Muscat – Oman’s efforts to develop combat sports have gained momentum following formation of the Oman Martial Arts and Self-Defence Committee recently.

The committee held its first meeting on Thursday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Bausher, chaired by Dr Adel bin Saeed al Shanfari. The gathering marked a significant step forward since the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth announced the committee’s formation.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Shanfari expressed optimism about the committee’s role in promoting martial arts and combat sports. “The committee will host competitions, bring in countries eager to participate in events in these disciplines and engage with the media,” he said.

Although the committee faces budget constraints, Shanfari noted the strong moral support athletes receive. Discussions are currently underway with the private sector to secure additional funding. The committee plans to assess athletes’ health and fitness for international competitions and will form a scouting group to ensure only the most dedicated and high-performing athletes represent Oman.

Abdullah al Farsi, the committee’s technical head, reflected on the efforts made to promote martial arts in recent years. He stressed the fact that the committee will work within established systems and regulations.

“These sports benefit various areas, including health, social well-being and help participants avoid negative behaviours like bullying,” Farsi said.

He further mentioned plans to collaborate with schools, noting that martial arts, especially jiu-jitsu, are already part of the curriculum in many schools and universities across the Gulf. He emphasised that martial arts promote positive traits such as discipline, teamwork and respect for others, which aid students’ moral and physical development.

Committee secretary Iqbal bin Yousef al Balushi informed that 18 clubs and academies, focused on sports like jiu-jitsu, judo and boxing, are now affiliated with the committee. He also announced that a meeting will be held soon to define the role of subcommittees and finalise plans for local and international tournaments. Several competitions are being planned under the committee’s banner soon, with the first event set for November 8.