GKP: Eritrea's First Martial Arts System

GKP - Eritrea's first professional combat system

Simohon Giaquinto Tuwoldè is a martial arts expert and the founder who developed a sophisticated Eritrean fighting system called GKP. Launched in early 2011, GKP fuses various traditional and modern Eritrean fighting methods into an all-defense purpose system that can be utilized by both civilian and law enforcement

What separates GKP from other established combat systems is the great emphasis it puts on preventive measures. By extensively teaching his students the psychological aspects of combat, as well as techniques to defuse altercations, GKP aims to promote tolerance and self-control, even during difficult situations.

Based in Cagliari, Italy, GKP features different levels of courses for men and women between the ages of 15-65. It has a minimum duration 60 hours and a maximum of 8 years for mastery. The techniques taught mostly focus on real-life scenario threats and do not require special physical skills from their students.

With the Government of Eritrea recently launching  its "DEAIMS" program, an initiative that envisions to use Eritrean diaspora expertise domestically, this could be a great opportunity for GKP to expand, by teaching local police forces and army divisions a modern, professional and an Eritrean inspired fighting system.

Simohon was born in Genoa, Italy on December 26, 1981 to an Eritrean father and Italian mother. His late father, Alex Giaquinto, was a respected former Eritrean guerrilla fighter during the independence struggle and a master martial arts expert. Since early childhood, he introduced Simohon to a number of fighting techniques, including traditional Eritrean fighting methods that he would later use to develop GKP.

Grandmaster Simohon standing next to his numerous martial arts certificates  

Simohon Giaquinto, the founder of GKP 

Alex Giaquinto (Simohon's father) - 1951-2011 R.I.P.
He was a former Eritrean freedom fighter and a master martial arts expert

Simohon introduces GKP to Eritreans in Asmara
Sponsored Ads