Upholding a traditional technique

Three brothers, Iqbal, Najeem and Jaleel, had a goal in mind – to excel and keep alive a dying sport.

Over the years, in many of the karate styles, the actual names of katas (forms) and techniques have been changed, even though the original traditions are not being carried on. Shorin-Ryu is the oldest karate style in the world from which many others have been derived.

It is in the mastery of this skill that the interest of these brothers lies. "We are proud to say that we are learning and teaching the Shorin-Ryu style in the UAE, practically in the same manner in which the old Okinawan karate masters learned and taught it," say the brothers.

Najeem, the eldest of the three brothers, had started training in karate at an early age but his interest lay in the original and purest form – Shorin-Ryu Seibukan karate.

"Shorin-Ryu is neither a "soft" nor a "hard" style, it is a powerful and precise style that requires speed as well as agility," he says. Although Shorin-Ryu is not the easiest of karate styles, it is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and graceful. There has been no change in this style through the centuries.

The brothers have trained in Malaysia, Japan, Germany and the U.S. "Our master has been none other than Sensei J. Measara, chief instructor of Germany and the European Shorin-Ryu Seibukan Karate Association," adds Iqbal.

Najeem started his karate training in 1977. A lawyer by profession, he was so impressed by karate that he did not hesitate in replacing his professional black gown with the white karate gear. Sensei Kuppusamy was the most famous karate instructor in those times with classes spread all over Kerala and Tamil Nadu (India) and Najeem started training under him.

In fact, it was Najeem who took his younger brother Iqbal to Sensei Kuppusamy for training. After obtaining his black belt he came to Dubai and started his work with Iqbal as an instructor.

His presence was a source of strength to Iqbal and they worked together in spreading the traditional Okinawan karate.

Sensei Najeem has attended several advanced training sessions in Malaysia, Germany, Japan and the U.S. He has also participated in the 1998 Seibukan World Cup in Atlanta, the U.S., and achieved third place in the Kata Bungai competition. He has been responsible for grading tests and is currently the Chief Examiner of Shorin-Ryu Seibukan karate for the UAE.

From the beginning Iqbal had a liking for karate and a flair for mastering the techniques. With keen interest, enthusiasm and hard work he always topped in the class. While still holding junior belts he used to help his master Kuppusamy in the Seibukan style and started taking classes for those below him. He has participated at the 1979 Seibukan Open Tournament in India, Okinawa Karate and Kobudo World Tournament at Okinawa, Japan, in 1997 and 1998 Seibukan World Cup and Seibukan Seminar in Atlanta, the U.S. Now he is the chief instructor and technical director of Shorin-Ryu Seibukan in the UAE and Middle East.

Sensei Jaleel started karate training at a young age. He came to Dubai in 1983 and joined his brothers Iqbal and Najeem in karate training. They all worked tirelessly to promote karate, especially the Seibukan style.

"In the early 1980s karate was not very common among people and was confined more to the police, military force and special clubs. We worked hard to take karate to the masses and soon people began to realise the values of karate not only as a self-defence technique but also as a viable means to keep fit and be healthy," points out Iqbal.

Today the brothers run Karate Clubs at the United Karate Sports Centre in Karama, Deira, Sharjah and Al Ain.