Martial arts gain popularity in Valley

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 27

Various martial arts forms are gaining popularity among the youth in the Kashmir valley. Recently, around 700 players took part in a Tong IL Moo Do Tournament that concluded on Thursday.

The organisers said they had already conducted five nationals of this Korean martial arts in the summer capital since 2012 and holding such events sent out a positive message outside the Valley.

“As many as 1,600 boys and girls from the Valley are learning Tong IL Moo Do – the Korean mix martial arts form, of which 700 participated in the three-day inter-district tournament that concluded at the indoor stadium on Thursday,” said J&K Tong IL Moo Do Association general secretary Arshad Aziz.

“The situation here is better than what is shown in the media. We have been organising such events for the last five years in the Valley. By organising such events, the association is trying to send a positive message that the situation is returning to normal in the Kashmir valley,” he added.

Alongside boys, girls too have started showing keen interest in learning and teaching martial arts. Bisma Riyaz, who had organised a national-level Tong IL Moo Do Tournament here last year, said learning martial art was no longer a taboo for the women anymore.

“Initially, it was hard for me to convince parents to motivate their daughters to learn martial arts. However, they are coming forward in hundreds now. We are also getting due recognition. I became the first women to organise a 7th Sub-Junior National Tong IL Moo Do in May last year,” Riyaz said.