Top Karate Stars Hosting Special Martial Arts Forum

Combat sports has become a way for people to express themselves. With information available anywhere, there is always something to learn. The Sharjah International Forum for Martial Sports is looking to be a part of that experience.

The webinar began on Tuesday, June 2, and will continue as a series of four. Twice a week, some of the top athletes from around the world will share their knowledge of karate, judo, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu. It will be organized by Sharjah Club for Self-Defense Sports under the guidance of the Sharjah Sports Council.

“This is a unique situation for sport in general, and we’ve got to find a platform to stay relevant and in touch with the possible challenges that are lying ahead. In addition, we have so many other challenges that our fighters are going through at this moment, and a discussion on this can only help everyone,” CEO of SSD Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Owais, who is also the chief organizer of the webinar, stated to Gulf News.

Athletes involved in the forum include Stanislav Horuna and Steve Da Costa. The Ukrainian Horuna, 31, won a gold medal in the 2017 World Games for the Kumite 75kg. The karateka has also won five medals during the European Championships. When he is not competing, Horuna is a lawyer. France’s Da Costa won gold in the 2018 World Championships for France. The 23-year-old is also a gold medalist in the World Games in 2017 and has won the European Championships. Da Costa is expected to compete in the Olympics under the -67kg Kumite category.

Also joining the panel will be the UAE’s only ranked karateka in Ahmad Salim Al Baslaib, as well as Kuwait’s Salman Abdullah Al Musaiwi and Mohammad Abdullah Al Musaiwi.

With the coronavirus affecting how athletes train as well as how we interact with people, Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Owais made it a point to discuss the good this could do.

“With martial artists everywhere taking their classes to online formats, we took this opportunity to help inspire with words of wisdom and at home techniques from some of the top practitioners around the world,” he went on to say, via Gulf Today. “The goal of setting up the forum is to develop culture and sports knowledge among players and coaches.”

Several athletes from all aspects of combat sports, whether it be MMA, boxing, karate, or judo, have managed to help those isolating by hosting web seminars.