Feature: Blind Gaza children's dream to become karate champions

Mo'men al-Bitar, a 15-year-old Gaza boy, and seven other children aged between six and 14, all wearing white karate uniforms, stood together in a row listening carefully to their karate coach at al-Mashtal Sports Club in western Gaza city.

At a first glance, no one can think that these eight children are blind. They help each other and gracefully jump into the air, go down and then stand firmly on their feet.

"The reason I decided to join this kind of sports is first to be able to defend myself in the future, and second is to defeat my blindness because children in my neighborhood were thinking that I'm weak and not brave because I'm blind," said al-Bitar, who lives at Sheikh Radwan in Gaza city.

When Hassan al-Ra'ei, the coach, said "Musubi Dachi," one of the special terms used in karate, which means stand and be ready, the children stand next to each other in a well-organized way, they all look serious with no one laughing or making a mistake.

The children move their legs and arms and walk a step forward when the coach pronounce a term. Then the coach says another term, the children continue moving their hands and legs as if they are one person.

"In the beginning, I met Yousef al-Sharif, a blind boy, who really wanted to learn something and defeat his blindness," said al-Ra'ei. "The boy asked me to train not only him, but also seven other children, who all study at the same school for blind children in Gaza, and I agreed," al-Ra'ei said.

Al-Ra'ei told Xinhua that a few months ago, the children started intensive training with two hours per course and three times a week. "I felt that there is a huge energy inside these children, therefore, I wanted to blow up this energy and help them defeating their blindness," he added.

"Now I feel that I'm more powerful and at the same time, I feel really happy because I can do something similar that ordinary children do," said al-Bitar, who said with a big smile. "I have ambitions to become a hero and represent my country Palestine in international competitions," he said.

Al-Ra'ei said when he started training by teaching them the meaning of each karate term. He said that all the eight children are very smart.

Al-Ra'ei said the children "now keep in their hearts and minds all the karate expressions and they know how to do each move professionally without mistakes."

Al-Ra'ei is a former karate champion who earned the black belt and Dan3 degree in karate. He called on the Palestinian officials in charge of sports to help the children.

According to the official figures of the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, there are 6,905 people who are completely blind, some of them were born with their blindness and others were injured during the wars and conflicts with Israel.

When Yousef al-Sharif, a 10-year-old boy, knew that there are reporters who came to speak with him and take pictures in the hall, he jumped into the air, kicking, and stood on his feet steadily.

Yousef's grandfather Jamal al-Sharif said "my grandson is more balanced. In the past, he was furious because he had a big energy inside him, now this energy came out and we really feel that our grandson is becoming a hero."

Before the reporters leaving, the children made a circle, put their palms together and screamed "We are heroes." Endit