Martial Arts in Ghana
Martial arts became popular in Ghana after the introduction of Chinese movies depicting famous fighters such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Young people were fascinated by the way in which the sport was portrayed in these films and since then a number of martial arts have attracted their attention. Karate, Taekwondo, Judo and Kickboxing have all experienced a boost in participation but it has become apparent that there is a severe shortage of coaches and funding available to maintain this momentum.

The passion and physical skill required for martial arts are not uncommon in Ghana and the international success of Ghanaian born Taekwondo Masters such as Muhktar Kadiri has further cemented the opinion that Ghana can produce some real talent, given the right support and investment. By becoming a martial arts coach in Ghana you can help develop combat sports across the capital and inspire more young people to get involved.

Your Placement
As a volunteer martial arts coach you can choose to specialise in a particular martial art or do a combination of all four! Whatever martial art you choose, be it Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing or Judo, your commitment to developing participation and skill in Ghana can make a huge difference. Many of the children you will be coaching will have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and your sessions give them something positive to focus on and an opportunity to have fun. Whether you’re an experienced coach or an intermediate martial artist, this placement is an ideal way to further your experience through coaching and practising your chosen art in a new country. Coaching the children will typically take place before and after the school day, either as an extra-curricular activity within a school or at a club in Accra.

You may find yourself working with a range of abilities, from complete beginners to experienced black belts, and the main aim is to promote and develop martial arts amongst children, although you may find yourself coaching some novice adults too! More qualified or experienced coaches will have the opportunity to work at a national level and with senior sportsmen/women.

Throughout your time in Ghana your coaching will be supported by the respective governing body and you are encouraged to train and improve your own skills with a local club. This makes your placement a fantastic combination of coaching and training overseas and an experience which you will never forget.

Your Role
Governing bodies for Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing or Judo in Ghana are keen to expand their martial arts and your contribution can help train young and passionate Ghanaian children who want to pursue the sport in Accra. Your training sessions will be focused on introducing the basics of the sport to beginners and improving the skill and technique of those who already practise martial arts. For many of your students, the training sessions you run are their only opportunity to attend an organised activity and the enjoyment they (and you) will gain from training in Accra is invaluable! Depending on the martial art and your own experience you will teach a variety of skills including sparing, patterns, kicking, punching, self defence, fitness, ground work, line work and stretching.

The school children you will be coaching will be aged 9 to 16 and if you get involved in coaching at a club, your students might be anything from 5 to 25. Both of these environments are designed to promote quality coaching and training amongst children and adults who all strive to be the best they can be. You will also have the opportunity to organise local tournaments which are a great way to reward those who have worked hard and assess the development of the children you have been coaching. Alongside your coaching hours you can train with some of the best in the field and work towards your own personal goals – an opportunity which is just too good to miss! You might even want to test yourself by trying one of the other martial arts on offer and finding out how it differs to the one you normally practice (this is also a nice opportunity to find out who has bragging rights for the ‘toughest’ martial art and stimulate a bit of friendly banter!).

Gap Year Martial Arts in Ghana
This martial arts project really is the ideal gap year or career break in Ghana. Not only does coaching and training in martial arts, (Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing or Judo,) during your gap year allow you to volunteer in Ghana, you can enjoy adventurous gap year travel in Ghana while also helping the Ghanaian communities you visit.