Bashir Ahmed sees bright future of martial arts in Pakistan

As Mix Martial Arts (MMA) continues to gain popularity across the globe, the sport’s trademark ‘madness’ is spreading at jaw dropping rate in Pakistan too, where the once small MMA community is now booming.

Along the way, bona fide superstars such as Bashir Ahmed, Ahmed Mujtaba and Mehmosh Raza have emerged, further piquing the interest of the nation. Bashir, one of the pioneers of MMA in Pakistan and also known as 'God-father of Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan', spoke to Business Recorder about the growth of sports in the country.

“I passionately believe that MMA has had the fastest organic growth in Pakistan with no major outside investment. We have real stars and leaders and influencers with international level knowledge and exposure,” he said.

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“The most important that PAKMMA needs right now is for everyone to spend 10% of time on projects of working together so we have a smooth transition when this becomes a true mainstream sport,” he added.

Bashir bought MMA in Pakistan back in 2008 and established an academy called ‘Shaheen Academy’. He also owns Synergy Fitness and MMA in DHA, Lahore.

With MMA, he is also changing life of poor kids. “This is where we hope to inspire and motivate kids and teens to be the best version of themselves as role models and leaders, hoping to use the power of martial arts to change the lives of the poor and disadvantaged kids of Charrar Pind," he said.

"Some come from poor but stable homes and too many others have lives more like a stray animal than someone’s child. We are martial artists. One of the key signs of a martial artist is to stand up for injustice,” Bashir further said.

“To protect those who are weak, if you do not make this a part of your identity, if you do not remind your fellow martial artists of the duty, if you do not teach this to your students, then you are not a martial artist. As martial artists, we need to start speaking out, we need to start putting our time, resources and hearts into helping the societies and communities we live in,” Bashir added.

Meanwhile, giving his views on the growing industry of the MMA in Pakistan, Mehmosh Raza said, “There are a few people that are still working towards making MMA great in Pakistan. And I think it’s important for everyone to work together. Rather than enter into wars.”

“Whether they are up against each other or trying to be better than one another, they need to be together like they were in the start,” said Mahmosh, who was recently in action in China.