Kicking drugs through martial arts

THE people who organised the Bay Street 24-hour martial arts and massage marathon - which ends at midday today - hope that the event will not only raise awareness about the sport and raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust through crowd donations, but also help the country's never-ending battle against drugs.

A published author on life skills and personal and social development teacher, Natasha Turner explained that she became involved with the marathon "because getting children into martial arts can increase their self-esteem, self-respect and self-discipline. And children with a higher self-esteem, respect and discipline won't turn to drugs so easily."

As a teacher, keeping children away from drugs is part of her job, and a constant battle. "However we have to accept that youngsters love to experiment, and they are doing it more and more. The 'doing drugs' battle is a lost war, we must now focus more on prevention, which is the best cure. And what better way than to encourage participation in sport, especially martial arts," she said.

Another person behind the marathon is Wolfgang Ranch, Special Forces martial arts trainer and counter-terrorism expert, who was a swimmer in the German Olympic team and starred in Angli, The Movie.

"When you partake in sport, especially one so vigorous as martial arts, your body produces adrenalin and endorphin, making you happy and high."

But it's not only the actual exercise which has benefits. "When children join a martial arts club, they start making friends and going regularly - it's the best way to keep people off the streets," Mr Ranch added.

And last night the streets were emptied when martial arts superstar Silvio Simac took to the marathon stage, impressing the crowds with his incredible strength and stamina - and his physique. He also wowed the audience at the recent International Martial Arts Festival held last weekend at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

He agreed with Ms Turner, telling the press: "I became a better person when I got involved in martial arts. It gave me self-confidence and esteem. Children who practise it have no need to turn to drugs to feel good about themselves. It's now taught in UK schools and is the second most practised sport in the country after fishing and before football."

The man behind the mission to get martial arts on the Maltese agenda - plus linking sport with fund-raising and the anti-drugs - is Adrian Axisa. Mr Axisa, who Mr Simac called "an outstanding martial arts ambassador for Malta", is one of the highest ranking instructors on the island, founder of Malta Spirit Combat (club) and the pioneer of kick boxing in Malta.

He put parents' minds at rest that martial arts are not dangerous and a great way to learn invaluable self-defence skills. "Martial arts are considered to be very safe, compared to other sports. In a recent sports safety survey undertaken by Dr Mark Xuereb, who works with both the University of Oxford and Cambridge, it ranks 25th after many popular sports.

"Martial arts are not only an excellent way to develop one's strength, flexibility and endurance but also nurture one's character to be disciplined and to refrain from harming others."

The marathon is not the end of the martial arts promotion campaign. "It's an on-going project," John Grima, the general manager of the M&E Management Group, another person behind the event, said.

"Due to the success of last weekend's International Martial Arts Festival, we will host another next year. With such a big-name team behind the organisation we will again have a large turnout, including foreign clubs... which is a boost to tourism.

"It's also important to support charity - the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a worthy cause for our marathon because it carries out medical research, offers clinical support and family care to sufferers."

The event was sponsored by Kelme (sportswear) and supported by the Fortina Spa and Resort, Sliema.