A martial arts enthusiast has overcome a life limiting illness to achieve his ju-jitsu dream.
Asghar Ali Shah, 49, fulfilled his ambition to gain his 5th dan black belt in go-shin kempo ju-jitsu, while waging a personal battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Asghar, who trains at the Masters of Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Accrington, received the award after completing his grading to gain the award.
Martin Dixon, from the Masters of Mixed Martial Arts Academy, said Asghar had been training at the club on Oxford Street in Accrington for more than 20 years. He said: “It’s a fantastic achievement, his family have had a bad time of it when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“We had to do the grading a bit differently than we normally would so that he could have a rest and complete them.”
Posting on its Facebook page, the club said it was a very humbling moment and an inspiration to everyone at the club when Asghar, who works as a team leader at RPC Ltd, was awarded his 5th dan surrounded by members of the club.
His wife Liz, who lives with Asghar in Blackburn with their two sons, said she was incredibly proud of what her husband has achieved since he was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
She said: “I’m very proud of him, it’s something he’s always wanted to achieve.
“He’s been doing ju-jitsu since about 1992, and he got his black belt and became a sensei.
“They broke his 5th dan grading into segments so he could cope with it.”
Liz said his love of martial arts has rubbed off on their two sons.
She said: “He’s been an inspiration to them, they help him out whenever they can and both of them have gone on to get their 1st dan black belts.
“As well as struggling with his own illness he also cares for me, but he tries really hard and he never complains.”
Liz, who previously worked as a primary school teacher and helped Asghar with after school sessions he ran in local primary schools, has lupus, suffered a heart attack and was blind in one eye before an accident in October left her completely blind.
She added: “He doesn’t let his Parkinson’s slow him down at all. He gets tired a lot quicker, he does what he can and then he has a rest and carries on. His employers have been great.”
