Budo for Peace’s 4th international Martial Arts for Peace seminar
Budo for Peace headed by former Sydneysider Danny Hakim hosted the 4th International Martial Arts Seminar for Peace in Raanana.
Dozens of top-ranked athletes in the field of martial arts from around the world participated in two days of training, performance shows, and brainstorming on how to solidify relationships among children and youth from all these countries and communities by leveraging the Budo for Peace Educational Platform.Leading Senseis (Martial Arts Masters) from Iran, Greece, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Japan attended.
On the first day, the seminar was for advanced practitioners (black belts) only, during which they received training and guidance from top Israeli and foreign instructors (including those from Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority).
On the second day the seminar included over 300 children and young adults, together with their respective Senseis, from the Budo for Peace network of Dojo (Martial Arts Schools) that include the full spectrum of the Israeli society mosaic: Arab & Jewish, Jewish ultra-orthodox, secular, Ethiopian immigrants, youth at risk, Bedouni kids, etc. The children practiced in mixed groups experiencing different types of martial arts let by the international and Israeli masters.
A special dinner was held in the presence of the Ambassadors from Australia, Japan and Turkey and representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign affairs.
Danny Hakim, founder and chairman of Budo for Peace: Budo For Peace said: “(BFP) is an educational organisation that uses traditional martial arts’ code of ethics as a platform for bringing different ethnic communities together. For the last 14 years BFP has been promoting values such as respect, self-control and harmony. Part of the process is to create exchanges between children from all sectors of society in Israel. Through our work we break down ignorance and fear and build bridges between people and communities.“
He added: “This year we will begin our first joint middle east program by applying our educational program to empower Syrian and Afghani refugee children in Lesbos Island.”
Baran was a 2x silver world medalist for Australia and was inducted in the NSW Maccabi Hall of Fame in Dec 2017.
Australian ambassador to Israel Chris Cannan spoke with Danny Hakim.