African Goju Nigeria Celebrates Triple Milestone at International Martial Arts Gathering

By Ed Malik, A | ed@ddnewsonline.com | posted 16th August, 2025

African Goju Nigeria recently joined the global African Goju and South American Goju community in a historic quadruple celebration, marking 50 years of the Martial Arts Institute, 40 years of African Goju, 40 years of African Goju Nigeria and 39 years of South American Goju.

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The event, which also doubled as the 3rd Annual African Goju Martial Arts Award Ceremony, was held on June 2, 2025, at Bedas Hotel, Accra, Ghana. It was attended by numerous foundation members of the Martial Arts Institute, including the Chief Instructor of African Goju Nigeria Great Warrior/Grandmaster Ohio-Michael Elakhe, students from African Goju Ghana, journalists and members of the public.

Nigeria made history at the ceremony when, for the first time in the annals of the Martial Arts Institute, African Goju and South American Goju, beginner-level students clinched one of the most prestigious awards. The trio of RaeShawn, Roland, and Pearl Richard-Okon of African Goju Nigeria (Gbagada 1 Club) won the George Herward-Mills Kata of the Year Award 2024.

Their winning performance combined the White Belt Zagores 11-Movements, Yellow Belt Breathing Kata and Blocking System and Orange Belt Golden Swan Kata, which they executed seamlessly in a single flow while blindfolded and in perfect synchronization. This marked the first-time beginners have won the award and also, the first multi-kata synchronized performance to take the top prize

During the event, Prof. Gwira also conferred Honorary Awards on four distinguished Nigerian martial artists comprised of Grandmaster George Ashiru (Taekwondo), Grandmaster Emmanuel Ikpeme (Taekwondo), Shihan Micklem Emechete (Shotokan Karate) and Grandmaster Mykel Eneduwa (Kickboxing).

These recognitions follow a precedent set in the 2nd Annual African Goju Martial Arts Award Ceremony, where one of the fathers of Nigerian martial arts, Dr. Jack E. Mbom, was honored.

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Prof. Gwira noted that the awards were conferred on the recipients in recognition of their significant contributions to the growth of their respective martial arts systems, their unwavering support for the sustenance of martial arts in Nigeria and their cordial relationship with African Goju.

The ‘Martial Artist of the Year 2024’ award was presented to Grandmaster Oscar Corales Hervoso, Chief Instructor of South American Goju, Bolivia. In addition, Amarlai Armar, Herbie Ankrah and Bridgette Jofre were inducted into the prestigious ‘Ken Gwira Hall of Fame’.

As has become a hallmark of these celebrations, the event featured an energetic display of the famous Goju Dance performed to Prof. Gwira’s song ‘Dance-the-Goju-Dance’ by young students from African Goju, Ghana.

The grand highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a commemorative recognition plaque from the African Goju and South American Goju family worldwide to Prof. Danny Gwira, personally handed over by Great Warrior/Grandmaster Ken Gwira.

The Martial Arts Institute, the foundation for African Goju, was established in Accra, Ghana, in 1975 by the young Danny Gwira, who initially trained enthusiasts in Taekwondo before transitioning to Shotokan Karate. His martial arts journey took a decisive turn after meeting Prof. Ron Van Clief, which inspired him to adopt Chinese Goju and infuse it with his own Africa-centric fighting philosophy.

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By 1985, the young Danny Gwira had fully developed his unique martial arts style, which he named African Goju. Later that year, he brought the system to Nigeria, officially introducing it to the public in Lagos, marking Nigeria as African Goju’s launchpad nation.

As part of efforts to deepen the revolution of Goju survival systems across Africa, the 2026 edition of the African Goju Awards is scheduled to be held in Lagos, Nigeria.