The Gambia Martial Arts Federation is organizing its first-ever Martial Arts competition from 28 to 31 December 2011 at the Buffer zone complex in Serrekunda East.
This prime-ever programme will see the manifestation of all forms of martial arts practised in The Gambia, namely Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Kung fu and Ju Jitsu.
The competition, according to the organizers, will be carried out in two phases through which the adults will compete on both The Fighting (Kumite) and Movement demonstration (Kataa), while the kids will only compete in the Movement demonstration (Kataa) based on the international competition rules with each phase having three categories.
Speaking to PointSport, the chairman of the organizing committee, Ebrima Dembo Tamba, said their aim is to bring all martial arts practising clubs and associations under one umbrella to foster unity, understanding and strength to help attain success in all their endeavours as well as attaining splendor in international competitions.
According to Tamba, these types of competitions and programmes are what The Gambia needs if they want to rub shoulders with the outside world in every aspect of martial arts demonstration.
He used the platform to urge parents to allow their children to join the martial arts industry, and plays down the notion that martial art is a venture of violence. “Martial Art is a game of discipline,” Tamba argued. “When you are in a school of martial art, all you are taught of is discipline.”
The martial art organizing committee chairman also urged all martial art practising folks to be part of the first-ever competition announcing that the registration will cost only D150 for adults and D75 for children.
