Ancient Hap Ki Do-Shaolin Kung-Fu Association

Persian Heroes and Icons:

The Story of Gholamreza Takhti The Persian Jahan Pahlavan

		Pahlavani practising with a pair of light-weight Meels*

Jahan Phalavan Takhti Olympic Gold Winner (1956), World Wrestling Champion (1959 and 61), and winner of Pahlavani Armlet in 1957, 58 and 59 practising with a pair of light-weight Meels

Gholamreza Takhti was born in Tehran on September 27, 1930, the fifth child of a working class family. As a young teenager Gholamreza trained at the Poolad club, a makeshift sports hall in the southern part of Tehran but despite his natural talents as a sportsman, especially the traditional zoorkhane (Persian bodybuilding routine) he soon had to leave Tehran to work as an oil worker in the Khuzestan region. After being drafted into the army he was introduced to freestyle wrestling, He won his first Iranian cham-pionship in 1950, and became the first Iranian wrestler to win an international medal when he gained silver in the World Cham-pionships at Helsinki in 1951, followed by silver at the Helsinki Olympics. Later he won gold in the 1956 Olympics and the 1959 World championships.
Takhti became a supporter of popular Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh and with the fall of Mossadegh, Takhti fell out of favor with the Shah and his court. The Shah's secret service, the Savak, followed Takhti's every move and was very aware of his Growing popularity. Realizing that Takhti was attaining the status of a legend, the Savak arranged for inclusion of Takhti in the 1964 Olympics and 1966 World Championships teams, hoping that if he failed to gain a medal, his popularity would diminish. Despite his unsuccessful attempts at those events, Takhti could do no wrong as far as the Iranian popu-lation was concerned and remained as popular as ever. To the Iranians, Takhti was their Jahan Pahlavan. There are folkloric stories abound in the Persian culture about bigger than life champions of the good cause who are lovingly referred to as Pahlavan. Legendary Pahlavans stood up to unfair rulers despite danger to themselves to defend righteousness.

Note: Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi, “The Persian Warrior” trained under many Jahan Phalavan Takhti’s disciples and people who were number one Persian wretle/Zurkhaneh prictioner in Iran/sari the city that MKM was born, Master Mehrdad in his life use (Jahan Phalavan Takhti) as his one of heroes and role models to grow up to become like him and preach their believe of human power and Zoroastrian believe to the world, I always know that one day I will change the world what they think of my Country the great Persia.

* Meels
During the Mongol invasion of Iran (1256 AD), many Iranian Pahlavans traveled to India and introduced some of the Pahlavani traditions and instruments to the Indian subcontinent. One such introduction among many was Meels, also known to the western world as the Indian Clubs.

http://www.pahlavani.com/ish/html/ph/new/meel.htm

Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi
Ancient Hapkido/Shaolin Kung Fu
(727) 823-8914

* Meels During the Mongol invasion of Iran (1256 AD), many Iranian Pahlavans traveled to India and introduced some of the Pahlavani traditions and instruments to the Indian subcontinent. One such introduction among many was Meels, also known to the western world as the Indian Clubs.

* Meels
During the Mongol invasion of Iran (1256 AD), many Iranian Pahlavans traveled to India and introduced some of the Pahlavani traditions and instruments to the Indian subcontinent. One such introduction among many was Meels, also known to the western world as the Indian Clubs.