Women have carved a niche for themselves in different sports across the country. They are exploiting different fields like athletics, wrestling, and boxing, where before now, their male counterparts had been dominating, especially in combat sports. In this vein, Zainab Saleh, a karateka herself, is doing everything to ensure that Nigerian girls and women take over karate as they have done in athletics and wrestling and bring honours to the country.
More importantly, it guarantees girls and women know how to protect themselves better and are confident.
Karate is one sport that was uncommon in the past for women. It is an oriental system of unarmed combat using the hands and feet to deliver and block blows. This predominantly striking art using punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and open-hand techniques has become appealing to women.
While preparation is currently in top gear for the 8th edition of the Zainab Saleh Karate Championship, the female-only Karate Championship to be held between November 17th and 20th, 2022, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from 9 a.m. daily, Saleh is over the moon with her plans for women karateka.
The popular female championship, first held in October 2014 and paused briefly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is rejuvenated and stronger than ever.
With over 400 participants, including athletes, referees, judges, coaches, and management personnel from all over the country, the event is poised to expand its scope for more and better participation in a championship that boasts the very best in this form of martial arts, whose primary objective is to ensure that the female gender is adequately equipped for self-defence, safety, and security.
According to the founder, Hajiya Saleh, her passion for girl child protection must not be limited to her emancipation in education and business but must also ensure her safety and security as well. She strongly believes that the girl child must be able to protect herself physically, mentally, materially, and otherwise.
What are the challenges so far? “The main challenge has been funding, but that has not changed our focus,” she responds. As for this year’s edition, she says: “Our desire is to push for a continuous increase in the participation of our female athletes, both nationally and internationally. We are also working on the increase in the number of both female and male practitioners who are interested in becoming referees and coaches, as we offer a referee course at the beginning of every championship.”
Looking at the acceptability level, you also want to know how the organisation intends to engage more people, especially young girls, in the championship. “The consistency of the event has increased awareness and, therefore, participation. It is the only event of such magnitude in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.”
Saleh hails from the northern part of the country, and she takes you into her world: “There has been an increase in female participation since the commencement of the Championship in 2014.”
“Karate teaches self-defense, which is sorely needed for girls and women in a society where rape and domestic violence are on the increase. Karate also teaches discipline and instills confidence. These are the major reasons why I am and will continue to be an advocate of Karate.”
This 8th edition, she informs, will feature prominent members of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), eminent Karate referees. One of them is Mr. Olusegun Akinola (7th Dan), the Tournament Director, who is the Chairman of the Karate Federation of Nigeria Referees’ Commission, amongst other titles in the African Karate Federations.
The Zainab Saleh Female Open Karate Championship is in collaboration with the Lagos State Karate Association (LSKA) and the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN).
(The Nation, November 6, 2022)