More calls for Taekwondo to be incorporated into CBE curriculum

Experts say it inculcates discipline, patience and hard work in learners

by BRIAN OTIENO

Coast28 October 2025 - 05:00

In Summary

Taekwondo is a combat sport developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists and is rapidly gaining popularity in Kenya.
The Mombasa County Taekwondo Association has been holding multiple meetings with education officials in Mombasa to push the agenda to the government.

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More schools are pushing for taekwondo to be incorporated into the Curriculum Based Education system.

Taekwondo is a combat sport developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists and is rapidly gaining popularity in Kenya.

Tabbys Little Friends School on Monday joined other stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and Taekwondo coaches, in calling for inclusion of the sport into CBE just as chess has been.

It inculcates discipline, patience and hard work in learners, the stakeholders say, adding that it also promotes fitness, self-defense, especially for girls, and nurtures their talents.

“Taekwondo is one of the sports and at the same it is one of the talents that some leaners have. The government should look into it more keenly so that we do it much better, to keep the learners disciplined and physically fit,” the school director Austin Okuku said.

Speaking during a belt upgrading session for the 60 learners in the school’s Taekwondo Club, Okuku advised parents to encourage their children to join the sport.

“As far as we are concerned in Tabby School, this is the only school in Jomvu sub-county that is always attending the Taekwondo tournaments and the last time we were position four overall.

“Our learners are doing a great job so we would urge learners who have not joined this club to join,” the director said.

Okuku said since chess is already in the CBE curriculum, those engaged in the sport have shown a remarkable level of improvement in their concentration span, focus and intellect.

He noted that once incorporated into the CBE, Taekwondo will have more funding from the government, which will enable learners to gain more skill, knowledge and other benefits that come with the sport because there will be improved facilities.

“I would urge the government to increase funding for Taekwondo activities in the institutions because this is an area where one who is involved in it will gain more experience and discipline in life. It is a worthwhile activity to engage in,” he said.

The Mombasa County Taekwondo Association has been holding multiple meetings with education officials in Mombasa to push the agenda to the government.

Mombasa has over 1,000 Taekwondo players, about half of whom are in schools.

Joseph Makau, the Taekwondo instructor at Tabbys Little Friends School, said Taekwondo at the school is about two years old and has already overseen a change in the attitude of those who participate in it.

The Taekwondo Club at the school has also improved the bond between the teachers at the school, the learners and parents as parents usually attend the training sessions of their children.

This gives them an opportunity to interact with the teachers from whom they learn the progress of their children academically.

Makau said although they are not at the level of play they would want their learners to be, progress is gradual but steady.

“As from next year, watch this space. We, as coaches, believe we have a lot to furnish for our kids.

“From the belt grading that we had today we have been impressed with what we have seen. All this is because of the good relationship between the school staff, parents and learners,” Makau said.

Makau, who is the Mombasa County Taekwondo Association secretary general, called on parents to ensure their children are involved in Taekwondo or any other sport during this long school holiday so as to maintain discipline and avoid being tempted into vices.

“These holidays are long, almost two months. It would be better if parents encouraged their children to join Taekwondo clubs in the estates so that when schools reopen in January they are not at zero,” the secretary general said.

Makau said they are planning holiday activities for the Taekwondo players from the school to help them integrate more into the sport.

He lauded the government for their support of Taekwondo, adding that the World U-21 Taekwondo Championships will be held in Kenya from December 3-6 in Nairobi.

“We will go with our kids to Nairobi so that they can witness how the tournament is. The tournament will have categories from U-12s all through to U-21s.

“This is a good avenue for our players. It is from these championships that they will get experience to participate in the All Africa Games, Olympics and World Cup,” Makua said.

The secretary general said the sport also caters for those abled differently as there is Taekwondo Paralympics.

“The Mombasa County Taekwondo Association is in the process of incorporating those abled differently in Taekwondo,” Makau said.

Stephen Okee, whose daughter Darleen Okee is a Taekwondo player at Tabbys Little Friends School, said since she joined the sport her attitude and mannerism has improved.

“This is what has motivated me to even come and witness the grading tests myself. I have seen a remarkable change in her. She is more focused on the tasks given and her grades are also up,” Okee said.

He said parents should allow their children to join sporting clubs in schools and in estates.

“I have not seen anything negative about this sport so far. We hope to see more of this sport not only here in school but also in other places,” Okee said.