This is my personal tribute in
memory of one of USKA's (the Ultimate Sport Kickboxing
Associations) favourite sons Azmat Yaqub.
Azmat passed away on Thursday 29th August 2004 aged just 35 years
old as the result of gunshot wounds sustained in a vicious and cold
blooded attack at the gym he held so close to his
heart.
I first met Azmat about 5 years ago
when the U.S.K.A kickboxing club moved to it's new premises at Chic
Physique health and fitness centre in Sparkhill.
Azmat was the first of the weight trainers from Chic Physique who
made the transition over into my kickboxing classes. What an impact
this was to have, not only for the kickboxing gym but also for me
in my personal life.
On the very first session Azmat and I got involved in a toe to toe
boxing slugfest that was the start of a mutual respect we would
carry for each other from then on.
He was hooked on the high intensity
training and was comfortable around the placid mild manner of the
kickboxers at the gym.
Azmat would fully commit himself to the training over the next
three years and bring to the sessions his very own motivational
techniques to encourage each and every person that he trained along
side with.
He soon after decided that he
wanted to put his new found skills into practice in the prize ring
and start competing in full contact kickboxing bouts.
Azmat's presence in the full contact ring was awesome. With a Tyson
like left hook and power right leg round kick any one that was hit
with those techniques would stay hit and knew it was an experience
that they could do without experiencing again.
He captured the Midland area pro-am title at light heavyweight with
a devastating knockout over an opponent from Wolverhampton and
built up a reputation as being a fearful
puncher.
The highlight of his fighting
career came when he went toe to toe in a bout with later to be
crowned world champion Paul Taylor in a fight that is still talked
about today.
Azmat unfortunately lost the bout but performed excellently against
his far more experienced counterpart gaining huge respect from the
kickboxing fraternity.
Putting a hold on his ring career
Azmat continued to train and coach at the academy still bringing
out the best in people pushing to them to their limits in his
circuit training work outs.
Outside of gym life i found myself drawn to his addictive
personality. Azmat a very eloquent and intelligent man had an
unshakeable faith in Islam, a religion that through Azmat i decided
to look into in more depth before finally embracing about three
years ago.
Azmat along with others were always there for me, guiding and
steering me to all the information i needed to take my life
changing leap of faith.
It was not only my faith that he helped me find. Azmat took me
under his wing and looked after me as if i were his younger
brother. Anything I needed, any situation he was there. My car had
problems......he was there to fix it. I needed to get
somewhere......he was there to bring me. I had a dilemma......he
was there with the right advice.
If i were to ever find myself on a battle field i would feel no
more comfort than to know this man was standing shoulder to
shoulder by my side.
I knew i had a friend who unquestionably would put me before
himself and ask nothing in return.
Azmat opened up to me more than he did most. Most people would only
see one side of him. The side of the man in control, the hard man,
the strong man, the man who put in any situation would assess it
and take control of it in an instant.
I was privileged to see the other side Azmat, a caring, loving,
compassionate, generous, intellectual, God fearing side that made
him one of the most endearing influences on me of my life thus
far.
He became my third Brother. One of
my nearest and dearest friends and confidant.
I thank God for allowing me to be this mans friend all being it for
just a short time.
I thank God that i was privileged to be the last one give him
Salaam. I thank God i was the last one to embrace him with a hug
minutes before he died.
I thank Azmat that he chose me out of all the people he could have
chosen to share a part of his life.
I will miss you my brother and
friend. A part of me is gone never to return.
As i write this i am still coming to terms with what I and everyone
who knows you have lost.
I promise i will never forget you and what you have done for
me.
I promise to pray for you and one day insha-allah again we will
meet to give each other another salaam and once again share a
brotherly hug.
Azmat the loving family man leaves behind a wife and three
children.
Please if you have taken the time to read this, take the time to say a prayer for Azmat and his family.
Written by Neil Kelly – 30th July 2004
Below you can see some pictures of some Charity water aid projects that we have set up in our Brother Azmat's name and memory.