Dimapur (AsiaNews/UCAN) 'Taekwondo for Christ' is an interdenominational group that blends evangelisation and the martial art of taekwondo to fight social problems. The goal is "to unearth youth's athletic talents and help them glorify God through them," said the group's founder, Thamsing D. Lamkang.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art popular among young people in India's North-East, a region plagued with drug and alcohol abuse as well as interethnic violence.
Members perform throughout the region including at Church institutions. In their most recent show in Dimapur, in Nagaland state, they were hosted by a Baptist church. In their demonstration, group members jumped and kicked steel plates. As each plate was kicked away, members shouted the name of a social ill: alcohol, corruption, drug addiction, hatred, smoking,
Their message was that one can avoid social evils with the help of Jesus.
Lamkang said that the show wants to send the message that Christianity teaches to respect the human body as the temple of God and that no one "should defile or destroy it".
Group coordinator Deep Kumar, a Hindu convert to Christianity, said sports like other forms of entertainment help communicate one's message. "We use it to spread the Gospel."
Alex Rongmei, the group's coach, said that he found "new purpose and meaning in life after joining" the group. He plans to reach out to Catholic youth and "for this I have already approached Catholic youth leaders," he added.