Mr. Farhad Varasteh founded the Karate Academy in Tehran where I studied for
some years, I suppose in late-pre-teen and early-teen years. One of the
most important contributions of Karate was bodily flexibility and
strength. It also gave one a "confidence", a tool, to be able to
protect the body against certain threats -- just yesterday I used a martial artsy kick to defend against a dog attack.
[ OFF-TOPIC: I put the word "confidence" in quotes because it is
misused. Everybody and their mother talks about confidence / self
confidence, but that is exactly what it is in most cases: a thing of
the self, of the ego, this ficticious psychological entity made of
memories -- so protection goes beyond the natural instinct to protect
the organism -- it goes into protecting the psychological self -- and
all sorts of problems arise out of this attempt -- and there are 1001
books that teach the self how to glorify itself and how to get what it
wants and have self confidence and other such nonsense. A 4 year old
child is very confident but that confidence has a totally differet
color -- it is the confidence of innocense. A beautiful, perishable,
pliable blade of grass is confident - it stands unworried, fearless,
though the gentlest breeze can sway it an a shoe can crush it. ]
Mr. Varasteh was a very kind and humble man -- I was just a kid among
many of his students but I do remember having personal interaction with
him in forms of greetings, small talk, and maybe even a photo. I am
glad I went to the Karate academy and would recommend it to any
youngster - with proper philosophical guidance.
The
flexibility the Karate class gave helped / reminded one in taking
up yoga in first year of college which had huge benefits. A few years
ago I started integrating the Karate kicks and punches I had learned
years ago in my regular exercize program - good way of keeping fit.
Continual study led to a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Martial Arts make the body into a weapon - and this can have its
drawbacks - so one has to be very careful and cool specially in crazy
situations.
Reza Ganjavi
Here's some excerpts from Mr. Varasteh's website
http://www.kanzenkai.org/ -- He currently teaches in Canada.
=======================
LET NO MAN WRITE MY EPITAPH
A short history and an autobiography by
Shinan Farhad Varasteh 9th Dan Soke, Kanzen-ryu Karatedo
The founding of Karate in Iran was not an enviable task, for I went
from the depths of despair to the very heights of glory only to be
disillusioned once again. After finishing my studies in the U.S.A I
returned to Iran in 1965 and while serving as a diplomat at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs I started teaching Karate with one person
as my student. As the number of my students rapidly grew, so did the
opposition to the teaching of Karate by all authorities who
misunderstood the art of Karate as an "art for killing". The sport
Organization of Iran took every measure to see that any teaching
facilities were made unavailable, as a consequence I had no choice but
to teach my students in basements, Tennis courts and un-heated military
compounds. As time passed the number of students continued to rise,
inevitably so did that of the opposition.
Despite the odds, I believed and still continue to believe that a
fighter must fight, and I fought for with undying passion for the cause
of Karate-Do.
In the process I continued to decline missions to go abroad concerning
my position as a diplomat, as an alternative I stayed in Iran and
continued to teach my beloved students whose passion and dedication for
Karate gave me a deep sense of responsibility to not let them down.
Karate in Iran grew by leaps and bounds but still there were no signs
of support, or a dojo to call my own however, I believed that I had a
mission and I often found myself swimming against the currents of the
river of life to achieve my goals.
In 1972 I received a letter from W.U.K.O stating that I could bring my
team to compete at the World Championships in Paris, France provided I
obtained a letter from the Iranian Olympic Committee stating that my
team would officially be representing Iran. By what can only be
described as a miracle I obtained the letter. My leading students and I
were off to represent Iran at the world championships in Paris without
the full support of our own country.
Relatively young and still unknown in the world of Karate I managed to
catch the attention of the world congress in a heated discussion where
utilized my linguistic skills and fluently spoke French, Spanish and
English about the technical aspects of Karate-Do as well as suggestions
on how the newly founded World Karate Federation should proceed in
order to be successful. Delegates from various countries were so
impressed with the man from Iran who spoke with passion and elegance
that they voted me as the Vice-President of the World Karate Federation
(W.U.K.O).
Upon my return to Iran having done the impossible, the first Iranian
Karate Federation was formed with me as the president. Now that the
title had been clinched time had come for proof. And prove we did, our
first competitions were with the "Vikings" where in six competitions
against Sweden and Norway we defeated them six times. At the 1975 World
championships in Los Angles I was among a handful of individuals who
qualified and licensed as World Judge and Referee. Our next competition
was against the West German National Karate Team held in Tehran in 1976
where the Germans were defeated five times and equalled once.
That same year we went to Jakarta, Indonesian for Asian Pacific
Union of Karate-Do championships where Iran took third place after
Japan and Indonesia, and prior to the championships I was elected as
the director of A.P.U.K.O.
1976 proved to be an eventful year, where against all precedent because
of my unique relations with the European Karate leaders in the
congress, I convinced them to accept Iran as an official member of the
E.K.U (European Karate Union), and not only that in the same year the
European Karate Championships were held in Tehran, Iran. Thirteen
European countries undertook the journey to Tehran, which President
Delcourt called the capital of Europe.
In the fourth world Karate Championships in Tokyo, Japan Iran took
third place in the world with France. So impressed was the world of
Karate with me as the president, trainer and coach of my country's team
that I was unanimously voted to become the vice-president of the World
Karate Federation for a second four year term, I also re-qualified as a
world judge and referee.
One week after my return from Japan with so many achievements as a
coach as well as on a personal level, I returned to Iran mistakanly
optimistic. I was against all logic removed as the president of the
Iran Karate Federation, while still the president of the World Karate
Federation. So many victories out of one basement club were thought to
have come easily, so why not give it to the more privileged?
Feeling disappointed and let down by my country I retuned to my Dojo
(the Karate Academy) and still in the eyes of the press I continued to
teach my students as the world looked on in. But this was not to be the
end, but the beginning of even more heartache.
In 1979 I was expelled from the Ministry of Foreign affairs, with no
explanation given. And one year later all doors were closed on the love
of my life as my Dojo was closed down, the authorities claimed that it
was illegal, this was a contradicting due to the fact that I was the
first person to have a permit for a Karate club. I was then forbidden
to leave Iran and after the Iranian National Karate Championships in
1981 (ironically titled the Farhad Varasteh Cup), I was forbidden to
leave Tehran.
So after so many years of hard work, accomplishments, and contribution
to the sport and to the youth of my country I was deprived of
everything that I had worked so hard for. In 1982 with all doors closed
on me, I fled my beloved Iran for Paris, France only to start again
from scratch, only this time with a wife and four children. I started
teaching Karate in Paris and in 1984 with my son and a few students
from Italy and France I was invited to participate in the European All
Star Karate Championships in Rome. My team won gold in team Kumite and
my son Pirooz also a member of the team won a gold medal in individual
Kata. In 1986 I immigrated to Canada and with no funds and no
connections I was to start again for the third time. I started teaching
Karate three times a week out of a squash court. At times I still get
tears in my eyes when I speak of the past, but I insist these are not
tears of weakness, but of emotion.
Now in 2002 after my Dojo has been ranked number one for the past eight
years in a row, with my students winning more medals than any club or
style. One would think so much pain suffering and injustice would
weaken a man's resolve.
About one year ago while accepting two more awards as the club of the
year in Ontario I insisted that excellence is a habit, not an act. My
final judgement as the founder of Kan-Zen-Ryu Karate-Do must be left to
history.
And last but not least I want to remind every individual everywhere
that if they choose to practice Kan-Zen-Ryu Karate-Do or use this name
in any way they must teach and maintain my standards evaluations I have
set forth. They must be graded according my standards set forth in the
syllabus in Kumite, Kata and Kihon. Let there be no misunderstandings
by anyone anywhere. This style of which I am the founder, over the
years the price has been paid in sweat, blood and tears. And although a
few people around the world have shared in the sweat and tears I assure
you the blood has been all mine. It is my expectation and wish that if
they do not or cannot maintain these standards they should change their
name to any other style and refrain from using the word Kan-Zen-Ryu or
Kan-Zen-Kai.
Copyright © 2002 Kanzen Kai Karate Do. All right reserved.
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6-Jan-07
Nassim, your father's contributions were incredibly important to the
entire generations of Iraninans whom I was a part of as a student in
the Academy in Tehran, and to future generations who will undoubtedly
benefit from the consequences of his work. I can not be there for the
event in person but my well wishes are with him and his family.
My gratitude for him and his work is immense.
Affectionately,
Reza Ganjavi
www.rezamusic.com