JEDDAH — Dr. Waleed Kassas addressed martial arts lovers at Heros Gym here last week. Dr. Kassas founded the Arab martial arts style Kowat Alrami in 1980. Kowat Alrami means the power of throw, as in the power of throwing punches, kicks or throwing the opponent to the ground. It is a martial arts style that is close to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) but with added safety rules and regulations such as banning the fighter from punch or elbowing his opponent's face when he is in the mount position — on top of his opponent. In the West it is called the safe way to do MMA. Dr. Kassas, who had come from Lebanon, gave a Kowat Alrami demonstration sponsored by Durrat Alseen, a Chinese restaurant. In Abha he spoke at Fitness Clock Gym, organized by coach Ahmad Zeeb. The Kowat Alrami Saudi Committee is also underway and has seen 5 years of hard work by its members, especially coach Abbas who has been organizing most of the seminars and competitions. More than 80 countries recognize this style of martial arts, which also has a World Federation. The Arab Federation holds regular competitions in the region. Kowat Alrami is not only a way to learn self-defense, it also involves learning horse riding, archery and sword fighting. A sword and shield made of wood is used for safety purposes. The practitioners or fighters wear a Kowat Alrami Gi or uniform that is identical to the uniform of an ancient Arab warrior. The vocabulary used during Kowat Alrami competitions and trainings is Arabic.
