Wrestling: Shaolin Master’s visit to West Africa is a welcome initiative – Olusesan Olukoya

Secretary General of Pro- Wrestling Africa, Olusesan Olukoya, has described the forthcoming visit of Congolese born Belgium based professional wrestler and martial artist, Nsimba Bafuka, popularly known by his ring name as Shaolin Showman Colorado as a welcome development noting that the visit will help in inspiring wrestlers in the West African sub- region.

He noted that Congolese-born professional wrestler and martial artist who become a pivotal figure in Brussels’ youth community and around the world and will be sharing his experiences to young wrestlers in West Africa during the visit.

Born in Kinshasa, Congo, Bafuka began training at age 11. Over the years, he has earned black belts in judo, karate, and ju‑jitsu, and he became a celebrated professional wrestling performer in packed stadiums in Europe. His ring name honors both his technical mastery and showmanship.

In the 1990s, he served as the national coach for Congo’s wrestling team. He moved to Brussels in 2000, continued coaching, and in 2014 defined his own “Brussels catch” style combining acrobatics and theatrical wrestling rooted in martial arts tradition.

He founded the Brussels Young Wrestling Styles (BYWS) to offer underprivileged youth an inclusive fighting arts environment.
His approach emphasizes discipline, integration, and channelling aggression into the ring rather than on the street. Known affectionately as “tonton” (uncle), he personally mentors roughly 25 youths weekly, some with challenging backgrounds.

He focuses as much on life skills as wrestling technique. He teaches that “fighting belongs in the ring, not on the street.” His style combines judo, ju‑jitsu, karate, and wrestling into what he calls a uniquely Brussels expression of catch wrestling.

Under Bafuka’s leadership as BYWS and Belgian Pro‑Wrestling Federation head, African pro wrestlers from Nigeria have toured Brussels for world‑class training and Pro Wrestling Africa Secretary General Olusesan Olukoya praised Bafuka’s dedication in Belgium; saying that through this timely partnership, African athletes gain exposure to European methods and facilities, helping elevate wrestling across Africa.

Olukoya further explained that On March 15, 2024, Pto – Wrestling Africa, signed a working collaboration agreement in Brussels with the Belgium Pro Wrestling Federation (BPWF) and its wrestling academy, Brussels Young Wrestling Style (BYWS).

The deal according to him, empowers PWA to bring African wrestlers to Belgium for training, championships, and international showcases, offering a pivotal platform for talent development and from July 3 to 14, 2024, three Nigerian pro wrestlers—Eagle De Great (Christian Ugochukwu Obi), Big Joe (John Atula), and Otaka (Samuel Senior), participated in a two-week training camp at BYWS in Brussels which ended with success.

” Under the expert guidance of Shaolin Master Nsimba Bafuka, this was a high-level training experience with top-class European facilities described as “life‑changing” by the trainees.

Shaolin Master will be visiting Nigeria, Benin and Togo from July 17 to 26 July with a seminar on the way forward for African wrestling development that will hold in Lagos on Friday 18 July and a physical training on Saturday morning at the Wrestling Arena of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday and thereafter move to Benin Republic and later Togo to train African wrestlers at elite facilities and expose them to international competition.