FRANCIS CHIPALOwrites
@SunZambia
Martial Arts brings with it a lot of benefits for a woman such as self-defence and it is for this reason that we are encouraging females to join the sport, Zambia Martial Arts Federation (ZAMAF) General Secretary Kennedy Mukuka has said.
And Mukuka has announced that the federation will on 9th March this year host a national competition to select martial artists for the national team.
Mukuka told the Sun in an interview that there was a need from the women folk to have a change of mind-set towards martial arts.
“We have observed that woman have shunned martial arts because of stereotypes. They think it is only about fighting but that is not the case. Martial arts can help build a woman’s self-confidence, promote their health and also self-defence,” Mukuka said
Mukuka said the federation was trying by all means to increase the number of women participation in the sport, adding that that’s the more reason teams taking part in the upcoming competition were being encouraged to include females.
“We are using this competition to choose a national team which will participate at Regional Five championships slated for Namibia in May this year,” he said.
Mukuka further said the competition to be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka will also be used to select outstanding officials who would travel to Namibia with the team.
He said preparations were progressing well with eight associations already confirming participation.
Mukuka named Dento Kan, Shoto Kan, Gindokai, Kyokushin, Ashihara and Koskan as some of the affiliates that had confirmed taking part.
Meanwhile, Mukuka also said that the federation would on 30th March hold a seminar at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka for athletes and officials as part of preparation for the Regional Five tournament.
