Lake I kids get martial arts training
The summer vacation is a time when children get to forget about school and let their imaginations run wild. Today some children from Lake Independence got a real treat from the Taiwanese Embassy which is sponsoring the visit of some martial arts experts. Janelle Chanona who went to the City Centre today got a feel for just how strong little kids can be.
They are the moves that have made shows like the Power Rangers and people like Jackie Chan popular. But while Belize City children used to imitate the moves only for fun, many we spoke to today say they want to learn martial arts to defend themselves from real life predators.
Q: “Why did you decide to come learn this?”
Group of Children
“Because it good. Want to grow up big. When somebody wants to beat you up you could beat up them. Because when a man wants like to rape you or take you or carry you into a car you could beat up them and karate them.”
The need for self defense was not why the National Sports Council and the Embassy of the Republic of China decided to invite a delegation of Kung Fu Masters to demonstrate and perform for Belizeans but Director Evan Garnett says with the recent attacks on children, the training could be useful.
Evan Garnett, Director, Sports Council
“We see the need for, especially with kids, to learn how to defend themselves. And little different tactics on how to just, probably walking down the street and somebody just try get a hold of them they could resist.”
The six Kung Fu Masters say that although they had hoped for a group of older children, they are excited about working with young Belizean children. Since only one of them speaks English, the children are being taught the combinations through hand signals.
Chieng Meng Shih, Head of Delegation
“For youngsters, for kids we use simple tactics of self defense. But for adults, we show them more complicated forms.”
And the children had no problem using the simple tactic of ambush. What they lacked in size, they made up for in number as one delegate and I found out.
If you’d like to see the martial artists for yourself, they are holding a free show tomorrow night at the City Centre. Janelle Chanona for News Five.
After Belize, the delegation moves on to Grenada and Dominica.
