Young kung fu-lovers demonstrate wushu during the National Martial Arts Festival in Porto-Novo, Benin, Dec. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
The second edition of the National Martial Arts Festival was held Sunday on the outdoor esplanade of the Governors' Palace in Porto-Novo, capital of Benin.
PORTO-NOVO, Benin, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of the National Martial Arts Festival was held Sunday on the outdoor esplanade of the Governors' Palace in Porto-Novo, capital of Benin.
For over three hours, more than 200 practitioners of wushu, taekwondo, Shaolin kung fu, shotokan karate and judo gave demonstrations at the event.
A practitioner demonstrates judo during the National Martial Arts Festival in Porto-Novo, Benin, Dec. 24, 2023. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
"The main aim of this second edition of the National Martial Arts Festival is to bring together practitioners, particularly Beninese amateurs and professionals, to meet up and share practices and techniques," said Damien Degbo, president of the festival, who received training at the Shaolin Temple, central China's Henan Province.
Charlemagne Yankoty, mayor of Porto-Novo and patron of the event, said that the practice of martial arts has been growing steadily in Benin.
"Whether practiced by women, men or even children, the activities are a real hit with the general public," he said. ■