1st karate tourney for wheelchair athletes to be held in Tokyo.TOKYO, Sept. 20 Kyodo A two-day ''wheelchair karate'' championship, the first of its kind, will start next week in Tokyo, organizers said Thursday. The event is to take place Sept. 28 and 29 at a gymnasium in Tokyo's Yoyogi district and is expected to gather 40 athletes in wheelchairs from countries including Japan, the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Brazil, organizers said. Although karate is a martial art martial art Any of several arts of combat and self-defense that are widely practiced as sport. There are armed and unarmed varieties, most based on traditional fighting methods used in East Asia. , its techniques and breathing exercises are ''excellent rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. methods,'' according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. organizers. Akira Hirai, 60, a Yokohama resident and tournament participant initially expressed disbelief at the thought of doing karate in a wheelchair. But he says he later realized the fun of it. The event is being sponsored by Nihon Karate Shoto Kai, a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that had been promoting this little-known sport -- which was created summer last year -- at home and abroad, the organizers said. Currently, there are around 200 people who practice this new form of martial art, according to the organization. |
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