The international karate tournament will be held at the indoor sports and entertainment hall of Ecole Notre Dame des Anges in Remera, bringing together children, cadet, juniors, and senior athletes from Rwanda and beyond.
Previously staged in Huye, the championship features both male and female competitors aged six years and above, competing across different age and weight categories.
Young participants will compete in Kata (forms demonstration) and Kumite (sparring) based on age groups, while senior athletes will contest Kumite bouts according to weight divisions, in line with World Karate Federation regulations.
One of the tournament’s distinguishing features is the use of advanced Video Review (VAR) technology in scoring, allowing coaches to challenge refereeing decisions when they believe their athletes were denied deserved points.
The championship is also officiated by international referees and experts drawn from across the African continent.
Dieudonné Mwizerwa, Director of Zanshin Sport Solutions and the tournament organiser, said registration will open in June and run until the end of July 2026.
“This year, all preparations are well in place. We expect top international athletes to participate, and international referees from different African countries will officiate the matches,” he said.
Mwizerwa urged teams to register their athletes early and in large numbers, while also calling on supporters to attend and cheer on the competitors.
He also thanked FERWAKA and Martin Hardware & Twyford Rwanda, the main sponsor of the tournament, for their continued support.
He further encouraged other partners to collaborate with Zanshin in promoting karate development and nurturing young talent.
In the 2025 edition, Flying Eagles Karate Club won the Zanshin Karate Championship for Children, Cadets and Juniors (3rd Edition).
APR Karate-Do claimed the Zanshin Seniors Open Karate Championships (2nd Edition), which brought together senior athletes and was held at Hotel Credo in Huye District.
Participating teams included clubs from Rwanda and Kenya, as well as individual athletes from Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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