Inamullah Khan (martial artist)

Infobox Martial artist biography
name = Inamullah Khan


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Inamullah Khan
nickname =
nationality = flagicon|Pakistan Pakistani
dateofbirth = birth date|1940|1|10|mf=y
placeofbirth = Zarobi, (Swabi District), NWFP
fightingoutof =
dateofdeath = death date and age|2007|11|15|1940|1|10
placeofdeath = Karachi, Sind
style = Kyokushin kaikan
trainer = Peter Chong, Masutatsu Oyama
yearsactive = 1977 - 2007

Inamullah Khan (January 10, 1940 - November 15, 2007) was a Pakistani martial artist who reached 7th Dan to earn the title of Shihan under the training of Peter Chong and Masutatsu Oyama.Citation
last = Mateen
first = Imtiaz
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Karate Champion Inamullah Khan leaves behind thousands of students and well-wishers grieving
newspaper = Weekly Akhbar e Jahan
pages = p.60
year = 2007
date = 2007-30-01
url = http://www.akhbar-e-jehan.com/181/sports2.php] He is considered the pioneer of Kyokushin kaikan in Pakistan.

Besides Kyokushinkai, Inamullah Khan mastered several styles of martial arts including Bando, Judo, Aikido, Ju Jitsu, Shotokan, Karate Budokan,Gojukai, and Taekwando. [http://kyokushinkaikan.com.pk/index_files/PioneerInPakistan.htm Pioneer In Pakistan] ] He learnt these arts of defence from Sosai Mas Oyama, Goshi Yama Guchi, Peter Chong, Kim, Mosis Poul, Naka Yama, Jo Chin, Chew Choo Soot, Haider Ali, Muhammad Ashraf & Khalid.

Eary Life

Inamullah Khan was born to a religious Muslim family in his ancestral village of Zarobi, Swabi District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. His father Moulana Shafi Ullah Khan was a respected and influential personality of Zarobi.

Inamullah Khan received his primary education in his home town. Later he came to Karachi where he graduated and settled.

Career

Though initially a good player of football and eventually selected for the Pakistan national team, Inamullah Khan was more interested in individual sports like wrestling, boxing and karate. Eventually he opted for martial arts.

In the 70's he trained in Bando under Khalid near Purani Numaish (a neighbourhood in Karachi). Soon he learned Karate and Judo. In 1977, he finished in 2nd position and won the "Best Fighter" of the Tournament award in the World Karate Championship at Kualalampur, Malaysia. He won the title of "Pakistan Champion" many times for the years 1978, 1979, 1983 and 1984. His record boasts 78 wins and 3 losses, both on KO's.

Kyokushin kaikan & Shihan

Peter Chong

Inamullah Khan's meeting with Peter Chong was a legendary event in the history of Pakistani martial arts and also a life-changing experience for Inamullah Khan. The way the two martial artists met each other was no less interesting.

In 1977 Peter Chong visited Pakistan to analyze the situation of Martial Arts in the country. Disappointed with the local situation of Martial Arts, he decided to leave when in a chance encounter he met Inamullah Khan at the departure airport. Inamullah Khan after realizing that Peter Chong was some sort of a formidable martial artist challenged him to a dual at the airport! Naturally, Peter Chong won but Inamullah Khan was so humbled by him that he convinced Peter Chong to extend his stay in Pakistan. He brought Peter Chong to his home as his guest where Chong stayed for an entire month. Impressed by his host's hospitality, Peter Chong in turn invited him to be his guest at his house in Singapore, which is where Chong taught him the Kyokushin kaikan style of fighting over a period of two years.

Title of Shihan

After finishing his training under Peter Chong, Inamullah Khan travelled to Japan to train under Masutatsu Oyama. He excelled in Kyokushin to such an extent that after many years of training he attained the rank of 7th Dan and was awarded the honorific title of Shihan. During the 1980s Inamullah Khan was formally appointed the Branch Chief of Pakistan. [ [http://www.belgiankyokushin.be/index2.php?website_main_pagina=/module_bko.php?id=130=rubriek=10 Belgian Kyokushin] ]

Pioneer of Kyokushin kaikan in Pakistan

Inamullah Khan is considered the "Pioneer of Kyokushin kaikan" in Pakistan. Inamullah Khan introduced Kyokushin kaikin for the first time in Pakistan in 1975 and from then on till the end involved himself in establishing and developing Martial Arts in Pakistan. The promotion of martial arts among the new generation of the country was his biggest goal. He inaugurated the first South Asian Kyokushin Karate Academy in 1975 in Gizri, Karachi. [ [http://www.ikohonbu.com/branches_asia.htm Branches in Asia] ] The Gizri Dojo (popularly known among Pakistani Kyokushin practitioners as 'Headquarter') was later renamed Universal Karate Academy but the style of the Dojo is still Kyokushin kaikan. Proper inauguration of Kyokushinkai Karate Club was held in 23rd August, 1977 in Karachi.

In 1983 Masutatsu Oyama accredited his efforts in Tokyo for the promotion of karate.

Records & Achievements

Inamullah served as President of Karachi Karate Association and Vice President of Sindh Karate Association. Moreover, he was elected lifetime chairman of Martial Art Connection Federation. He introduced Kyokushin style in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Marshes. When he started Kyokushin in Uzbekistan in 1994, the President of Uzbekistan awarded him an honorary nationality in this regard.

Awards

He received the Silver Jubilee Award from the Association of Art and Journalism in 1989. In 1994 he was nominated for the Presidential Award from Pakistan Navy. Line Club gave him Silver Jubilee Award in 1995. Ten Shin Kan, a Japanese Association, awarded his services for Karate with the Pride of Pakistan & Lifetime Achievement awarded at Lahore in 2006.

Records

Best Fighter

During the 1977 world Karate Championship in Malaysia, in one of his fights Inamullah Khan defeated his opponent in a 3 minute match with a world record of 66 punches-per-minute which is still unbroken. and also runerup in this championship He was the first Pakistani and Muslim to have achieved this record.

Breaking Items

He was famous for introducing following feats of 'breaking items' in Pakistan.

* Two Baseball Bats by Shin
* Coconut by Hand Blow
* Natural mountain stones by hand blow
* Ice Blocks
* Six Stones of 40 kg on his abdomen
* Tiles on different part of body
* Eight 8 Inch thick wooden slabs by hand blow
* Passing cars (Toyota, Hiace, Pajero) over his abdomen
*8 wooden slabs 1 inch thick each broked by punch

As a Trainer

In 1980 Inamullah Khan was recruited as Chief Petty Officer in Navy due to his best performance in sports. He also trained the Pakistan Navy ,,Naval SSG Pak Marines,,Naval Acedemy cedits,,and Army SSG commandos as well as the local Police [ATS] EAGELSQUAD.Police comandose in unarmed-combat-training. He also had the opportunity to serve abroad when he led the training of several members of the Royal Family and also Saudi Commandos at King Faisal Naval Base in Saudi Arabia. He also served as Air Guard from 1982-1987. He visited 144 countries for military services and Martial Art championships.

Notable Students

Inamullah prepared several world-class fighters for participation in various international Kyokushin tournaments, including the World Open and the Asian Open. Most notable among them are:Fact|date=February 2008
* Shakeel Ahmed Chandio - (Pakistan Champion multiple times; World Open 1987 Best 32 [lost to Kurosawa after extensions] , Asian Open 199? Best 8).Fact|date=February 2008
* Jameel Ahmed Chandio - (Pakistan Champion multiple times; World Open 1995 Best 32 [lost to Kazumi after extensions] , Asian Open 199? Best 8). Fact|date=February 2008
* Hidayatullah Khan - (Pakistan Champion multiple times; 1992 Junior World Open in Singapore 2nd Runerup & (Best Fighter)awarded by Mas Oyama.; 3rd Round 1995 World Open [lost to Kenji Yamaki after extensions] ).Fact|date=February 2008

Death

Although Inamullah Khan was known for his strength and physical endurance, he had been suffering from severe heart conditions for more than a decade. He had also undergone a heart surgery during the early 90's. Despite that he used to exercise and practice regularly, four hours a day.

On November 15, 2007, Thursday at 7:30 PM (PST), Inamullah Khan died due to cardiac arrest.

ee also

*Shihan
*Ashraf Tai
*Kyokushin kaikan
*Masutatsu Oyama
*Martial Arts

Notes