Morocco's national Nambudo delegation achieved a remarkable result at the eighth World Nambudo Championship held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 25 to 27. The team secured a total of 26 medals, consisting of 10 gold, eight silver, and eight bronze medals. This performance highlights Morocco's strong presence in the Japanese martial art, competing against European and Asian schools.
The Moroccan delegation made a strong start to the championship, ending the opening day with 21 medals. They collected eight gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals on the first day of competition. The 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 various European and Asian Nambudo schools.
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. Morocco has a long history in the discipline, having organized its first international Nanbudo training course in 1978 under Nanbu's supervision.
The Moroccan national team has participated in several international Nanbudo competitions, achieving notable results in recent years. At the sixth World Nanbudo Championship in Dehradun, India, in 2018, Morocco finished at the top of the medal table with 12 medals: five gold, five silver, and two bronze. The Moroccan delegation finished ahead of Croatia and India, 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, with over 150 athletes from 17 countries participating in the championship.
The latest 26-medal performance in Istanbul demonstrates that the Moroccan delegation has maintained a strong presence on the international Nanbudo scene. These results provide useful context for the achievement, showing that Moroccan athletes continue to excel in the discipline, with success at international team events, including the 13th Nanbudo Super 8 tournament in Zagreb, Croatia.
Key points
- Morocco's national Nambudo delegation won 26 medals at the eighth World Nambudo Championship in Istanbul.
- The Moroccan team secured 10 gold, eight silver, and eight bronze medals in the competition.
- Morocco has a long history in Nanbudo, with the discipline having been introduced in the country in 1978.
