 Fir
Vale has someone to fight its corner, Kick Boxing Champion
Latif Khan. Known to everyone as Latif or even 'Lethal
Latif' he's lived all his life in Fir Vale and is passionate
about the area.
"There's more here
than meets the eye. I want people to respect where we
live. There are a lot of old people who live here who
aren't cared for properly, housing with leaking roofs
and no central heating, and I care about what's happening
to them. My shouting at meetings has produced positive
results in Fir Vale. Not everyone appreciates it at
the time, but they will when they see the results."
Latif's parents came to Britain
in the 1950's to work in the steel mills.
"Growing up here
was hard, English wasn't spoken at home and my school
life was difficult. I did a City & Guilds NVQ in
Bricklaying, I was unemployed for a while and then worked
on the Markets. I took myself to night school to learn
to read and write and I started taxi driving about 8
years ago. It's when I'm driving round that I really
see life on the streets, and how Fir Vale and the city
have gone downhill. The 1980's were tough, I saw a lot
of friends falling into trouble with police, drugs and
prison. In life you need religion to keep you on track,
that and having someone to talk to."
After drifting for a while Latif
discovered Graham Abdullah's martial art's classes when
he was 18, the dedication and focus that the art form
required to pulled him back on the tracks. While his
friends were out clubbing and getting into trouble Latif
was training. He says that he had no natural talent
for martial arts but he built himself up along with
his self-confidence. He started entering kick boxing
competitions and started winning and from there he never
looked back.
"Graham Abdullah
was a father figure to me, he saw me through thick and
thin."
His wins since have been very impressive.
MAI (Martial Arts Illustration magazine) Grand Champion
in 1994; European Martial Art Grand Champion in1994,
'95 & '96, and still rated in the top 10 'semi-contact
point fighting' table.
He runs classes for adults and children
at Swift Fit Gym at Sheffield Lane Top.
"I know how good
learning a martial art was for me. It took me off the
streets and gave me discipline and control, so I thought
if it worked for me why not for others?"
Talking to people who attend his
classes I found them to be popular with girls, boys,
men and women. People wanted to do the classes for a
variety of reasons, some to do with confidence building
and others more self defence based.
His message to young lads on the
street: "There's a better world out there, lads.
If you need to talk come and see me"
You can contact Latif about his
classes on 07990 772903
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