Exclusive Interview with Muhib Rahman

Written by Wendy Diaz, Muslim Link Contributing Writer

Muhib Rahman is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and the Head Instructor of Aqabah Karate.

ML: What was your overall impression of the tournament?

MR: It was very good. I thought it was very well organized. It was small and that is what we needed for our school since it was a first time tournament. The organizers were very accommodating to our religious and cultural needs. So overall, the tournament went very well, we did really well. I think it was a big success.

ML: Did you participate?

MR: After 11 years, I thought I would not participate again but I did only because I wanted to lead from the front. A lot of my students were competing, actually most of them, were competing for the first time so I wanted to encourage them. A lot of them were nervous and scared so I told them that even me who didn’t practice in a while, after 11 years, I wanted to show them that there is nothing to be scared or to be nervous about.

ML: What was the parent’s reaction to the tournament afterwards?

MR: All the reactions that I got were definitely overwhelmingly satisfactory. They were very happy; some had never gone to karate tournaments and some may have gone before but they really thought this was well put together and they also liked the fact that we went as a team. So they really liked it and they are looking forward to more tournaments.


ML: What do you think this tournament means to Aqabah Karate?

MR: It is definitely a step forward, a big step forward because the program has been here for a long time, but only in the last year and a half has it taken a lot of structure. The tournament itself was a big step in making the structure bigger and more established. So for the students it was motivating and they are motivated to train right now so insha’Allah, I am hoping it will bring good to the program and to our host Dar-us-Salaam.

ML: What were some of the highlights of the tournament? What did you enjoy the most?

MR: Definitely watching the students getting their medals. It was awesome to see our girls, boys, and even the women taking their medals, getting on the podium for everyone to see that the Muslims are part of their society and they are very competitive and willing to put their best forward.