A Karate instructor in Rivers State, Mr Ugochukwu Mgbeahuru has advocated for the teaching of martial arts in schools in order to inculcate disciplined and tolerance among youths in the country.

Mr Mgbeahuru, who made the call in an exclusive interview with The Tide Sports at the weekend in Port Harcourt said that inclusion of martial arts in the school curriculum at all levels would help change the attitude of youths and reduce their involvement in social vices.

Describing martial arts as a disciplined sports, Mgbeahuru, who is the chief instructor of Komigboshi Karate Club at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt explained that it would equip the youths on how to be martially alert and aware of their immediate environment.

The Karate instructor, who is also a Fourth Delta Black Belt holder noted that if youths are trained on self-defence, it would reduce unnecessary fear and panic in times of crisis in the society.

Consequently, he urged the government, private and corporate bodies to invest in the promotion and sponsorship of martial arts competitions such as karate, taekwando, judo, as well as boxing and wrestling would encourage practitioners and interested youths to take the sports as a career.

According to him, there are abundant talents in martial arts in the state regretting that lack of sponsorship and encouragement was militating against their discovery.

He lauded the Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for hosting and show-casing abundant sports talents during the just concluded 17th National Sports festival adding that the impressive performance of the state was strong indication that more talents still exist especially in martial arts in the state.

Isaac Nwankwo