Martial arts exhibition a big kick for enthusiasts<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Edi Purwadi, 35, has been practicing jujitsu for 21 years. He
\nexplained that by practicing the Japanese martial art regularly,
\nit helps him maintain his health and have confidence in his
\nability to control things.<\/p>\n
\"I have reached the master I level in jujitsu. It really helps
\nme not only in terms of health, but also in terms of my ability
\nto help others who are being hurt by criminals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Edi was one of around 1,400 visitors to the Senayan Trade
\nCenter in Central Jakarta on Sunday to witness a one-day festival
\nexhibiting various Japanese martial arts.<\/p>\n
The event was organized by the Embassy of Japan in an effort
\nto strengthen friendship between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The embassy's Ayuko Shimizu explained that the motivation
\nbehind the festival was to help improve ties between Indonesia
\nand Japan.<\/p>\n
\"This is the second time this kind of activity has been held.
\nWe held the first one in February this year, and the event was
\npacked with Indonesia's martial arts fans,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Seeing how enthusiastic the people of Indonesia were about
\nJapanese martial arts, the embassy decided to hold a second
\ndemonstration.<\/p>\n
The first event, she said, was attended by around 500 people.
\nThe second one was attended by around 1,400 people, including
\nsome 500 participants.<\/p>\n
The increasing number of local martial arts enthusiasts, she
\nsaid, was mostly due to the fact that each discipline taught
\nsomething very positive.<\/p>\n
\"Japanese martial arts teach people to strengthen their mental
\nability before mastering their physical ability. The arts teach
\nthem how to be disciplined, and that's what makes them different
\nfrom other sports,\" claimed Shimizu.<\/p>\n
Nine variations were on display, including Indonesia's pencak
\nsilat, along with Japan's kenjitsu-taijitsu, aikido, karate,
\njujitsu, kendo, iai, shorinji kempo and judo.<\/p>\n
The participants were mainly from Indonesia, with four
\nrepresentatives from Japan performing the country's oldest
\nmartial art, kenjitsu-taijitsu -- believed to have originated
\nover 500 years ago.<\/p>\n
Andrian, 16, a visitor, was impressed enough that he
\nproclaimed his interest in enrolling himself in karate classes
\nbecause he liked the movement and the teaching.<\/p>\n
\"It helps us to control the movement of our mind and body
\naltogether without losing balance,\" he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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