Grand master Jimmy for training of tae kwon do in schools

Abhyudaya Kotnala

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 22

To check increasing incidents of rape and crime against women, tae kwon do can become a great offensive medium if children trained in it from an early age in schools. Grand master Jimmy R. Jagtiani, founder of tae kwon do in India, stated this here on Saturday. Jimmy is also the general secretary of the Taekwondo Federation of India. This form of martial art can make women and children capable of protecting themselves and their dear ones against crime.

He shared his views while talking with The Tribune a day before the beginning of the 4th International Tae kwon do Championship here. The grand master said the best age to learn tae kwon do was when a child was around 7-8 years old and his or her body was flexible. With proper training up to the age of 16 a person could become an expert fighter. Jimmy believes that the sport should be made compulsory in schools, not only for physical built but also for mental strength of a child.

Jimmy learned tae kwon do in Vietnam during his college days. He won a silver medal in the international tae kwon do championship at Vietnam in 1969. He was rewarded a title of Tiger and the 2nd Dan Black Belt. Jimmy shifted back to India in 1974 due to Vietnam war. In India he introduced the sport to KD Singh Babu, who was director of sports in Lucknow at that time. Babu allowed Jimmy to give training to a batch of 24 personnel of the police and the Army in the beginning. After that the Taekwondo Federation of India was formed in 1976. At present around 2.5 lakh people are getting training in tae kwon do all over India.