Saudi girls learn martial arts to fight harassment

Sultan Al-Sughair

DAMMAM: After the recent increase in verbal and physical harassment of women and girls in the Kingdom, they have turned to martial arts in order to protect themselves.
Amani Yassin, a coach at Taekwondo Training Institute, said: “Saudi women are interested in taekwondo to defend themselves from abuse and harassment; in addition, taekwondo is good for physical fitness and muscle flexibility.”
She said that the institute is providing the first taekwondo program in the Eastern Province throughout the year due to the demand among girls and young women.
A taekwondo trainee said that it was an intellectual and physical sport, and the best self-defense for girls. “Now I have learned how to defend myself, I am no longer afraid at all. I enjoyed it, and I think that every girl should join a self-defense course.”
Another trainee said: “I encourage all girls to practice this sport to defend themselves from abuse and harassment in workplaces or markets,” adding that some girls, who suffer from abuse, were unable to protect themselves nor report the problem for fear of social stigma, and they silently suffer from what they experience.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and is characterized by its comprehensiveness and integration. It is an elegant and unique sport, not an aggressive as some people believe. Most taekwondo practitioners are distinguished by very high morals.
Masomah Abdul-Reda, social researcher is, however, opposed to girls learn martial arts: “Women are able to protect themselves from harassment with good morals, modest clothing and avoiding mixed places. Taekwondo courses are not the solution to the problem and I do not recommend that women confront their harassers,” she said.
She said that taekwondo should be practiced from an early age as girls’ enrollment in courses for only a limited time is not sufficient.
A citizen, Mona Al-Bori, opposed the idea of girls’ enrollment in self-defense courses, saying that society would not accept such ideas due to taekwondo’s inappropriateness for girls. She advised all girls to protect themselves by keeping away from mixed gatherings with large numbers of young people.