A seminar of the Guardian Girls Global Karate Project was held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on the occasion of the Karate competition at the World Combat Games. The activity of Karate’s initiative against Gender-Based Violence was organised by the Saudi Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation Thursday as a showcase of the many values of the sport.

A group of 30 young women from the Riyadh area participated in the seminar that had two-time World Champion and Olympic Games medallist Giana Lotfy acting as the WKF Instructor. Lotfy who also headed the Guardian Girls Karate seminar held in Cairo (Egypt) in January was assisted by the chairperson of the Women’s Committee of Saudi Karate Federation Dr Nouf Alhamad.

During the seminar, the participants had the opportunity to practise simple yet effective techniques to help them face situations of Gender-Based Violence.

The activity had the attendance of WKF President Antonio Espinós, who was accompanied by WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura, WKF Athletes’ Commission chairman and Executive Committee member Davide Benetello, WKF Executive Committee member Ibrahim Al Gannas, and Saudi Karate Federation President Mushrif Bin Ali Alshehri.

From left to right: WKF President Antonio Espinós, WKF Instructor Giana Lotfy, and Saudi Karate Federation President Mushrif Bin Ali Alshehri.

WKF Instructor Giana Lotfy said:

“I was so happy to be with all these amazing women and to give them some tips on how to defend themselves. It is always great to spread out the many values of our sport and show people how beautiful Karate is.”

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“The Guardian Girls Karate project has proved to be extremely successful and beneficial in all the stages of the programme this year. We have done presentations and seminars of the Guardian Girls Karate in all the Karate 1-Premier League events of the season, the European Championship, and now in Riyad at the World Combat Games. We will finish the year of presentations in one week in Budapest during our Senior World Championships.”

“I want to express my most sincere gratitude to the Saudi Karate Federation and its President Mushrif Bin Ali Alshehri for all their efforts to host and organise this fantastic activity. The success of the Guardian Girls Karate seminar in Riyadh not only shows the tremendous efficiency and value of the programme; it also demonstrates that with the right cooperation from National Federations, this project can truly make a huge difference in the betterment of society around the world.”

Created by UNFPA, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF) and the World Karate Federation (WKF), the Guardian Girls Global Karate Project is a far-reaching initiative aiming to promote gender equality and empower women and girls through Karate.

A group of 30 young women from the Riyadh area participated in the seminar.

Karate officials attended the seminar that had two-time World champion Giana Lotfy acting as the WKF Instructor.