In Suippes, an evening of martial arts and combat sports dedicated to people with disabilities

With or without a disability, the martial art or combat sport has its place in society. This is what the aikido section of the Maison pour tous in Suippes wants to prove. This is organizing its second Grand Est Champagne-Ardenne martial arts and combat sports festival on Saturday June 4 from 6 p.m. at the Jules-Colmart sports complex. The theme this year is disability on the tatami. People with disabilities will rub shoulders with able-bodied people. These practitioners come from the Champagne region, or even from a larger sector.

Several disciplines covered

« More than 170 athletes from 18 clubs will present about twenty disciplines practiced in our region under different combat sports: aikido, body karate, judo, qwankido, kendo, Viking combat and others », indicates Fabrice Bonvallet, aikido teacher, initiator and organizer of this event.

A biennial rhythm

The first edition took place in 2018. A decision was then made to renew the experience every two years, but the 2020 edition was canceled due to the health crisis. Four residents of the Le Jolivet establishment will join the sports group. ” It was following the meeting in 2018 with Sandrine, one of their facilitators and herself a martial arts practitioner, that the idea of ​​including disability on the tatami came to us.
“, informs Fabrice Bonvallet.

For this second festival, the objective is to promote this sport which raises awareness of different defense techniques. The martial art has a historical heritage, with its codes. There is no specific competition for this practice. This aims above all to protect those who practice, to improve themselves, to become more effective and more balanced, physically and morally. As for the combat sport, it is a physical discipline for which competitions can be organized, with the objective of victory according to specific rules and procedures.

« This festival will offer young and old, amateurs or sportsmen, an unprecedented spectacle in the heart of the town of Suippes, labeled Olympic town. This is an evening to discover a moment of sporting sharing and human values, and to promote openness to disability in the heart of the tatami. sums up the organizer. There is no more.