The Age
Andra Jackson
27 November 2006
AS A boy growing up in war-blighted Afghanistan, Hussain Sadiqi could not have known how far his passion for martial arts would carry him, literally and figuratively.
This week Sadiqi, 27, who came to Australia as a refugee in 1999, will draw on his martial arts skills when he makes his public debut as a circus performer in the National Institute of Circus Arts' production DiVino — on the same day he becomes an Australian citizen.
He had never seen a circus until this year, but decided to pursue a performance career after refugee lawyer Julian Burnside, QC, suggested it as a way of using his background as a martial arts champion.
Sadiqi said he became mesmerised with martial arts as a boy in central Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, where "learning something to defend ourselves" was a good pastime.
He mastered sholin (Chinese) kung fu and as Afghanistan's dual gold medal champion, he became a national hero.
Speaking at the circus institute's Prahran campus, where he has finished his first year on a scholarship, Sadiqi recalled his glory days: "The first time, I win a gold medal, there was a big celebration in the province."
But after the Taliban came to power, they began to hunt Hazaras, one of Afghanistan's four ethnic groups. Sadiqi's fame was his downfall and he was forced to flee.
He landed on Ashmore Reef with 147 other asylum seekers, and was taken to the now closed Port Hedland detention centre.
"It was depressing … I escaped from one hole and I put myself in another hole," he said.
However, other detainees recognised him and asked him to teach them martial arts. Training Afghans and Iraqis, Chinese and Bangladeshis gave his life renewed purpose.
The joy of his release was marred by the death of his mother in Afghanistan and the Immigration Department's refusal to let him attend her funeral. But he was comforted by his father's words of advice to "study and make her soul a bit happy with your future".
With his dream of representing Australia in martial arts at the 2008 Olympics, he hopes to fulfil his father's wishes.
DiVino, from November 30 to December 9, at Sidney Myer Circus Studio. For bookings, call EasyTix on 9639 0096.
http://www.nica.com.au
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