Azmat Yaqub Tribute

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

UPDATE - MARCH 2026

USKA WATER AID PROJECT 2026
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

We are proud to announce that our 2026 USKA Charity Gym Project will once again be delivered in partnership with ISRA-UK.

ISRA-UK is a Birmingham-based charity that has been operating for over 40 years, with a mission to relieve poverty worldwide and to bring lasting change, hope and prosperity to communities in need.

This year, we are committing to a life-changing water aid initiative, funding the installation of 2 Solar Powered Submersible Water Pumps in Pakistan, 2 Borehole Water Wells in Uganda and 2 Large Tube Well Hand Water Pumps in Pakistan.
The total cost of this project will be £6,100, with any excess funds raised rolling over into next year's charity project.
This project will be carried out in memory of our dearly loved and missed students, Khuzaimah Douglas and Azmat Yaqub, whose legacy continues to inspire everything we do.

Project Breakdown:

Solar Powered Submersible Water Pumps in Pakistan – £1,600 each
These pumps are highly effective in remote areas, particularly in regions of southern Pakistan. Powered by solar energy, they generate electricity to operate a motor that draws water directly from underground sources, providing a sustainable and long-term solution for communities with limited infrastructure.

Borehole Water Wells in Uganda – £1,150 each
Millions of people in Uganda, especially children, still lack access to clean and safe drinking water. A single borehole well can transform an entire community, providing clean water for hundreds, sometimes thousands of people. Access to safe water helps prevent disease, improves sanitation and creates opportunity. Children no longer need to spend hours each day collecting water, allowing them to attend school and work towards a brighter future.

Large Tube Well Hand Water Pumps in Pakistan – £300 each
Tube well hand pumps are a vital lifeline for communities facing extreme water scarcity. Manually operated and drawing water from approximately 30 metres below ground, they provide reliable access to underground water sources. Their simple design makes them easy to use and maintain, empowering local communities with a sustainable solution to their water needs.

All of these projects will be carried out in communities where access to clean water is limited or non-existent. These installations will provide life-saving access to water for drinking, crop irrigation and market gardening, supporting both health and long-term economic sustainability.

We are incredibly proud to support ISRA-UK in delivering these essential resources to those who need them most.

We kindly ask for your support. Please give generously to help us reach our target and make a real difference.
Together, we can help change lives!

Please Donate Here:
Justgiving Page for USKA Water Aid Project 2026

UPDATE - DECEMBER 2025

USKA FOOD PARCEL AND HOT MEAL CAMPAIGN COMPLETE
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

We did it!

For our 2025 Charity Project, USKA Fight Factory once again proudly partnered with As-Suffa Relief, a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities both across the UK and internationally. Their primary mission is to provide essential food support to individuals and families facing food insecurity.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, £10,000 was raised.

• £5,000 will go towards providing hot meals for individuals in need, offering immediate relief to those facing hunger.
• The remaining £5,000 will fund the distribution of food parcels to 125 families, supplying essential groceries and ensuring access to nutritious staple foods over an extended period.

Each food parcel costs £40 and is capable of sustaining a family of five.

Through this project, we are not only providing nourishment but also helping to restore dignity, stability, and hope to families experiencing hardship. Because of the generosity of the USKA community, we are making a real and lasting difference — ensuring that no child, no mother, and no elderly person is left without a meal.

This project was carried out in the beloved name and memory of our dearly missed students, Khuzaimah Douglas and Azmat Yaqub, who remain forever in our hearts.

Khuda Hafiz — may God be your guardian.

Direct Beneficiaries of this project: 5,125 People

UPDATE - DECEMBER 2024

USKA ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP 2024 COMPLETE
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

For our Charity project for 2024 the USKA Fight Factory teamed up with Charity partners As-Suffa Relief which is a UK-based charity devoted to providing essential support and care to vulnerable communities both here in the UK and abroad. For this year's goal we decided to raise £10,000 and chose Orphan Sponsorship for children all around the world as our mission.

Being an orphan anywhere in the world is a serious challenge, whilst being an orphan in a land facing war, poverty, disasters and calamities present added extreme challenges which can be truly unbearable. There are more than 150 million children worldwide who are orphans and without the love, comfort, care and attention of a parent, a child is left in limbo, struggling to survive or even reach their potential in life. This year we intended to help provide urgent care, comfort, support and sponsorship to many orphans in Palestine, Lebanon and Pakistan.

Through a number of Charity initiatives throughout the year and through the kindness of our USKA Fight Factory family and friends we are pleased to announce that we have hit our total and have raised £10,000 to fully support 23 orphans for an entire year, offering these vulnerable children the stability, care, and opportunities they urgently need. This funding will go directly towards covering essential expenses such as food, water, clothing, education, shelter and healthcare for each child, ensuring they are nurtured in a safe and supportive environment. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), Through this fundraising we have made a substantial difference in children's lives, Our contribution will be providing hope and opportunities for a brighter future.

Thank you, We are truly grateful for every single person that has contributed this year to our project, may God bless you all.

Khuda Hafif (May God be your guardian).

UPDATE - MARCH 2024

USKA 2023 CHARITY HOUSE BUILD PROJECT ON THE TURKISH BORDER IDLIB COMPLETE
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

USKA arranged multiple charity events throughout the year raising an incredible £11,400 and through our Charity partners at Jigsaw constructed 6 brick built homes consisting of 2 living/bedrooms areas, a kitchen, a utility area, a bathroom, a courtyard and a solar powered water tank at the cost of £1,900 each.

These homes have housed family's affected by the devastating earthquake in February 2023.

Jigsaw Village 2.0. in total consists of 500 houses creating a real community to help people reestablish and rebuild their lives.

Our man on the ground Nadeem Minhas was kind enough to send us video updates and it is absolutely amazing to see how things have come together.

We would like to thank each and every contributor to the project, the Jigsaw charity for the support and of course Nad for his help and guidance from day one to now.

This USKA Fight Factory Charity Project was carried out in the memory of our beloved students Khuzaimah Douglas and Azmat Yaqub who we miss dearly.

God bless you all for your kindness!

UPDATE - JULY 2023

USKA CHARITY UGANDAN MOSQUE BUILD PROJECT 2022 COMPLETE
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

In 2022 USKA Fight Factory Kickboxing Gym in Birmingham undertook a Charity project with it's Charity partner ISRA-UK to raise funds to build a Mosque in Uganda, Africa in the loving memory of their Brothers Azmat Yaqub and Khuzaimah Douglas.
The proposed Mosque would be 13 meters x 13 meters in size have three main doors, 8 windows, a minaret and be fully plastered at a cost of £10,000.
In addition to the Mosque they would raise a further £5,000 to extend an added Electric Solar Powered area that would also incorporate a Wudu and Toilet Area.
After raising funds through the kindness of the gyms members and friends throughout 2022 construction on the Mosque began in January 2023 and we are pleased to announce that it is finally complete with the community now making use of the Mosque and the facilities.
The Mosque is situated in Kitayiza, Kiganda sub county in Kassanda district, Along Mubende-fort portal highway which is 105km from Kampala city centre.

We would like to thank everyone who made this project possible, who prayed for it's success and who contributed to it in whatever way big or small.
If you are reading this, please say a prayer for Azmat, Khuzaimah and their families. God bless them and God bless you all.

UPDATE - DECEMBER 2022

USKA CHARITY UGANDAN MOSQUE BUILD PROJECT 2022
IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF KHUZAIMAH DOUGLAS AND AZMAT YAQUB

We are thrilled to be able to announce that we have reached our £15,000 target of raising funds to build a Mosque including a Solar Powered Wudu and Toilet area in Uganda in the loving memory of our Brothers Khuzaimah Douglas and Azmat Yaqub who we miss dearly.

The fundraising that we had initially anticipated would take us 2 years to complete has amazingly taken us just over 10 months through the support and kindness of all our contributors.
Construction of the Mosque can now commence with anticipated completion of the project being wrapped up between June and August 2023 if not sooner.
Please check back here regularly for build updates that we hope to receive from our Charity partners ISRA-UK.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank each and everyone who helped to make this happen through donations, support and prayers.
God bless Khuzaimah and Azmat and God Bless you all.

USKA CHARITY WATER AID PROJECT 2019

IN THE NAME AND MEMORY OF AZMAT YAQUB

To all at USKA Fight Factory,

Thank you all for your ongoing support in the fight against poverty,

I have been following your achievements and progress online and mashallah you guys have smashed both in competitions and with your fundraising we counted the bucket for the Spring Well in Uganda and it was near enough to £950 the cost of the well, after a little extra top up by Neil. That was December 2019.

Now February 2020 Your Spring Well is now benefiting the local villagers. You will be rewarded for every drop.

It delights us at Isra-UK that we have you all in our corner as we endeavour to knock out poverty.

Alhamdulillah this year 2020 the project to provide a solar powered clean water station is under way. With your help a poor village in rural Pakistan where the temperature can reach over 50 degrees, will get fresh, clean, life saving water.

Life is full of ups and downs may you all have many more ups than downs. Osu.

Yours sincerely
Rashid Campbell
ISRA-UK