By Monday Ogar
Parents and the general public in Cross River have been advised to embrace Taekwondo as a sport that teaches discipline, unity and perseverance and stop seeing it as an avenue for promoting violence and trouble.
This advice was given by participants at a 2 day national testing seminar organized by the Cross River Taekwondo Association, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) in conjunction with the Nigerian Taekwondo College (NTBBC) held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Calabar.
Speaking to CrossRiverWatch at the sideline of the event, the President, Nigerian Taekwondo Federation, Grandmaster George Ashiru said contrary to beliefs in some quarters, Taekwondo as a sport teaches restraint rather than violence.
“Anyone who view Taekwondo as a violent sport should point to one example of someone who does Taekwondo fighting on the street. We have been doing Taekwondo in this country for 40years and nobody has been jailed for using the sport on the street. Not one in 40 years. Because when you join the Taekwondo Club, the first thing you sign to is never to misuse the sport.”
He further advised the general public to tap from the many positives the sport offers as it is one of the fastest growing sport in the world.
Buttressing the point of the National President, Master Joseph Ekpeyong, the Chairman Cross River State Taekwondo Association emphasizes the need for people, especially those from the Cross River to take to the sport and explore its entertainment, traditional and social benefits and let-go all misconceptions about the sport.
“Taekwondo doesn’t teach violence, it in fact humbles you and make you have respect and regards for people. If you were a violent person and you come into the sport, you will learn to be calm and with time shade away all those bad characters you had.
Also speaking, a participant in the seminar, Dr. Mrs. Judith Ochim who is a lecturer in the University of Calabar and an instructor in Taekwondo said the sport has helped her build her confidence and has helped to teach her the values of truth, honesty, integrity, fairness, and kindness to humans.
On his part, Master Wofai Ewa one of the senior black belters in Cross River State enjoined parents to bring their children to events like this and get firsthand information about the sport.
“From the masters to the students, our tenets are humility, perseverance, courtesy, discipline, these are attributes one can take into his personal and professional life.
The aim of the seminar tagged “legacy series” that had grandmasters from Korea and Lagos on ground is to grade and test instructors and provide them with the opportunity to share knowledge with each other and then go back to impact on the young ones they teach.
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