** Movie Alert ** – THE MARTIAL ARTS KID
IT’S NOT ALWAYS THE MOVIE BUT THE ACTORS PLAYING THEIR ROLE
Interview by Pattee Mak| December 6, 2013 –
Ok you are probably wondering why is Pattee Mak interviewing two world renowned kickboxers, Hamid Lahrizi and his amazing 9 year old son, Nassim “Young Dragon” Faras Lahrizi on fightkings boxing website about their upcoming movie role in “he Martial Arts Kid”. Well I’ll tell ya why. Because after all these two individuals are very talented and in order to be a kickboxer well…. you need to be able to box. And besides who doesn’t love a great fighting, knock down, spit’em out movie with great dialogue.
So before we get into the interview, here’s some background on each of them. Lahrizi has been in the martial arts since the age of 5 years old and an international champion in karate and kickboxing. He is the proud owner since 1990 of his own martial arts academy called “Hamid’s Academy” in Brockton, Massachusetts and just recently became the President of the World Kickboxing Council (WKC) representing the United States of America. He is an 8th degree black belt and the proud father to Nassim “Young Dragon”. Now Nassim when you first meet him, he’s a shy, quiet, typical 9 year old but his accomplishments to date are outstanding. 103 titles globally. He’s like the Mayweather of the arts. Here’s a link to his facebook page because I know if I started to list all of his gold, silver, bronze etc etc medals, you’d be reading forever. HYPERLINK “https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nassim-Young-Dragon/709664212383412” https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nassim-Young-Dragon/709664212383412.
Pattee Mak: Let’s get right to the movie. Lahrizi, in the movie your character is Taj and your son’s character is Hamza and you will also be playing a father/son team. So without giving the movie away, tell me what your role is in the movie. Somehow I can see you doing what you do best. Doin’ some damage.
Lahrizi: During the movie, my son and I are involved in a fight scene but it all begins before the fight scene started. My role is leading up to the fight scene. It is all about giving instruction and discipline in the arts. Discipline always involves the martial arts. So we are sending a message to every family out there. It’s a high scene of action, acrobats and we toss in some weapons. It involves a ton of martial arts, karate, boxing kung fu, Taekwondo, action kicks and tricks with martial art weapons. There will be no ropes being pulled during our scene. In the past, from time to time, some movies used ropes in their shoots to enhance the production. This movie isn’t going to be fantasy martial arts. Kung Fu martial artist at times were pulled by wire. Everything will be real. It’s what [Jackie] Chan does. It’s all our own stunts. No doubles involved. Not mma but extreme martial arts (xma). Most of the actors did acting and/or kickboxing. This movie has boxers and kickboxing background champions.
Pattee Mak: How did your role and your son’s role come about?
Lahrizi: For my son, the role came out seeing Nassim being the youngest kickboxing world champion and karate champ with so many titles he got picked to become a model for Dragon Traditionz which is owned by Don Wilson “The Dragon” and James Wilson. They are both producers of the movie. As for me, I am a world champion in martial arts etc and with 41 or 42 years experience in the arts. I gave seminars and trained with the best. I’ve been boxing for years and in martial arts I am an 8th degree black belt. I have a better relationship with him since I’m his father and one of the best kickers in the world. Who else would know my son better than me. The experience I have with martial arts and connections I have and friendship with martial arts movie stars and skills and I’m known all over the world. My son was contacted first and they needed a father to play his role and since I’m skilled for the part, I grabbed the opportunity. I’m also a chorographer in mma and I am helping with scenes especially the scenes that involve weapons and extreme martial arts. I’m all rounded in mixed martial artists.
Pattee Mak: In the movie you are playing Hamza’s father. I’m assuming the producer picked you for the role because the acting would come naturally for you since Hamza is your son in real life.
Lahrizi: Yes. Most definitely he’s trained by me and we know each other’s technique and we do some tricks together. I train him and taught him.
Pattee Mak: So after this interview you are going to have to show me some of these tricks without causing me to get hurt.
Lahrizi: Absolutely.
Pattee Mak: Has your part of the movie already been filmed?
Lahrizi: No not yet. We are meeting all the directors, producers and the writers on December 7th. They are calling this the “Called First Traditions Movie Party Meeting”. Everyone in the cast I believe should be there.
Pattee Mak: Is the producer looking to release the movie in theaters? And if so how soon before I can grab my popcorn and purchase a ticket?
Lahrizi: Yes it’s going to be in theater but I don’t have any dates or times as of now. It all depends on once we start shooting the movie. At the upcoming cast meeting and party we will find out more details.
Pattee Mak: Is this the first time you and your son was in a movie together? If not, what other roles have you acted in?
Lahrizi: Yes this will be our first movie together. As for the record we are best friends. We play video games and watch karate movies together. This is like a dream come true. It’s real life chorographic scenes or playing a video game like mortal combat together but this will be reality. We are very excited to be part of this movie. Knowing the artist are true martial arts. One of the greatest action movie stars like Don Wilson “The Dragon” will be in the movie along with Cynthia Roth Rock “The Lady Dragon”. Cheryl Wheeler Duncan is the producer and world champion movie star. She’s appeared in so many different roles. I’m honored to work with these individuals.
Pattee Mak: Your son is very talented and entertaining. I’ve watched him perform live on many occasions during the intermission of many boxing events. Nassim is definitely not afraid to be in the spot light. He has competed all around the world. Do you feel that this all this attention may change his humbling ways?
Lahrizi: No not really you can tell from a younger age being a world champion and at the age of 7 years old he has had so many titles. 60 titles at 7 years old and he really didn’t change. He’s very humble and a normal kid who plays hide and seek. He didn’t change. A human person doesn’t change unless you are not sure of yourself. If you are confident, you don’t change. You are who you are. There is no ego with Nassim or myself. We are very humble. Thank God for the blessing! People we meet we aren’t afraid to talk to get into conversation. I asked him his favorite thing and he said, “I get to meet a new kid with different languages”. He’s always running around with kids and being himself. Being in a movie and being the youngest world champion in the world didn’t change nothing. He’s even in the Hall of Fame and Books of Record, and it didn’t change him a bit. He still goes to school and plays with neighborhood kids after the competitions. He plays baseball and football and he enjoys being a normal kid. He’s always feeling he can reach a better position and better dreams with the same heart, discipline and love. He loves performing and competition, it’s something he’s been born with. He was always around it. With tournaments and big events. Not only is he around people in the arts but he is always around the biggest people in boxing. He’s very loved by Marvin Hagler who comes to our gym. He’s been around Micky Ward, who was here for our grand opening of our gym. A bunch of boxing champs and he performed for them at 4 yrs old. Nassim was loved by Angelo Dundee. Nassim has the same birthday as his son. So they always connected. Dundee always was thanking us and our academy for taking care of the kids and he sent great messages to us. Dundee personally talked to the gym and talked to our students. By being around big superstars of boxing or Hollywood it made of us very humble and we enjoyed being around great people. Going to competitions and boxing shows we would end up setting up lunch or dinner plans and we talk and learn from them. See how their behavior was towards their fans. I don’t think anything will change in both of our lives by being in Hollywood and being with one of the best. I think it’ll be normal. And I thank God for being around these people, in my opinion.
Pattee Mak: What separates this movie from other martial arts movies?
Lahrizi: It’s family oriented and it’s sending a great message to the youth about bullying and it’ll bring up the discipline, the humbleness of the youth and being a great martial artist. It doesn’t matter on age if someone is older or younger they still have goodness and can treat them as normal as they can be and send that message around. Humble martial artists can still be a great model in school and neighborhood even though they can be tough. Proof of that they can play with any weapon and show that respect and love.
Pattee Mak: Have you ever had any acting lessons?
Lahrizi: No. Never. It’s natural to us. We are mixed extreme martial artists. Arts is a part of what we do every day. It’s a way of life. It taught us a lot, not only in life but how we can act and how we can act in scenes and how we can be someone different than whom we are and it becomes natural. One the greatest way is by watching so many mma movies. When we perform it’s an act we perform all over the place. Even out of the county, boxing shows, and that built in us confidence to act and to be in the spot light in front of the camera. TV interviews and radio shows. It’s all about being yourself in front of camera and trying to do what you’ve been asked without being nervous or discouraged. We learned a great deal from that.
Pattee Mak: Nassim I love to watch you perform. Tell me how excited are you to be 9 years old, be in your 1st movie and see yourself on film?
Nassim Young Dragon: I’m excited to start my first movie and I never been in a movie before because I’ve seen how it is to be in one. So I’m really excited to be in one. I’m excited to show off my skills to the whole world on the big scene.
Pattee Mak: How do other kids see you? Your friends or kids from school?
Nassim Young Dragon: Well my friends from school as a friend, champion and a role model to them.
Pattee Mak: Was it ever a dream of yours to be an actor?
Nassim Young Dragon: Yes, cause whenever I watch TV I pause it and I try to do what they are trying to do on TV. I copy scenes in segments. With kicks and techniques. Then I say and act what they are saying.
Pattee Mak: Tell me about your role in the movie:
Nassim Young Dragon: I‘m acting as a 9 year old as the youngest champion of the dojo and the main kid character looks up to me from my actions during class and techniques and behavior as a world champion.
Pattee Mak: In the press nowadays there is so much negativism. One avenue is bullying. What would you like to say to the bullies out there who are bullying other kids?
Nassim Young Dragon: That I don’t like when people bully other people because what comes around goes, around and they don’t know what will come to them when they are bullying other people. You can’t make friends by bullying other kids.
Pattee Mak: And that is a great statement to make on the “What comes around, goes around”. I have said that many times before.
Pattee Mak: This is such a strange question to ask a 9 year old but technically because of all you’ve accomplished it really isn’t. How long do you want to continue to fight for and do you have any goals that you have set for yourself?
Nassim Young Dragon: I do have goals. My goal is to continue fighting and share it with the world and all kids all around the world.
Pattee Mak: You have accomplished soo much in a short period of time. Out of all your accomplishments, trophies, acting, being an ambassador, which one stands out the most in your life?
Nassim Young Dragon: Being a world martial artist and champion movie star.
Pattee Mak: How did your name “Young Dragon” Come about?
Nassim Young Dragon: It came about while I expressing my fears by kiaing.
Lahrizi: See in kiaing he’s expressing himself through breathing especially through the very end of his performance. He shouts by looking up in the air and he then proceeds to kiaing by releasing the energy. Kind of like to get ride of something inside of you. Release all that bad stuff. One form of bad stuff could be a release of anger inside. It was givin by James Wilson “The Dragon” because his brother [Don Wilson] is “The Dragon” and Cynthia Wheeler Duncan “The Lady Dragon so they came up with the name for Nassim, “Young Dragon”. Because of his name “Young Dragon”, Nassim’s picture is currently on a clothing line by Dragon Traditionz. They captured him immediately at the end of his performance while he was kiaing. It’s a great photo of him. I am going to give you a t-shirt before you leave. You are going to love it.
Pattee Mak: Thank you both so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I always love to watch Nassim perform at the many boxing events that I attend.
Lahrizi: We want to thank you Pattee for the interview and for the special pictures that you have taken at many of the boxing events that we have attended. Also for your friendship and the way you greet us and I have to say the first time Nassim saw you at one of the events up in Boston I believe, he wanted to say hello to you. You are a very humble person and very open person. You always take the time out of your busy schedule to ask what is Nassim’s next event and we always connected. So I wanted to say thank you soo much for your love and support and kindness and it was a great pleasure to have you be working with us. Coming to our home and dojo so you can see where 
we train other champions and kids. I want you to take home some souvenirs to thank you and we appreciate this visit to Brockton, Massachusetts home of champions. The first martial artist as a world martial artist in Brockton and also in Boxing Rocky Marciano, Marvin Haggler and his brother and now a new generation with the youngest marital artiest of the world. Ninety-nine titles since 2011.
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As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
for real? the kid is ugly. so much for the leading man in Hollywood. that’s why these movies don’t see daylight outside of a dvd sale bin.
Yeah thanks for your comment rob ryan Mr. perfect…. what a great roll model for a 9 year old….. after my son Nassim read the your comment he said “i know who, what and how i look” and i replied …”Son people will love and dislike but it’s all ok cos you are you and that’s how God made you and o one can change you….!!!!!!
Mr. rob ryan its pity to show weakness in unneeded comments such as yours. People often say WORDS describes the level of maturity of a person, that being said I feel sorry for you. an UNBEATEN WORLD CHAMPION not ONCE NOR TWICE NOR…read and learn. His beauty in and out is something you will never see nor fell but I am sure his kindness will forgive your non sense. So for all of us we feel sorry for you. And hopefully you ll learn from this 9 yrs old MASTER. God Bless
God Bless
Mr. rob ryan
أنصحك بزيارة طبيب بيطري فحالتك النفسية ليست على ما يرام