kiambu County, Njonge started training in kung fu after a teacher in a nearby primary school, who was trained in China, introduced martial arts to the villagers.

"Initially, I was practicing karate, but kung fu seemed more interesting," he said.

 

A trainer leads students in kung fu training at Kiambu Community Hall in Kiambu County, Kenya, on April 23. XIE SONGXIN/CHINA DAILY

 

Njonge trained for five years, after which he quit his job with a transportation company, and engaged himself in training children from the age of 4 in kung fu.

His two daughters, then aged 6 and 4, were his first students. After some time, this number rose to 100. He charged $7 per child per month.

Another challenge was finding a venue for the training. He moved from one place to another until he got space at the Kiambu Community Hall.

At first, his wife opposed his decision of leaving his job and engaging in kung fu training because it meant grappling with financial problems. With time, she developed interest in the martial art form, and has been one of the key planners during the tournaments organized by Njonge.

He now trains at least 40 children on Saturdays and Sundays at the Kiambu Community Hall. He trains some youth for free, to prevent them from getting addicted to alcohol.

Njonge is now the chairman of the Kenya Kung Fu Wushu Federation, an umbrella body of eight kung fu clubs located in Nairobi and Kiambu. All the teachers at these clubs are his former students.

In partnership with Kiambu County, Njonge has established kung fu clubs in 23 public primary schools in the county, where he trains about 4,000 pupils for free. He plans to increase the number to 10,000 in the next five years.

The federation holds tournaments sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Kenya during school holidays, while the county sponsors the winners who take part in competitions outside the country.

"We participated in competitions in Rwanda. This year, we have been invited to compete in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Njonge said.

"Kung fu boosts children's self-confidence and concentration. They also learn self-defense skills."

Kung fu has many health benefits even for adults, including mental and emotional stability, enhanced strength and flexibility, and conditioning of the entire body, he added.

"The human body can heal itself without medicines through exercising. After I started training in kung fu, I have never been to the hospital, nor have my children or my wife."

Children with asthma have been healed through kung fu at his club, Njonge said, urging people, especially the elderly, to learn kung fu and improve their fitness.

Sometimes, he faces serious financial challenges, but he says his wife and children have been supportive.

"I'm not looking at financial gains. I am confident that if I help one child, I would have helped the whole community," he said, adding that he was considering venturing into films to overcome financial challenges.

Although Njonge's dream of joining the police force did not materialize, he is happy that his training has helped some police officers.
 

Children demonstrate kung fu poses in Kiambu County, Kenya, on Saturday. WANG GUANSEN/XINHUA

"Some security officers that I trained were sent by the (Kenyan) government to Somalia. They (officers) admitted later that the tactics they learned helped save their lives.

"If kung fu training is implemented on a national scale, we can have a strong security force, disciplined people in the community, and would have fewer health challenges."

Njonge is looking forward to establishing a kung fu school similar to the Shaolin Temple, a development he said would allow them to hold international competitions. The school will also act as a tourist attraction, he added.

The Chinese embassy in Kenya is willing to help in the construction once he gets the land, he said.

Njonge called on the governments of China and Kenya to consider sponsoring Kenyan kung fu teachers for training in China.

Wang Shangxue, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, said kung fu has been well accepted by young people in Kenya. The kung fu club at the Confucius Institute has attracted many students, he said.

The Confucius Institute is planning to invite some experts from China to conduct a kung fu workshop for Kenyans, Wang added.

"Currently we are not issuing certificates to kung fu coaches. But if there is more demand, we will bring more experts and try to standardize the certification system."