By George Swarei
Budva, Montenegro – Shidoshi Wilfred Mashaya, known as the “Zim Ninja,” arrived in Montenegro last evening to take center stage at the 8th Humanitarian Martial Arts Festival and Seminar. The event, held from September 7-8 in Budva, aims to celebrate martial arts excellence and its positive impact on societies worldwide.
Shihan Mashaya, the reigning Kobudo World Champion, will be honored with a Martial Arts Humanitarian Award in recognition of his vast contributions to the sport and its disciplines, including Bujinkan Ninjutsu, Kyokushin Karate, Kobudo weapons, and self-defense. His award reflects his dedication to using martial arts as a tool for social good.
The festival also serves as a platform to raise awareness about suicide prevention, particularly among young people. By engaging youth in sports activities, organizers aim to teach resilience, coping mechanisms for depression, and strategies to overcome societal challenges.
Mashaya’s credentials are impressive. He won the Kobudo weapons World title in England last year and is preparing to defend his title in October. His achievements include a gold medal in Bangladesh and five medals from a recent competition in England. Moreover, Mashaya is pioneering the introduction of Kobudo in Zimbabwe, training over 30 athletes for international competition. Twenty of his students will represent Zimbabwe at the ICO World Championships in Germany this October.
As the sole representative from Africa at the event, Mashaya joins martial arts Grand Masters and Masters from countries such as the Netherlands, Poland, France, Serbia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and the host country, Montenegro. These experts will share their knowledge and expertise during a training seminar, providing Mashaya with insights to bring back to Zimbabwe.
Grandmaster Dai Shihan Predrag Lazarevic, the festival’s founding organizer, praised Mashaya, stating, “Your performances at the 2018 and 2022 festivals were exceptional. You are an inspiration to youth, always moving forward despite obstacles. Your presence at this festival will contribute to its success and help save as many children and youth as possible.”
Mashaya expressed his excitement about being part of this prestigious event. “I’m honored to receive this award and to help put Zimbabwe on the map, showing that we have what it takes to be recognized by International Grand Masters. It’s a great opportunity to learn from the best and bring back new skills to share with my students and fellow Zimbabweans.”
The event begins with a training seminar featuring various martial arts styles, including Taekwondo, Karate, Ninjutsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Wushu. The gathering offers Mashaya a chance to gain new insights and further contribute to Zimbabwe’s martial arts community.
