ZIM Ninja Academy is putting the discipline behind martial arts to work in the fight against drug and substance abuse, taking materials arts demonstrations, self-defence routines and poetry to public awareness campaigns.
Led by their master, Shidoshi Wilfred Mashaya, academy members recently participated in an anti-drug campaign organised by the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics unit in Borrowdale on Saturday.
Their contribution was different from the usual awareness campaigns.
Some members demonstrated Kobudo, a traditional martial art involving weapons such as nunchaku, while others performed martial arts routines and recited poems warning about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.
The academy also took part in a similar campaign at Chitungwiza Community Hall, where its members used their martial arts skills to reinforce the anti-drug and substance abuse message.
At the centre of Shihan Mashaya’s approach is a simple connection between martial arts training and the choices young people make outside the dojo.
A student learning to handle nunchaku must develop concentration, patience and control. Movements that appear effortless during demonstrations require repeated practice and careful coordination.
Those are the habits the academy wants young people to carry into their daily lives, particularly when dealing with peer pressure and the temptation to experiment with drugs.
The campaign also showed an alternative way for young people to spend their time.
Instead of leaving them with warnings about what to avoid, martial arts training gives participants something to work towards, whether mastering a new technique, improving their fitness or progressing through training.
The poetry performances carried the same anti-drug and substance abuse message without relying on physical displays.
Academy members used spoken words to address substance abuse, complementing the demonstrations and giving the audience another way to engage with the campaign.
The Borrowdale and Chitungwiza appearances form part of the academy’s efforts to use martial arts beyond competitive events.
While police officers address the dangers associated with drugs and narcotics, MasterMashaya and his students are contributing through the skills they practise and teach.
The academy’s involvement also brings young martial artists into community awareness activities, allowing them to participate directly in efforts to discourage substance abuse among their peers.
The connection between martial arts and drug prevention lies in the training itself.
Learning when to act, when to hold back and how to maintain control is essential in martial arts.
The academy is encouraging young people to apply those lessons when making decisions away from the dojo.
