As Abdul Rahman al Haddad demonstrates the power of a karate blow, there is a loud smack which makes heads turn as both hands come into forceful contact.
The Canadian of Syrian descent became the only Arab awarded the seventh dan, one of the 10 proficiency levels of black belt, by the Japanese Karate Association (JKA) last month as a result of his prowess. Mr al Haddad, who will celebrate his 60th birthday in two months, succeeded in Tokyo where four Japanese opponents failed, proving age is no obstacle to achievement. He has already started preparing to reach the next level.
"I knew I was going to get the award because I am very serious and trained for years," he says. "Only in karate can you use your body, mind and spirit all at once."
The JKA jealously guards the dan, which explains why its examination process, which attracts thousands of karate experts from around the world, is held only once every several years. Only Ueki Masaaki, the chairman of its board of directors, holds a ninth dan status.
It took Mr al Haddad nine years to move up one dan to the seventh level after reaching sixth dan status in 2001, the prior time the JKA held an examination. It took considerably longer for him to master his art.
It was in 1969, when he was 18, that he learnt that a man called Hideki Okamoto was in his hometown of Damascus to teach karate.
"I fell in love with the martial arts from that day as I understood the movements," Mr al Haddad says. "It is a true art and when you concentrate, you use every cell in your body. Master Hideki was an incredible teacher and man who spent his life helping those less fortunate. He was like a father to me, but sadly passed away last year."
Mr al Haddad eventually founded the Shotokan Japanese Sports Centre in Sharjah, in 1979, to teach the JKA way. Known as the keeper of karate's highest tradition, the JKA is the largest such organisation with a presence in more than 100 countries. Mr al Haddad stands ready to help others benefit from his experience.
"If anybody wants to learn, I am ready," he says. "This is what I learnt from the Japanese. They work hard and practise seriously.
"A man who was 62 once approached me and I trained him for 17 years. He died two years ago but he was very strong, reaching fourth dan."
Mr al Haddad, the JKA chairman in the UAE, has also joined with JKA associations in Bahrain and Kuwait to introduce the first Gulf Karate Championships in Bahrain, initially planned for next year. He pointed out that the perception in some quarters of karate as being violent was inaccurate, stressing that the sport was about self-control and discipline, and was a way of life.
That viewpoint was passed on to his two children. His daughter Natalie, 33, has reached third dan black belt while his son, Najmeddin, known as the Canadian Scorpion, is the youngest man elevated to fifth dan black belt by the JKA.
The 29-year-old spoke of his father with admiration, and remembers how he made him his first karate uniform when he was just six months old. He grew up to become one of his most ambitious students.
"My father is amazing," he says. "It takes sheer determination and hard work just to master the techniques he has."
One of his father's students, 15-year-old Osama Ajamoghly, from Syria, has been training for the past four years and holds second blue belt rank. Blue belt is two levels below black, with red the next step.
"Karate gives strength, health and mental power in a positive way," he says. "Mr al Haddad is the best teacher and I hope to achieve black belt one day."
Another student of the same age, Jamal Hamadeh, from Lebanon, joined the Shotokan centre when he was just over four years old and has risen rapidly, a development he attributed to Mr al Haddad's teachings.
"I have a first dan black belt and it's good because I have learnt discipline and confidence in knowing I can defend myself," he says.
melshoush@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
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All%20We%20Imagine%20as%20Light
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
