Karate guru to equip Dar women with skills

Dar es Salaam. Antonio Maurizio Martina, a retired Karate World Champion who never lost any fight during his heyday, has promised to help Tanzanian women and children acquire defensive skills.

During his playing days, Maurizio had a total of 309 fights of which 227 were won by knock outs, 54 were won by default, and the rest normal fights. He never lost a single fight in his life. Thus, he is regarded by many as a living karate legend.

The Italian, now the World UPAM Karate Federation president, is currently in the country to conduct courses.

He says his decision to impart karate skills on women and children stems from the fact that they are always vulnerable to violence and harassment.

In an interview with Sports Extra at the weekend, Maurizio said violence against women is a crime against humanity.

Physical, sexual and psychological abuses are an affront to the dignity and intrinsic worth of every individual.

Rape, trafficking of women and girls, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation are human rights abuses that occur too frequently, in too many communities.

“After visiting some countries in Africa, I realised that the problem has been always hindering the development of women and their families as well.”

Where women are violently abused, whole families are held back from fulfilling their potential spiritually, socially or economically.

Women, who are physically injured or traumatised have less energy to study, educate or nourish their children, carry out income generating activities, farming, carrying water or other

Household and community tasks. Violence ultimately affects the contribution of women to the development of a nation.

“And because I have something which can help them to live comfortably I decided to offer them a special program” he said

In the beginning he started a new project which is known as stop violence against women and children. He targeted to teach women, children and albino how they can use their body structure in self-defence.

“The trick has been helping many people, because it can create self-confidence and discipline among them. So after visiting many places in the country I realised that, there is a need of introducing something like that” he said

He said though the expenses of training karate are very high, he decided to offer the course for free. Because he believes that this will be the only way for many people to come and learn.

“I know Tanzanian women are depending on their families. And have so many obligations, in doing so I decided to give them a free cause the self-defence which I know is a big help for them” he said.

In Tanzania there are many cases of violence against women including wife battery, rape, sexual harassment, and sexual corruption also killings of old women under the pretext of witchcraft.

Though government, women organisations and other development agencies have been mobilizing society on different campaigns of stopping violence against these vulnerable groups, still the situation is not good.

According to different researches done by different agencies, men are the main source of the violence.

“Let me take this opportunity to call these men to stop violence against the vulnerable groups” he said

“The one who uses violence against a woman is a monster” he insisted

Talking about how he intends to do in his Stop violence Against Women and Children programme, Maurizio said at the beginning he started by teaching trainers who will be deployed in all countries to reach the women especially to the region with many victims.

“We started in Arusha then here in Dar es Salaam, I think for the love of God we will reach as many places as possible,” he insisted.

He said after completing phase one, they will make procedures of reaching girls and children in primary and secondary schools.

The idea of following these small children will help them to grow with skills of knowing how they can defend themselves.

“If the project is well implemented, violence against these groups will decrease in Tanzania. That is my target” he insisted

But in order to fulfill all of this, we need the support of the government, society.