Karate gaining popularity in Maan after int'l championship medals

AMMAN — Karate has been gaining popularity among Maan residents over the past few weeks after the city's Maan International Karate Academy won several medals at the World Shotokan Federation World Cup in Istanbul late last month.

"After many families saw what we did in Turkey, they decided to send their children to our academy," Tareq Bazaiaa, the academy's director, recently told The Jordan Times.

"Since the beginning of this year, 80 young Maanis joined our academy to increase the total number of members to 220," he said in a phone interview. 

This newly gained popularity of karate comes despite the overwhelming popularity of football in Maan, and Jordan, Bazaiaa said. 

"We won four gold medals, five silver medals and seven bronze medals," he added. 

The academy, established in 2002, came in first place among Arab participants and was seventh internationally, according to Bazaiaa.

Raed Awajan, the academy's media officer, said Maan residents received the "champions" with great jubilation and these players became a source of pride for the city, some 220km south   of Amman. 

His Majesty King Abdullah commended the achievement of the academy when he met with representatives and leading figures from Maan earlier this month.