Chinese martial arts are gaining popularity among young Tanzanians. In Dragon Warriors Club located at a bustling area called Kariakoo in the country's commercial capital Dar es Salaam, 25 kungfu enthusiasts practice every day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The students said the Chinese martial arts, apart from self-defence and body fitness, was also inculcating discipline in them. Ramadhani Mshana, the kungfu master who runs the Dragon Warriors Club, said he started cultivating interest in kungfu when he was young after watching kungfu movies starring Jet Li. "One thing about kungfu is that its learning, or practice requires patience and energy," said Mshana, who learnt kungfu from a Tanzanian teacher who was trained in China. "The purpose of this training is for self-defense, for body fitness and as a professional job where trainees can participate in different competitions and get financial awards," said Mshana. Now as more people are requesting to join the club, Mshana said he was planning to find a more spacious place in the city where all students can practice comfortably, hoping some of students in his kungfu club can someday compete in international competitions.
