Rabat – Morocco’s national Nambudo delegation finished the eighth edition of the World Nambudo Championship with 26 medals during the competition held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 25 to 27.
The Moroccan delegation secured 10 gold medals, eight silver medals, and eight bronze medals, highlighting the country’s strong presence in the Japanese martial art amid competition from European and Asian schools.
Morocco made a strong start to the championship, ending the opening day with 21 medals. The delegation collected eight gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals on the first day of competition.
The Moroccan athletes added five more medals on the second day, bringing the overall tally to 26 medals by the end of the championship.
The result reflects the efforts of Morocco’s technical and coaching staff in preparing athletes for international competitions. It also highlights the work of the National Nambudo Committee and the Royal Moroccan Judo and Similar Martial Arts Federation, under which the committee operates.
The eighth World Nambudo Championship brought together competitors from different countries, providing Moroccan athletes with an opportunity to test themselves against athletes representing various European and Asian Nambudo schools.
What is Nanbudo?
Nanbudo is a Japanese martial art created in 1978 by Japanese karate master Yoshinao Nanbu. The discipline places a strong emphasis on defensive techniques, particularly evasion, while also incorporating forms of combat, kata, and self-defense.
The discipline has a long history in Morocco. The National Nanbudo Committee says Morocco organized its first international Nanbudo training course in 1978 under the supervision of Yoshinao Nanbu. The Moroccan national team later participated in an international Nanbudo training course in Spain in 1986, before the discipline continued to develop under Morocco’s national sports structures.
Morocco’s previous Nanbudo achievements
Morocco has recorded several notable results in international Nanbudo competitions in recent years.
At the sixth World Nanbudo Championship in Dehradun, India, in 2018, Morocco finished at the top of the medal table after winning 12 medals: five gold, five silver, and two bronze. The Moroccan delegation finished ahead of Croatia and India, with its athletes competing successfully in kata, Ju Randori, kumite, and self-defense.
Morocco also enjoyed a major success at the seventh World Nanbudo Championship in Casablanca in 2025, winning 69 medals, including 18 gold, 22 silver, and 29 bronze. The Moroccan team topped the overall standings ahead of Croatia and Cameroon. More than 150 athletes from 17 countries participated in the championship.
Morocco has also achieved success at international team events. At the 13th Nanbudo Super 8 tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, the Moroccan team won the Best Team in Technique award, while Moroccan athletes also secured gold, silver, and bronze medals in individual events.
These results provide useful context for the latest 26-medal performance in Istanbul, showing that the Moroccan delegation has maintained a strong presence on the international Nanbudo scene.
