Soudabah Eshret Moayedi
Born: October 12, 1992

My Life’s Example

In Sari, Iran a boy was born. He grew up into a man in the comfort of his family. But all that changed when the Iranian Revolution started which led to the Iran and Iraq war. Then in 1984 he escaped. Travelling all over the world he finally came to Canada and met a woman named Rona Jean and on October 2,1991 they married. One year later October 12,1992 his wife gave birth to a baby girl. That baby girl was me and the man I’m talking about is my dad, Mehrdad Khan Moayedi.

Settling in America, he came from a country of respect and tradition, to a country were people from the Middle East were considered terrorists. That’s one reason my dad is my hero because coming to America he had nothing. He overcame all obstacles and in January of 1997 he became an American Citizen

I lived on and off with my dad since 2000. After 3 long, hard years he got full custody of my sister and I. We came to live with him in April of 2001. He told me once,” I used to live comfortably in Toronto. I came back so my girls could have a better life.” That will stick with me forever. Why? Because it took him 3 long years to get us. Those 3 years he could of spent building his business. That is the second reason he is my hero.

Like I said before, coming here from Iran he had a lot of obstacles in his way. He has devoted 37 years of his life to Martial Arts. Earning his fighting name, “The Persian Warrior.” He has a fighting record of 39 wins 30 of which are KO’s with only 4 loses. My dad opened his Martial Arts school on December 21st, 1993, which now holds 100 students. Founding MKM Knockout Promotions, he brought Muay Thai to North America with a professional fighting event called Shin Do Kumate. Within 5 years it blew up into the biggest Muay Thai event in North America. All that led to other events like Master Mehrdad's Muay Thai Classics, which I fight in today.

My dad has accomplished all of his dreams by showing hard work and dedication . This is the third reason he is my hero. He will do anything for his family, students, and his friends. He will fight for his country till the day he dies. He will always be my hero, my master and more importantly my dad.

April 12, 2007

 Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi, Founder
MKM Knockout Promotions, LLC
World Shin Do Kumaté Association, Inc.

Dear Master Mehrdad,

I’m writing this letter to let you know how your excellent coaching has improved my life.  As you know, I’ve been involved in sports most of my sixty years.  For example, at the age of 40, I completed an Ironman-distance triathlon in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Over the years, I’ve enjoyed skiing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, aerobics, in-line skating, bow hunting, scuba diving, and other strenuous sports.  However, injury and the years have taken their toll on my back, knees and other joints.

I have had almost constant pain in my back from bulging and compressed discs.  Three years ago, I suffered a torn left hamstring from skiing.  Last year, I lost my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my right knee to another skiing accident.  The cumulative effect of these injuries was to slow me down and make me feel all of my sixty years.  I was in danger of having to give up activities I had come to love and enjoy.

My daughter, Staci Goodrich, told me about you and her workouts practicing Muay Thai kickboxing.  Soon my wife, Jerrie, Staci, Sean, my son-in-law, and my granddaughter, Bailee, were all studying Muay Thai under your able tutelage.

I now feel twenty years younger!  I just returned from a ski vacation and was able to ski all day, almost every day, pain free.  I am much more flexible, have increased stamina, and I’m able to keep up with students half my age.  Thanks to you, I feel confident that I’ll be able to continue participating in the sports I love.

Sincerely,

Greg Cunningham
Vice President, Investments
Retirement Plan Consultant
Raymond James & Assoc., Inc.

The Foundation of yoga taught to me by Master Mehrdad Firmly grounded not only my technique but also my understanding of what yoga is and how it applies to care of the body. I approached Master Mehrdad in a de-conditioned state after a decade of chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and various spinal injuries. I aspire to share the practice of yoga as an instructor for eight (8) weeks, which has become my only source of true relief. I now have the muscular strength as well as mental serenity that have enabled me to cope with the physical pain in my life. Though his gentle and intuitive teaching style i have aquired peace of mind and yoga as an integral aspect into my daily life.

Amber Thomas, Certified Yoga Instructor By Master mehrdad

Name:  John Edward Goetz                                 

Occupation: Teacher (Science) Tampa Bay Academy

Health Ailments:  Spin bifida

Health Goals:  Improved balance, coordination, focus, and stamina

How long have you been training with Master Mehrdad?  1 year

Why did you choose Master Mehrdad?  I visited several local schools, but felt this was a more authentic and traditional school vs. a belt factory.

What has Master Mehrdad’s unique teaching done for you?  I feel that he is supportive of my personal goals and needs as well as help me with Spin Bifida because i could kickbox on the heavy bag and have more balance doing my Kung-Fu Martial Arts Forms.

What message would you like to give others about Master Mehrdad’s school?  This school is not a commercial school that promotes the sale of belts, but rather a goal oriented school with emphasis on true traditional martial art teachings.  Here is where students achieve real improvements rather than a place where you just go through the movements.

Monica McLaughlin
Age: 26

I started working out at World Shin Do Kumaté Association, Inc. with Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi back in November 2005. I went there with a goal in mind and that was to lose weight. Unfortunately I was not that serious about losing weight because I would only go workout once a week. After about two months of fooling around I went to Master Mehrdad and told him I was ready to get serious and lose this weight. I was 185 pounds on a 5’4 frame and I was miserable being that overweight. Master Mehrdad and I sat down and talked about a goal and when I would start the program. Monday January 18, 2006 was the first day of my weight loss journey. Master Mehrdad gave me a 30 day eating plan and informed me that I had to work out 5 days a week. I was required to weigh in once a week and after about two months I was down 20 pounds and in the best shape of my life. I lost inches and my shape started to take form. Its two years later and I am down 45 pounds and have kept it off. Thanks to World Shin Do Kumaté Association and Master Mehrdad’s Martial Arts & Muay Thai Federation I lost weight, inches, and most importantly gained confidence and a high self-esteem. I have never worn a bikini except as a child and now I am proud to say I can wear a bikini and look good in it.

    
                  BEFORE                                     AFTER

Name:  Norma Godshalk

Age:  76                   

Health Ailments:   PLMD (Restless Legs)     Neuropathy

Health Goals: To become stronger

How long been training with this school:  6 Month

Why did you choose World Shin Do Kumaté Association?   Recommended

What has Master Mehrdad’s unique teaching done for you?  Made me more agile, stronger, better balance & healthier            

What message would you like to give others about Master Mehrdad’s school?
To use Master Mehrdad’s methods to keep yourself and your body healthy.  He is very understanding and helpful.

Natalie "Bonecrusher" Keene
Born: 1978
Height: 5'7
Weight: 145
Current Training:
Muay Thai under Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi, World Shin Do Kumaté Association

Click here for Natalie's testimonial.

BEFORE and AFTER

Bill Clement (Student since 1997)

Birth date: – 1959

Martial Arts Experience:
Hapkido - Black Belt (1st Dan) 1998 – Present
Under Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi, World Shin Do Kumaté Association.

Judo - Yellow Belt 1993 - 1995
Under Sensei Gino Notomoruzzi – West Palm Beach Fl.

• 1994 Sunshine State Games – Silver Medal – Judo General Competition
• 1994 Sunshine State Games – Bronze Medal – Judo Masters Competition

Mr. Clement has made over 1,000 skydives and is a holder of the current Skydiving Canopy Formation Record, along with a team of 70 other skydivers, for the largest open-canopy formation, set on 11/29/03. (http://www.normankent.com/CRW2Gallery/index.htm)
This was his third skydiving world record.

Bill Lives in Safety Harbor, Florida and has a wife, Johanne and a daughter, Sarah.

Bill’s Comments:
“At 45 years old, the conditioning I receive through Master Mehrdad’s intense training in his uncompromising traditional martial arts classes has made it possible for me to keep up with the formidable training necessary to set multiple world-records in skydiving. I consider it an honor to be a student under Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi.”

I first went to Master Mehrdad's in September 1994 but due to moving did not start going regularly until May of 1997. I worked my way up to Brown Belt before joining the Army in 2001 and continued to train myself and teach Self Defense and Rape Prevention courses to fellow soldiers and spouses where I was stationed in Friedberg, Germany. Also in Baghdad, Iraq trained a platoon of 60 soldiers for two months in basic self defense. I was awarded the rank of Blackbelt in 2002 when I returned to Florida on leave.

While in Germany I began boxing where I won the 2003 United States Forces Boxing Championships in the 152lb division. At current date my record is 7-0-0 with 5 KO's.
Master Mehrdad helped me to build my self confidence and taught me discipline. My Martial Arts training helped me to exceed in everything I have done in life. It taught me to take charge by leading classes and erased the word can't from my mind by completing physical tasks I never thought possible from 5 minute horse stances with a 200lb man on my legs to breaking 10 boards with a single strike. Master Mehrdad is more then a mentor in martial arts he is a mentor in all aspects of life.

Kas Turner

My life has changed both physically and spiritually since I began my study of Martial Arts with Master Mehrdad in 2001. My flexibility and strength have dramatically improved and I have developed an awareness of the energy flow in my body. Training with Master Mehrdad I have been exposed to the world of Tai Chi, Qigong (energy work), meditation and Yoga. Master Mehrdad offers a unique balance of physical conditioning and spiritual growth that can be found in only a few traditional martial arts schools. I have found that Master Mehrdad’s sharing of his vast knowledge of the traditional arts allows him to connect with his students and guide them down the path of both physical and spiritual growth. In my opinion these are the qualities of a truly gifted teacher.

Doug Gray
Age: 55 (Student of OM Yoga and Martial Art Form of Tae Keuk Do since 1994 to Present)
Occupation: Management Consultant

I suffered from a sciatica condition that not only forced me to stop my previous martial arts practice and also prevented me from walking anywhere but very short distances. Western medicine offered me only short term relief from the pain.

I visited Master Mehrdad's dojo back in 1994 and learned that he had studied a variety of martial arts directly from Eastern Grand Masters. After explaining my condition, Master Mehrdad told me he had to overcome a crippling car accident at a young age. His sister-in-law from India introduced him to yoga and through its practice was able to walk again and go on to become a 6th Degree Martial Arts Master. He told me that through the practice of yoga he could alleviate my problem within two years.

With Master Mehrdad's support and teaching of the OM yoga strength and flexibility postures my body was freed of the agonizing pain that was affecting my life. At 52 years old I have a new lease on life, having gained increased strength, flexibility and stamina.

As a Reader of Yoga Journal, I believe you will be impressed by Master Mehrdad's knowledge, skill and spiritual approach. Here is a website that was created by one of his students as a gesture for all that he did for her life: www.mastermehrdad.com .

John Small (Student since 1994 to present)

My experience with Master Mehrdad K. Moayedi these last six years have been very challenging and rewarding. My recent promotion to the black belt level is an accomplishment I will always cherish. Moreover, I'm deeply honored to be one of his first black belt students. I am truly grateful to Master Moayedi for allowing me to develop my martial arts spirit and skills at my own pace. I will always have admiriation and respect for him. Not only for his skill level, but because his teaching is not about money. His teaching is about his students developing martial arts spirit and skill through time and patience. His teaching is not about how many fancy kicks you can do or how many techniques you know, but about developing spirit and skill through a strong foundation of solid stances, basic kicks, blocks and punches. Learning self-defense techniques through repetition, time, patience, and not allowing students to progress to the next level until the particular skills of each level is obtained. Master Moayedi's belt promotions are not based on a set schedule, but when he feels the student is ready and has shown the skill and spirit to move to the next level. His promotional tests are always challenging and increase as the student progresses through the ranks.

Now that I've obtained the rank of black belt under his teaching, I look forward in building on that solid foundation.

Ken Weissinger (Student since 1994 to present)

In the years that I have trained with Master Mehrdad, I have learned many things besides the martial arts. Things like confidence to be the "example" for the rest of the class for different things such as, leading the warm-up stretch, and teaching lower ranking students. Also to welcome new students and work with the kids and their parents to answer any questions they have. Also my strength and stamina have grown dramatically from his training. Plus the ability to use my talents that I have, speed and focus, to my advantage. Especially when sparring a larger fighter. Which is almost always the case, for me at least.

I feel that I have grown as a person and as a student because of his "never say die!" attitude, which makes me amaze myself when I do things that I never thought I could do and go further than I ever thought I could. This is what makes me push myself like I couldn't do for myself. Also makes some people think that I am crazy.

In closing I learned very much in the past many years and also met some very nice people. Plus have been able to carry some of his teachings to the work place with me and that has helped me to get more accomplished and feel good about the work I do.

Brandon Peacock (First student of Master Mehrdad from 1993)

What I learned at my Kung Fu is that you have to work hard to achieve your blackbelt and other tests. You have to practice your stuff whenever you can to become good at whatever you are practicing. The practicing helps you when you are one the streets so you can defend yourself.

G Mac (Student since 1997 to present)

I trained at Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi's Dojang for over six years. I was rewarded my black belt on December 8th, 2001. I am currently 19 years old. I am attending the University of Florida. I am studying international business with a specialization in Chinese and Mass Communications. While attending Master Mehrdad's class, I have learned skills that traditional schooling could never teach. He has taught me, as well as other students, how to control my anger, emotions, and the disciplines of true martial arts. Also, I have learned to defend myself against men that are twice my size. Most importantly, however, I've developed self confidence that is useful for my everyday life.