Karate · History
History of Karate in Nigeria
From Okinawa to Abuja: how the empty hand found a home in Nigeria.
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The story
How karate grew in Nigeria
Karate has been one of the most populous martial arts sports/games in history which originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom, today’s Okinawa in Japan. The game was organised nationally in Nigeria with the inception of the Karate Federation of Nigeria in 1992, although Nigerian karate clubs were already active before then.
Although the federation is the largest body for the sports in Nigeria, there are also other karate associations and clubs which was established after such as Nigerian Association of Shotokan Karate (NASK) and others.
The game is gradually growing as one of the major and award-winning sports in Nigeria, there are quite a larger number of people who have an interest in the sports. It is among the sporting events featured at international championships, and it was part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Nigeria has participated in many karate championships and has recorded many awards since the history of the game in the country through its governing body - The Karate Federation of Nigeria.
Throughout the history of Karate in Nigeria, it has trained and develops karateka practitioners who have won many laurels for their country in national and international championships, and in 2025 Nigeria hosted the African Karate Championships in Abuja, winning five medals on home soil.
Nigeria has featured in some competitions such as
- 16th African Championships Junior/Senior Karate held in Durban, South Africa.
- 2017 West Africa Cadet and Junior Championships in Benin Republic.
Nigeria’s karate team was able to have won seven medals comprising of two gold, two silver and three bronze at the 16th Union of African Karate Federation Zone 3 Championships in Cotonou Benin Republic.
Checked 30 September 2026
Nigeria at the championships
Nigeria’s karatekas compete in West African zone events, the African Championships and the African Games. The high point so far came at home: in July 2025, Abuja hosted the African Karate Championships and the Nigerian team won five medals, with Oluwaseun Olorunmbe taking silver in the men’s kata.
| Year | Championship | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Undated | 16th UFAK Zone 3 Championships, Cotonou | 7 medals: 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze (our records) |
| 2017 | West Africa Cadet and Junior Championships, Benin Republic | Took part |
| 2024 | African Games, Accra (karate, March 2024) | No medal |
| 2025 | African Championships, Abuja (host) | 5 medals, 1 gold; Olorunmbe kata silver |
Verified timeline · checked 30 September 2026
Karate timeline
- 1800sKarate, then called tode, develops in the Ryukyu Kingdom, today’s Okinawa.
- 1922Gichin Funakoshi demonstrates karate in Tokyo, taking it to mainland Japan.
- 1984Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa is hosted in Nigeria by Shotokan karatekas, in our records.
- 1990The World Shotokan Karate-Do Federation is founded in Japan.
- 1992The Karate Federation of Nigeria is established.
- 2014WSKF Nigeria is inaugurated.
- 2015Karate is shortlisted for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
- 2021Karate makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo.
- 2025Abuja hosts the African Karate Championships; Nigeria wins five medals.
- 2026The National Sports Commission confirms Chukwudi Dimkpa as KFN president.
Checked 30 September 2026
Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games and African Games
Karate has never been on the Commonwealth Games programme. At the African Games, Nigeria’s karatekas have won silver and bronze medals but no gold yet.
| Games | Nigeria’s record |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Games | Never on the programme |
| African Games 2003, Abuja | 2 silver, 2 bronze |
| African Games 2015, Brazzaville | 2 bronze |
| African Games 2019, Rabat | Hope Adele, men’s kumite +84kg bronze |
| African Games 2023, Accra | No medal |
The next African Games are in Cairo, Egypt, from 20 January to 7 February 2027. See the full medal stories on our Commonwealth Games and African Games pages.
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Quick answers
History of Nigerian karate: quick answers
When did karate start in Nigeria?
Karate clubs were active in Nigeria before the Karate Federation of Nigeria was established in 1992; Shotokan karatekas hosted Sensei Kanazawa in 1984, according to our records.
How did Nigeria do at the 2025 African Karate Championships?
As host in Abuja, Nigeria won five medals including one gold, its best showing according to the federation. Egypt topped the medal table.
Has a Nigerian competed in Olympic karate?
No. Karate was only on the Olympic programme once, at Tokyo 2020, and no Nigerian karateka qualified.
Has Nigeria won karate gold at the African Games?
Not yet. Nigeria won 2 silver and 2 bronze in Abuja in 2003, 2 bronze in 2015 and 1 bronze in 2019, and no medal in Accra.