QUETTA: As students of martial arts started gathering at Dr. Muhammad Khan Sports Academy in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, a boy without arms entered the hall with a small bag on his shoulders.
Shoukat Khan, a young martial artist, sat on the floor before taking off his shirt with his feet and getting dressed in his white karate kit and green belt.
He then joined other academy members to carry out the usual warm-up routine.
“I have been practicing karate for the last 11 years,” Khan told Arab News earlier this week. “I have learnt Shotokan, Taekwondo, kickboxing and gymnastic which have helped me develop my strength and made my body much stronger. I am now able to protect myself in most situations.”
Shoukat Khan, a karate player without arms, stands with other members of his martial arts academy in Quetta, Pakistan, on June 13, 2022. (AN photo)
The 22-year-old athlete said he chose to become a professional karate player due to the “sarcastic remarks” of people around him. HIs sense of indignation also led him to become the first person with disability in his province to opt for such a hard sport discipline.
He won a silver medal in gymnastics at an inter-district championship held in March. Prior to that, he also secured a gold medal for his club when he was asked to fight with another disabled martial artist in a local karate competition in Quetta.
Khan's coach, Zakir Khilji, described him as one of his most disciplined and hardworking students.
“I wondered how an armless boy could practice karate,” he said while remembering his first encounter with Khan. “But Shoukat astonished me with his courage and passion for martial arts.”
“Today he can perform stunts which most able-bodied people cannot do,” he continued. “He has set a new precedent for other persons with disabilities who sometimes give up hope and find it difficult to face the hardships in their lives.”
Khan has not participated in national level competitions since he could not find an opponent in his category, though this has not stopped him from preparing for Paralympics.
Shoukat Khan, a karate player without arms, can be seen in a training session at a martial arts academy in Quetta, Pakistan, on June 13, 2022. (AN photo)
Speaking to Arab News, his elder brother, Zahir, recalled a day when Khan entered the home with a bleeding head after taking up a fight with another boy. Back then, he was only nine years old, but the incident later compelled him to become a karate player.
“Our family and his fellow club members have been campaigning for donations to get prosthetic arms for Shoukat which can cost over Rs1.8 million,” he said.
As a child, Khan also enjoyed playing soccer. In fact, he left his studies at a local seminary since he was obsessed with the sport.
“I was the captain of the soccer team of our street,” he recollected. “We played a match with the team of disabled football players from Mastung, though they managed to defeat us by 2-0.”
Shoukat Khan, a karate player without arms, shows the flexibility of his body while practicing at a martial arts academy in Quetta, Pakistan, on June 13, 2022. (AN photo)
Khan said he had seen many people with disabilities who were begging in different street corners.
“I often share my story with such individuals and encourage them to join any sport that they like to play,” he continued. “This helps people face social pressures and live a more colorful life.”
The provincial sports secretary of Balochistan, Ishaq Jamali, said the government had organized indoor sports activities for persons with disabilities.
“This is the first time I have heard about the armless karate boy,” he continued. “But I will definitely want to meet him and promote him on national level where he may get a chance to represent the province in martial arts competitions for persons with disabilities.”
