The first branch of the International Changba Sports Association in Belarus will open in Vitebsk

The first Belarusian branch of the International Sport Chanbara Association (a martial art that grew out of samurai duels) will open in Vitebsk on the basis of a sports wushu school, the director of the Vitebsk Wushu School, Andrei Kalistov, told a BELTA correspondent.

"The Japanese expressed a desire to open the Belarusian branch of the International Sport Chanbara Association specifically in Vitebsk, because the development of Japanese sword fighting began in this city a year ago and spread throughout Belarus. It started with me undergoing training, receiving the first sports dan, and then teaching children from the wushu school's students. Wushu alone is a more elite martial art that requires several years of training before participating in competitions. In sport chanbara, children can compete from the age of 5. Therefore, it is more interesting for them. I conducted master classes in our wushu branches in Brest, Mogilev, and Minsk. So, currently, about 500 children and adults are involved in this sport in Belarus," explained Andrei Kalistov.

The official opening of the International Sport Chanbara Association branch became possible after Andrei Kalistov received his instructor's dan in November this year. In addition, to officially launch the branch's activities, the first republican sport chanbara tournament will be held on December 21 in the sports hall of the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine. It is expected that about 200 children aged 5-14 from Vitebsk, Brest, Minsk, and Mogilev will take part in it. The vice-president of the International Spocan Federation Anatoly Ashkhatov, the head coach of the Russian national team Alexander Kim, and the world grand champion Maximilian Manshin have also been invited to the competition.

This sport uses pneumatic swords, which allows for full-force strikes while avoiding injuries. Weight and fitness level are not important for participation. This sport is full of drive and excitement, which is why children particularly enjoy it. The martial art of spochán helps in developing quick decision-making, gaining self-confidence, improving observation skills, and the ability to predict situations. Physically, practicing chanbara contributes to the development of muscle strength and body endurance, posture correction, gait improvement, and weight normalization. By practicing spochán, a person simultaneously maintains physical fitness and is filled with positive emotions.

Ekaterina Knyazeva