Timor-Leste bans martial arts, citing an increase in violence — but trainers and advocates are fighting back

Geovania Miranda Lopes Pinto got into martial arts for one reason. "We must not simplify things and say there's violence because of martial arts," says Samuel Antonio Guterres, a leader of one of the country's martial arts groups. Mr Gusmão's government first introduced a six-month ban last year in retaliation for what it says were "four fatalities, 26 injuries and material damage to 21 homes" all attributed to the actions of martial arts groups. Mr da Costa, the former president of Timor-Leste's Martial Arts Regulatory Commission, said the country's history involving martial arts groups showed regulation of the practice was needed. "Martial arts is related to skill, but also using violence in a certain way, so, for that reason, we welcome regulation," he said.