ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Englishman Steve Makin, a 6th dan judo master who is currently in town, told Dawn on Tuesday that he planned to begin an exchange programme between Britain and Pakistan for children and instructors.

“I am here to learn first hand how the clubs in Pakistan function and what kind of talent they have,” he said. “To begin with, I intend to choose six talented children and take them to Britain for training which would be for free,” said Steve who is one of the directors of the British Busen Judo Association.

“Similarly, I would like to train Pakistani instructors for a year under the proposed exchange programme.”

Steve, who has been to Bosnia, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany to train people there said that he had found Pakistan to be a safe place. “Reports in the western media about the security situation here are largely exaggerated.”

Naseem Pervez, a Pakistani who is also based in Britain, has brought Steve to this country so that he could see for himself that security is not a problem.

Naseem who himself holds a yellow belt said that it took him two years to persuade Steve to come down here. “He is now surprised at how peaceful this place is.”

Meanwhile, Steve held an exhibition at the F-9 Park later in the evening displaying his skills to children of the National Martial Arts School and other people.

In a brilliant display, Steve showed how to disarm a person and other finer points of judo to an appreciative crowd that had gathered to watch the skills of the master on what was a very pleasant evening.

Earlier, children of the Martial Arts School gave an outstanding display of their talents, which were appreciated by Steve.