One
of the benefits of writing (besides saving thousands on therapy),
is that readers help you keep it going. Just when I think I
am out of topics, or out of ideas, a friend will send me a
link to something wonderful, and it starts all over again.
(Thanks this time to Cameron D.)
Such
is this report.
As
a child growing up in Tehran during the seventies, I am sure
most men my age, some older and some younger will no doubt
remember the famous Ostad "Varasteh" and the post "Enter
the Dragon" popularity of Martial Arts. As teenagers,
we roamed the streets after watching Beyk-Imaverdi in the movies,
imitating him doing flying sidekicks and roundhouses, filling
the still summer air with the scent of "Eau Sauvage" as
the "Pachehs" of our tight Brittania bellbottoms
flapped in the wind.
So
you get by now that martial arts, Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do, Kung
Fu, and Bruce Lee, all have a special place in the heart of
the middle-aged Iranian male. [Ladies, listen and learn because
it may explain a lot about your men!]
But
that was then.
Years
have flown by and the fond familiar feeling, and attitude have
all but disappeared. Until today. Today, I am young again,
flush with the flowing blood of excitement of having found
a long lost friend. Today I met and spoke to Master Mehrdad!
Master
Mehrdad Moayedi is 6 feet 1.5 inches, and weighs 235 pounds.
Just about this side of huge. He is a 6th Dan Kong Shin Bup
Hapkido, 8th Dan World Shin Do & Ancient Hapkido/Shaolin
Kung-Fu Association Destructive Kicker , a world class Muay
Thai kickboxer and to "turn it up to eleven" and
the secret ingredient in his recipe of success, add the fact
that he is a professional Koshti-Kaj wrestler from his hometown
of Sari in Iran.
Since
1977 he has fought in Iran and around the world, quickly moving
from traditional to the more popular and dangerous "Full
Contact" competitions. No pads, no shin guards, no headgear.
Bone to Bone.
In
1993, he founded a martial arts school in the Tampa/St. Petersburg
area of Florida and beyond instruction, has devoted himself
to becoming the world champion in professional full contact
martial arts. In 2001, he founded Shin Do KumatÈ, the
first professional martial arts fighting event ever sanctioned
by the State of Florida Athletic & Boxing Commission. In
2004, he started his own amateur sanctioning body, World Shin
Do KumatÈ Association, recognized by the State of Florida as
an official sanctioning entity.
Shin
Do KumatÈ means ìThe Way of The Fighting Spiritî and invites
the best fighters from around the world to compete in various
weight divisions. As all martial arts people, this is
Moayedi's creed, his way of life. That and being Persian.
"This
is more than just about fighting and kicking", he said, "this
is a way to reflect on your daily way of life."
As
fierce and determined as he is, Moayedi is equally fiercely
Persian. He does not want to talk about the circumstances under
which he came to the US from Iran, which, even behind the safety
of a phone, I wasn't going to push him about. But he left Iran
in 1984 and after spending the now presumptive time in Toronto
Canada trying to get his visa paperwork in order, finally arrived
in the US in 1991 with as he puts it, "...exactly $140
in my pocket."
Just
to get it out of the way, yes this is another one of those
rags to riches, American Dream success stories, and yes they're
still happening, and yes they're still happening to Iranians,
even with all the garbage we have to put up with. As much as
they may mess with it from time to time, America is still America,
Moayedi is yet more proof of that.
His
belief (and which one of you is going to argue otherwise?)
is that the origins of the Martial Arts, contrary to popular
belief, is linked to Persia, Egypt, and Indonesia. He likens
the Zoor-Khaneh to the Dojo, and can trace for you the historical
accomplishments. He said, "The ancient Greeks would kidnap
Persian warriors so that they could learn how to fight",
eventually becoming what is now known as Greco-Roman wrestling.
His
school arm is clearly a Persian figure of the Persepolis style,
and his signs proudly fly the ancient Persian symbol of the
Sun & Lion. He wants to promote Persian culture and heritage
and as he says, "To let Americans know that we are not
terrorists."
His
influences were his sportsmen Uncle and Father in Iran and
the rather large, towering cook their family employed in their
home in Sari. The cook was a skilled Koshti Kaj wrestler and
could bring down anyone with the slightest effort. Moayedi
was in awe. At age 5, he began to eagerly explore training
and by age 11, he was training with heavy sandbags and running
with ankle weights. He hasn't turned back since.
Because
it is so exciting, Shin do KumatÈ has breathed new life into
the fast waning sport of professional Boxing, so much so that
recently the Florida Boxing Commission sanctioned Moayedi's
competition. There are 9 bouts at varying weight levels only
for the most qualified and highest level men and women fighters.
Referees, judges, the whole nine yards. All of Moayedi's events
are broadcast on FOX Sports Net. A popular local in the St.
Petersburg area, Moayedi is charming, good natured, and one
of the most confident people you will ever run across. His
respect for his opponents has garnered him worldwide respect,
and even though he promises to win each time he fights, whether
he does or not, is irrelevant. Because he is a winner .
Moayadi
shows us all, that if you take the fight to your opponent,
you can not only win, but in the honorable way you win, win
the heart of your enemy, turning them into a friend.
As
a child growing up in Tehran during the seventies, I am sure
most men my age, some older and some younger will no doubt
remember the famous Ostad "Varasteh" and the post "Enter
the Dragon" popularity of Martial Arts. As teenagers,
we roamed the streets after watching Beyk-Imaverdi in the movies,
imitating him doing flying sidekicks and roundhouses, filling
the still summer air with the scent of "Eau Sauvage" as
the "Pachehs" of our tight Brittania bellbottoms
flapped in the wind. 
Master
Mehrdad Moayedi is 6 feet 1.5 inches, and weighs 235 pounds.
Just about this side of huge. He is a 6th Dan Kong Shin Bup
Hapkido, 8th Dan World Shin Do & Ancient Hapkido/Shaolin
Kung-Fu Association Destructive Kicker , a world class Muay
Thai kickboxer and to "turn it up to eleven" and
the secret ingredient in his recipe of success, add the fact
that he is a professional Koshti-Kaj wrestler from his hometown
of Sari in Iran. 
As
fierce and determined as he is, Moayedi is equally fiercely
Persian. He does not want to talk about the circumstances under
which he came to the US from Iran, which, even behind the safety
of a phone, I wasn't going to push him about. But he left Iran
in 1984 and after spending the now presumptive time in Toronto
Canada trying to get his visa paperwork in order, finally arrived
in the US in 1991 with as he puts it, "...exactly $140
in my pocket." 
His
school arm is clearly a Persian figure of the Persepolis style,
and his signs proudly fly the ancient Persian symbol of the
Sun & Lion. He wants to promote Persian culture and heritage
and as he says, "To let Americans know that we are not
terrorists." 
Because
it is so exciting, Shin do KumatÈ has breathed new life into
the fast waning sport of professional Boxing, so much so that
recently the Florida Boxing Commission sanctioned Moayedi's
competition. There are 9 bouts at varying weight levels only
for the most qualified and highest level men and women fighters.
Referees, judges, the whole nine yards. All of Moayedi's events
are broadcast on FOX Sports Net. A popular local in the St.
Petersburg area, Moayedi is charming, good natured, and one
of the most confident people you will ever run across. His
respect for his opponents has garnered him worldwide respect,
and even though he promises to win each time he fights, whether
he does or not, is irrelevant. Because he is a winner . 
