I was born on a warm, sunny summer’s day in Rasht / Iran.  I went to school and grew up in the same city.  When I was nearly five, my father took me to a taekwondo club to keep me away from the trouble on the streets.  I was not a trouble maker but I have to admit that I was very energetic and my mum was finding it difficult to keep me in the house.  I would always find a way to go out and play with my mates in the streets where all the trouble was.

My father always supported me in my taekwondo career and personal life.  He was my closest friend and the biggest fan.  The saddest day of life happened when he passed away 3 days before world championship in May 2007.

I immigrated to the UK at a young age.   Spending the first few years in the UK, studying ICT in the day time and working in a restaurant at nights. This did not leave me much time for training and competition in Taekwondo.  However during that time I did whatever possible to squeeze training sessions into my very busy life.  I still remember those days that I finished work at 4 am and started training straight away in the play ground next to the restaurant where I used to work.  Obviously it was very hard to manage but I knew if I could keep doing what I was doing and push the limits, then gradually life would become easier and more importantly I would achieve my goals in 2 very important aspects of my life (education and sport).  That tough time of my life taught me so many great lessons about life.  I learnt how to be a survivor, a winner and most importantly I learnt to appreciate and respect what I have in life.

I married my wife Sara late 2004 and two years later god gifted us a beautiful little girl.  I always thank god for a great wife and a beautiful daughter he gave me.

I became eligible to represent team GB in 2005, and then my life was at a different level.  I was working in a leisure centre and had more time to train.  In that same year I became a member of Team GB and started winning European medals and world class tournaments.