President Awesome slept his dad trying to prove to him that jiu-jitsu works – and dad went on to get a BJJ black belt

John Davis

In a captivating revelation during a conversation with Bas Rutten, Karate Combat President Asim Zaidi shared a remarkable story from his childhood that changed his family’s martial arts journey forever.

Growing up with a father who was a Taekwondo coach, young Asim’s martial arts world transformed when he discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu through a video featuring Royce Gracie. When he showed the video to his father, the response was skeptical.

“My dad was like, ‘what is this?’ And I put the video in and he said, ‘oh awesome, these are fake fights,'” Zaidi recalled. “I said, ‘no dad, this is real.'”

Determined to pursue this new path, 10-year-old Zaidi found the Gracie Academy in Miami, where he began training under Leo Gracie, Ryron Gracie’s father. His father remained unconvinced, continuing his Taekwondo practice while taking his son to jiu-jitsu classes.

The turning point came when Zaidi was 12, after two years of jiu-jitsu training. During a playful wrestling session with his father, young Asim applied a technique that would dramatically change their perspectives.

“I wrap his shirt around his neck. I’m expecting a tap because I didn’t know people go unconscious,” Zaidi explained. “And I’m choking. And in my head, I’m squeezing. I’m getting tired. I’m saying, ‘man, my dad’s so strong.'”

What happened next terrified the young practitioner. “I look at his eyes and they’re rolled back. And I let go and he starts shaking. And I’m a 12-year-old kid. I’m crying, screaming. I go to the neighbors, ‘I killed my dad, I killed my dad.'”

The incident, though frightening, had a surprising outcome. Upon regaining consciousness, Zaidi’s father had a complete change of heart. “Signed up for jiu-jitsu the next day,” Zaidi said. Today, his father holds a black belt in the art that he once dismissed as “impossible.”

This transformative experience not only convinced his father of jiu-jitsu’s effectiveness but also strengthened their bond through a shared martial arts journey.

John Davis