JEDDAH, 27 August 2005 — Many Saudi females have shown that sports can be used as a springboard for confidence. The ace they hold up their sleeves is the knowledge that they have the wherewithal to defend themselves or overcome difficult situations.

Though they live in different cities they have one thing in common — all are proficient in martial arts. This makes many think twice about harassing these Saudi females, for they do not hesitate in responding in a language understood by those harassing them — the language of karate and taekwondo.

The oldest of these females is 31-year-old Rafif, who learned karate at a young age. She is now brown belt and is going for her black belt. “I began karate when I was in high school in Alkhobar,” she said. “I practiced at home because there were no karate centers for women in Saudi Arabia.”

Her dream of learning karate came true when she went to the UK for higher studies and learned karate while I was studying for her bachelor degree. When she returned home, she set up a small area to practice karate inside her house. “She trained every day and now more than ever. I want to achieve the black belt and the international trainer license in karate.”

Hayfa, 18, learned the tricks of self-defense from her brothers when she was young. “We had a South Korean coach who taught us taekwondo,” she said. She said that the great thing that taekwondo gave her was self-confidence. “I can defend myself anywhere.”

Hayfa did not stop taekwondo training when she came back to Saudi Arabia. She searched for the best coach and she practiced inside her home with her brothers until she received the black belt. Her father attributes teaching his children’s learning self-defense to the dangers in the street. He said that since he lived in New York he insisted that his kids learn taekwondo to defend themselves when facing danger.

Hayfa believes that self-defense is very important because it gives people self-confidence and it teaches them to use their hands and feet to defend themselves. “Our country is safe and that is why many people believe that there is no need to learn this sport unlike in other countries. I love this sport because it keeps my body in shape and troublemakers away.”

Hayfa finds it strange that women think that this sport is limited to men only. “This is wrong. Women too have the right to learn this sport. I managed to change my friends’ views on this sport and now some of them are learning it.”

Rafif said that she wished there were special clubs for martial arts instead of having to go to health clubs in private hospitals to practice. “Most of the current female health clubs are for overweight women who want to lose weight.”

A couple of foreign females in the Kingdom too found martial arts an exciting way to spend part of their free time.

Dalal Ramzi, a 24-year-old female who chose hapkido, a Korean art of self-defense which includes a variety of arm- and leg-joint locks, throws, kicks, strikes and nerve pressure techniques.

Dalal, who was practicing hapkido with her sisters and a couple of friends, said this was the best thing that ever happened to her.

“I could not find a suitable job and became bored at home. But when I heard about a Korean compound giving self-defense techniques I decided to join. While working out at the compound I found many females who got black belt. I was amazed; they were very nice, yet very strong too,” said Dalal.

Even though Dalal and her sisters had to travel to the United Kingdom, they did not stop practicing. They told Arab News that they were now learning kick-boxing, which they found effective and enjoyable.

“Cardio-boxing helped release the anger and stress within,” said Reema Sami, one of the Saudi females who attend classes at a club in Al-Tahlia Street. This style of martial art made her calmer at home and when dealing with people.

Another group of Saudi females is training under the supervision of a male karate trainer. They started training in high school six years ago and continued when they left. Their main concern was to do something that their mind and body could benefit from besides studying and having fun.

One of the females said that their families did not mind having a male trainer because they wore decent clothes and covered their hair. “Unfortunately we are not authorized to participate in a professional way, but we don’t regret practicing. I travel a lot sometimes with my parents and sometimes alone, so it’s good if I knew how to defend myself when needed,” said one of the females.

These Saudi and foreign women hope that more martial arts clubs will open in the country, specially for females. While some believed they could reach the top, winning the black belt, others just wished practicing it for their own benefit.