In the dusty village of Dogonvir, Iran, a group of teens spar with the focus of 'Cobra Kai' characters – except their dojo is a makeshift courtyard, and their karate gis are swapped for traditional wushu uniforms. 🌟 Meet Ali Reza, the 34-year-old coach turning this unlikely spot into a pipeline for international martial arts champions.
“We train with what we have – stones as weights, tree branches for balance beams,” Reza laughs, watching students practice aerial kicks. Despite zero government funding, his team has produced three national gold medalists since 2020. Their secret? A mashup of Chinese wushu techniques and Persian #GrindCulture.
Wushu (Chinese martial arts) has exploded in Iran since the 2000s, with athletes medaling at events like the Asian Games. For Reza’s students, it’s more than sport – it’s a ticket to represent Iran globally. “When I do the nanquan [southern fist] form, I imagine the crowd cheering ‘Iran! Iran!’” says 16-year-old Zahra, spinning a practice sword.
Experts say Iran’s wushu boom reflects deeper China-Iran cultural ties. “It’s like K-pop without the music – young people embracing East Asian traditions,” notes Tehran University’s Dr. Amini. But for Dogonvir’s warriors, the goal is simpler: “To show the world our village exists,” Reza grins, “through flying kicks and perfect forms.”
