Video: Kamaru Usman gets crash course in Nigerian martial art Dambe, courtesy of African Warriors FC

Earlier this year, UFC welterweight Kamaru Usman returned to his homeland of Nigeria for the first time since relocating to the U.S. as a child. While he was there, he received an invitation to learn more about a martial art native to the country: Dambe.

An ancient form of kickboxing originally used as a means of practicing military techniques, Dambe sees athletes wrap one hand in cloth and knotted cord. This hand is known as the “spear” and is used for attacking. The opposite hand is left unwrapped and is known as the “shield,” which can be used in defense, as well as to grab the opponent as necessary.

Matches are won when an athlete forces his opponent’s hand or knee to touch the ground – or is able to knock him down entirely. Rounds have no time limit but are instead called to an end when there is a lack of action, and weight classes do not exist.

African Warriors Fighting Championship is committed to showcasing Dambe on a global stage and recently hosted Usman for an event during the UFC champ’s trip to Nigeria. The promotion documented the visit and recently released the video, which you can view above.

To see more Dambe highlights, check out the video below, featuring top knockouts from African Warriors Fighting Championship.

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