Southeast Asian Martial Arts at the SEA Games in Singapore 2015

This year, the Southeast Asian Games will take place in Singapore between 5 to 16 June 2015.

Here are the participating sports which include a few martial arts disciplines:

May the best athletes win!

Turkmenistan - Ashgabat 2017

The Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat is the world's biggest user of marble with huge expanses of the luxuriant rock adorning a $5 billion Olympic complex being built to boost the isolated Central Asian state's international ambitions.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's government wants all new construction to be white and Ashgabat has more marble buildings than any other city in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

The white stone, imported from Italy, Spain, China and Vietnam, clads more than 540 office blocks and palace-style banks, hotels and ministries built along city centre boulevards in the past 15 years.

The oil and gas rich state's autocratic leader has also taken the lead in preparing for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in September 2017.

There is some 217,000 square metres of marble, enough to cover 28 football pitches, in the Olympic complex, according to project coordinator Osman Karakus.

Turkmenistan is not yet a sporting power.

But for five billion dollars, the five million population are getting a 45,000-capacity main stadium, the world's biggest indoor velodrome with a capacity of 6,000 spectators, a basketball stadium, indoor athletic track certified by the International Association of Athletic Federations, tennis courts and a host of other world class facilities and hotels -- much of them covered in a marble exterior. All will be linked by a monorail.

Up to 30 sport disciplines could be on the schedule in 2030. On top of mainstream sports, the games will also feature line dancing and wrestling where Central Asian states hope to win medals.

President Berdymukhamedov has personally taken charge of preparations for the 2017 Games, that will for the first time feature competitors from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific states among the 6,000 athletes.

He hopes the Games will launch Turkmenistan onto bigger competitions and is already considering bidding for other events, according to officials.

- Leader's personal touch -

Berdymukhamedov has personally chosen many of the fittings and materials used in the Olympic complex, according to officials in Ashgabat.

The single party state is accused by western human rights groups and some governments of using repression against opponents. But some international figures see sport as a way to open up Turkmenistan to outside influence.

Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, head of the Olympic Council of Asia, and one of the most influential figures in world sport, strongly backed Turkmenistan's hosting of the 2017 Games. He has said the country could host a future Asian Games, the continent's full 30 sport extravaganza held every four years with nearly 10,000 athletes.

At the signing of a Games accord in Ashgabat on Friday, the Sheikh said Berdymukhamedov has agreed to use the event to improve health and education.

Ashgabat, which has tentatively started to open up to foreign tourists, will also get a new international airport in 2016.

"You don't build a new airport unless you want strong international relations," the sheikh said.

Sebastian Coe, the British running great and organiser of the 2012 London Olympics whose company CSM Sport has advised Turkmenistan on planning the 2017 Games, praised "the great vision" of the president in bringing the Asian event to Ashgabat.

"I am greatly looking forward to seeing the athlete-focused state of the art facilities that have been created under your leadership," he told the ceremony.

Hinting at his country's hopes, Dayanch Gulgeldiyev, nominal chairman of the Games organising committee, said: "Turkmenistan is one of the world?s best kept secrets, and we look forward to finally sharing this secret with the world in 2017."

Source: Sports Yahoo

Mixed martial arts come to Southeast Asia

Mixed martial arts fans across the world like to quickly identify Asia -- more specifically, Southeast Asia -- as a potential hotbed for this developing sport. It is not difficult to see why.

Thailand’s muay Thai remains one of the crucial striking styles in MMA and it is just one of the numerous traditional martial arts in the region. After all, UFC was one decision away from holding an event in the Philippines a couple of years ago.

While the Philippines and Thailand get mentioned a lot in this context, Indonesia gets nary a thought. Not only is Indonesia the most populous nation and the biggest economy in the region, it also has the longest history of actual mixed martial arts, though that history has been tumultuous to say the least.

Source: Sherdog

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Nepal to organize martial arts games for gays

In a first event of its kind in South Asia, and probably Asia, Nepal is set to organise the country’s first national games for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and third-gendered citizens.

The games to be held in September this year over a two-week period will witness LGBT sportspersons competing in sports ranging from volleyball, football, athletics, martial arts, tennis and more.

Source: Hindustan Times

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Great Grandmaster Dr. Ronald Frazier Sr. on Karate

Great Grandmaster Dr. Ronald Frazier Sr. believes that karate is “not only a sport, but it teaches valuable life skills that build confidence, self-control and respect for yourself and others."

Source: Savannah Now

The 2017 Asian Martial Arts Games

The Host City Contract Signing Ceremony for the 2nd Asian Indoor - Martial Arts Games 2017 was held today at the Regency Hotel in Kuwait City in 2010. OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and Turkmenistan Deputy Prime Minister Deryageldi Orazov together with Ashgabat Mayor Shamuhamet Durdiliyev signed on the host city contract for the 2nd Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 in Ashgabat, the Capital City of Turkmenistan.

OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah expressed his delight in the signing ceremony, “It’s our great honour to receive His Excellency in Kuwait City and we are happy to sign the host city contract with Turkmenistan and Ashgabat city”, he said.

“OCA recognise the efforts made by Turkmenistan and the city of Ashgabat, we are looking forward to hosting our 2nd Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games for the first time in central Asia region”, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahah Al-Sabah added.

Turkmenistan, which officially declared independence on 27 October 1991 and gained official recognition in December 25, 1991, will be the first central Asian countries to host Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games.

His Excellency Deryageldi Orazov has confidence that Turkmenistan will be capable of hosting its first Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017.

“I’m very happy to be here today to sign the host city contract with OCA. Turkmenistan government invests 2 billion USD for the first phase of venue construction, and another 5 billion USD will be spent for the second phase of all kinds of construction. ”

“Under OCA’s support and guidance, Turkmenistan is looking forward to cooperating closely  with OCA for a success games in Ashgabat.” 

Source: Olympic Council of Asia

Welcome to the Asian Martial Arts Games portal!

This blog will bring you all the news about the 2013 Asian Martial Arts Games which will be held in Incheon, South Korea between June 29 - July 6.

The event will take place at the same time with the Asian Indoor Games and is thus known as the 1st Asian Indoor-Martial Arts Games. The event is held every four years.

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