Simba Dojang World Federation - فدراسیون جهانی سمبا دو جانگ

09/27/2026

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY TO MARTIAL ARTS 🥋 GRANDMASTER FURMAN L. MARSHALL CO- FOUNDER OF SAMBA DO JANG MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH MANY MORE YEARS HAVE FUN BE SAFE & ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY 🎂

09/26/2026

در مقام استاد
استاد تنها آموزگارِ فن و مهارت نیست؛ استاد، سازندهٔ شخصیت و پرورش‌دهندهٔ روح و اندیشهٔ شاگرد است.
در هنرهای رزمی، آنچه از استاد می‌آموزیم تنها تکنیک، قدرت و مبارزه نیست؛ بلکه احترام، انضباط، صبر، فروتنی، استقامت و مسئولیت‌پذیری است.
سال‌ها می‌گذرد؛ بسیاری از تمرین‌ها و تکنیک‌ها شاید از خاطر بروند، اما درس‌های اخلاقی و انسانیِ یک استاد حقیقی، برای همیشه در وجود شاگرد باقی می‌ماند.
استاد واقعی کسی است که نه‌تنها راه ورزش، بلکه راه زندگی را نشان می‌دهد؛ کسی که با رفتار، شخصیت و تعهد خود، برای نسل‌های بعد چراغ راه می‌شود.
با نهایت احترام و سپاس به استادم،
گرند ماستر فیل کانینگهام (محمد هاشم )که نقش ایشان در آغاز و شکل‌گیری مسیر تکواندوی ما، بخشی ماندگار از تاریخ و خاطرات زندگی ماست.

09/19/2026

گاهی یک عکس، انسان را به سال‌هایی می‌برد که باورش دشوار است روزی بخشی از زندگی عادی ما بوده است…
این تصویر در سال ۲۰۱۳، زمانی گرفته شد که به دعوت مسئولان ورزش و کمیته ملی المپیک افغانستان به وطن سفر کرده بودم. در این عکس در کنار جمعی از دختران ورزشکار انجمن جهانی تکواندو حیدری ایستاده‌ام؛ بانوانی که شماری از آنان عضو تیم ملی افغانستان و از مدال‌آوران و چهره‌های برجسته تکواندوی کشور بودند.
آن روزها، تکواندوی افغانستان دوران پُرشکوهی را تجربه می‌کرد. دختران و پسران ما تمرین می‌کردند، برای تیم ملی راه می‌یافتند، در میدان‌های ورزشی رقابت می‌کردند و با آرزوی بلندکردن پرچم افغانستان برای آینده خود تلاش می‌کردند. برای من، آن سال‌ها بخشی از دوران طلایی تکواندوی افغانستان بود.
امروز وقتی دوباره به این عکس نگاه کردم، نتوانستم جلو اشکم را بگیرم.
به چهره این دختران نگاه کردم و با خود گفتم: ما چه روزهایی را پشت سر گذاشتیم و امروز به کجا رسیده‌ایم؟
روزی دختر افغانستان با لباس ورزشی در باشگاه می‌ایستاد، تمرین می‌کرد، عضو تیم ملی می‌شد و برای کسب مدال و افتخار کشورش آرزو می‌ساخت؛ اما امروز، در شرایط حاکم بر افغانستان، بسیاری از دختران حتی از حق رفتن به مکتب و دانشگاه و حضور آزادانه در ورزش محروم‌اند.
درد من تنها برای تکواندو نیست.
درد من برای نسلی از دختران افغانستان است که استعداد دارند، آرزو دارند و می‌توانند قهرمان، استاد، داکتر، انجینر و سازنده آینده کشورشان باشند، اما فرصت‌های شان از آنان گرفته شده است.
این عکس را به یادگار می‌گذارم تا فراموش نکنیم که دختران افغانستان روزگاری در میدان‌های ورزش حضور داشتند، مبارزه می‌کردند، مدال می‌آوردند و برای وطن افتخار می‌آفریدند.

تاریخ را نمی‌توان پاک کرد.

امیدوارم روزی دوباره دروازه مکتب‌ها، دانشگاه‌ها و میدان‌های ورزش به روی تمام دختران افغانستان باز شود؛ روزی که آنان بدون ترس، با عزت و آزادی، برای آینده خود و سربلندی افغانستان قدم بردارند.
به امید آن روز؛ برای دختران افغانستان، برای ورزش افغانستان و برای وطن عزیزی که هنوز دوستش داریم و به آینده‌اش امیدواریم.
حیدری

09/16/2026

Why I Decided to Document the History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan
For more than fifty years, Taekwondo has been an inseparable part of my life—from my teenage years in Kabul and my earliest steps on this path, to today, as I work to preserve and document an important part of Afghanistan’s Taekwondo history for future generations.
Over the years, whenever I shared memories and historical reflections about Taekwondo in Afghanistan on Facebook, the warm response and kind messages I received were deeply meaningful and encouraging. That interest showed me that preserving and understanding the history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan matters to many people.

In recent months, I have been less active on Facebook because much of my time and attention has been devoted to gathering documents, photographs, memories, historical records, and reference materials, as well as reviewing and completing my book, The Documented History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan.
For me, this book is not simply a collection of names, dates, and events. It represents more than half a century of my life in Taekwondo and tells the story of the instructors, students, pioneers, and generations who contributed to the development and growth of this martial art in Afghanistan.
After I announced that the book was being prepared, one of the most encouraging developments was the generous offer of support from several Afghan scholars, academics, and researchers holding doctoral degrees. They expressed their willingness to assist with scholarly review, editorial feedback, and even aspects of the publication process.

I am sincerely grateful for their trust, support, and sense of shared responsibility. To me, their involvement is more than support for an author; it reflects the importance of preserving a meaningful part of Afghanistan’s sporting and martial arts heritage. It also strengthens my responsibility to present this work as accurately, carefully, and thoroughly as possible.
I have personally witnessed part of this history, but I firmly believe that the history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan does not belong to one individual, one club, one organization, or one generation. It is a shared heritage that belongs to all those who have contributed, in different ways, to the growth and advancement of Taekwondo in Afghanistan.

My purpose in writing this book is not simply to retell the past. My hope is that the documents, memories, and efforts of the generations who helped shape Afghanistan’s Taekwondo history will not be lost with time, but will remain available to today’s community and to future generations.

I do not consider The Documented History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan to be the end of this research. Rather, I see it as one important step toward preserving the past and creating a foundation for future research, correction, expansion, and continued documentation.
I hope that soon I will be able to share with you the result of many years of experience, memories, historical documents, and research through this book.

Thank you sincerely for your continued encouragement, support, and interest.

Grandmaster Akbar Haidary
Author of The Documented History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan
Simba Dojang World Federation

Herat, Afghanistan — 1979
Two memorable moments from one of our Taekwondo demonstrations, featuring board-breaking techniques. These photographs were later published in Afghanistan’s Anis newspaper and Zhwandun magazine. Today, they are more than memories to me—they are part of the documented history of Afghanistan’s first generation of Taekwondo practitioners.

09/06/2026

A Legacy Preserved — The History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan

After more than half a century of dedication, memories, and shared achievements, I am proud to announce that my book, “The History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan: From 1973 to the Present,” is now in its final stages of preparation.

This book is more than a personal story. It is an effort to preserve the history and legacy of generations who helped establish, develop, and carry Taekwondo forward in Afghanistan.

Through years of research and the collection of historical photographs, documents, records, and personal accounts, I have sought to document the pioneers, masters, students, clubs, athletes, champions, and important events that shaped this remarkable journey—from the earliest days of Taekwondo in Afghanistan to its national and international achievements.

A special place in this history belongs to Grand Master Philip A. Cunningham Jr. (Hashim), whose pioneering role was fundamental to the beginning of Taekwondo in Afghanistan, as well as to the masters and first generations of students who continued the path he helped establish.

Many of the photographs and documents included in this book reach back to the earliest decades of Afghan Taekwondo. Behind every image is a story—of sacrifice, friendship, discipline, perseverance, and service.

I have always believed that the history of a martial art does not belong to one person, one school, or one generation. It belongs to everyone who helped build it.

For that reason, one principle has guided me throughout this work:

“History should be written with evidence, not personal interpretation.”

This book is my tribute to the pioneers who opened the way, the masters who carried the responsibility forward, the students who became teachers, the champions who raised Afghanistan’s name on international stages, the women who became part of this history, and all those—inside Afghanistan and throughout the world—who have contributed to keeping Afghan Taekwondo alive.

It also honors those who served this art with dedication but are no longer with us. Their names, efforts, and memories deserve to be preserved for future generations.

My hope is that one day, when a young Taekwondo student opens this book, they will understand who walked this path before them, what challenges were overcome, and what legacy was left in their hands.

This book is not only a record of the past; it is a bridge connecting the past, present, and future generations of Afghan Taekwondo.

I respectfully dedicate this work to the entire Taekwondo family of Afghanistan and to all those around the world who have contributed to this history.

Further information regarding publication and availability will be shared following its release.

With respect and gratitude,
Grand Master Akbar Haidary
Author
The History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan: From 1973 to the Present
2026

07/22/2026

It was a great honor to once again stand alongside two legendary Grand Masters, Grand Master Philip A. Cunningham and Grand Master Foreman Marshall, the partners and co-founders of the prestigious SIMBA Dojang organization in the United States.
Grand Master Cunningham, the Father of Taekwondo in Afghanistan and my very first instructor, played a defining role in shaping my journey in Taekwondo. Alongside him, Grand Master Marshall has made remarkable and lasting contributions to the growth and advancement of Taekwondo in the United States and around the world.
Being a student of these two distinguished Grand Masters is an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life. With the deepest respect and gratitude, I proudly pay tribute to their extraordinary service, dedication, and enduring legacy.

07/13/2026

THE DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF TAEKWONDO IN AFGHANISTAN

Article No. 1

Why Did the First Generation of Afghan Taekwondo Practitioners Use the Term “Hyung”?

A Historical Perspective on Grandmaster Philip
Cunningham Jr.’s Training Background and the Introduction of Taekwondo to Afghanistan ,

A Historical Research Series

Research, Compilation, and Written by
Grandmaster Akbar Haidary
One of the earliest students of Grandmaster Philip Cunningham Jr. and one of the pioneers of Taekwondo in Afghanistan

About This Research Series

This article is part of an ongoing historical research project dedicated to documenting the authentic history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan. The project is based on historical records, internationally recognized references, archival documents, photographs, personal collections, and firsthand testimony from individuals who participated in the early development of Taekwondo in Afghanistan.

The purpose of this research is not to promote one organization, style, or school of Taekwondo over another. Rather, it is to preserve documented historical facts, encourage scholarly discussion, and safeguard an important chapter of Afghanistan’s martial arts heritage for future generations. Every effort has been made to distinguish verified historical evidence from personal interpretation. Should new and reliable evidence become available, future editions of this research will be revised accordingly.

Why Did the First Generation of Afghan Taekwondo Practitioners Use the Term “Hyung”?

In recent years, an important historical question has been raised repeatedly: Why did the first generation of Afghan Taekwondo practitioners refer to Taekwondo patterns as Hyung, while today the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) uses the term Tul, and World Taekwondo (WT) uses the term Poomsae?

To answer this question, it is necessary to examine both the historical evolution of Taekwondo and the training background of the man who first introduced this martial art to Afghanistan—Grandmaster Philip Cunningham Jr.
According to documented historical sources, Grandmaster Cunningham was not a direct student of General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). Instead, he received his primary martial arts education from Grandmaster Soo Woong Lee of Jidokwan and Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim, one of the leading pioneers of Chang Moo Kwan and the traditional Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do.

During that period, many of Korea’s original Taekwondo schools commonly used the term Hyung to describe formal training patterns. Later, with the development of General Choi Hong Hi’s Chang-Hon system, the official term Tul was adopted within the ITF. Years afterward, World Taekwondo (WT) introduced the term Poomsae as the official name for its pattern system.

Therefore, Hyung, Tul, and Poomsae represent different historical periods and instructional systems in the evolution of Taekwondo. Each term should be understood within its own historical context.
Historical records indicate that Grandmaster Philip
Cunningham Jr. introduced Taekwondo to Afghanistan in 1973. He taught the same curriculum, terminology, and instructional methods that he had learned from his own teachers. Consequently, the first generation of Afghan Taekwondo practitioners—including myself and many of his earliest students—learned the patterns as Hyung. For many years, this terminology remained the standard language of instruction throughout Afghanistan.
Based on the historical evidence currently available, the use of the term Hyung in Afghanistan was neither an error nor the result of misunderstanding. Rather, it accurately reflected Grandmaster Cunningham’s educational lineage and the instructional terminology widely used during that period. As a result, the term became firmly established among Afghanistan’s first generation of Taekwondo practitioners and remains an important part of our nation’s Taekwondo history.
When documenting history, it is essential to distinguish between verified historical facts and personal interpretations. My purpose in writing this article is not to elevate one organization, style, or school above another. Instead, my objective is to preserve an accurate and documented account of Afghanistan’s Taekwondo history by drawing upon credible historical sources and my own firsthand experience as one of Grandmaster Cunningham’s earliest students.

I firmly believe that understanding the past is essential to understanding the present and shaping the future. Preserving the history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan is not the responsibility of one individual alone; it is a shared responsibility of instructors, pioneers, students, historians, and researchers who value the heritage of this martial art.

Author’s Note

This article has been prepared using internationally recognized historical references relating to Taekwondo, documented sources concerning Grandmaster Philip Cunningham Jr., historical records regarding the introduction of Taekwondo to Afghanistan, and my own firsthand observations and experiences as one of Grandmaster Cunningham’s earliest students.

I respectfully invite all Taekwondo pioneers, masters, instructors, students, historians, and researchers who possess historical documents, photographs, certificates, newspaper articles, or other archival materials related to the history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan to contribute to this ongoing research.

All credible information will be carefully reviewed and, where appropriate, acknowledged in future editions. I believe that preserving the documented history of Taekwondo in Afghanistan is a shared responsibility that belongs to all of us.

Should new and verifiable historical evidence become available in the future, I will gladly revise and expand this research. History should always be written with integrity, supported by credible evidence, and guided by an unwavering commitment to historical accuracy.

References

1. Choi, Hong Hi. Taekwon-Do: The Korean Art of Self-Defense. International Taekwon-Do Federation.
2. International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). Official historical publications and technical manuals.
3. World Taekwondo (WT). Official Poomsae Competition Rules and Technical Guidelines.
4. Historical publications relating to Jidokwan, Chang Moo Kwan, and the early development of Korean martial arts.
5. Historical and biographical sources relating to Grandmaster Philip A. Cunningham Jr.
6. Archival documents, certificates, photographs, and historical records preserved by the author.
7. Firsthand observations and personal experiences of the author as one of Grandmaster Philip A. Cunningham Jr.’s earliest students in Afghanistan.

To Be Continued…

The Documented History of Taekwondo in Afghanistan

Article No. 2

Grandmaster Philip Cunningham Jr.: The Man Who Introduced Taekwondo to Afghanistan

Copyright © Grandmaster Akbar Haidary. All Rights Reserved.

Educational sharing of this article is encouraged provided that the author’s name is acknowledged and the text is reproduced in its complete and unaltered form.

SimbaDojang World Federation

07/01/2026

06/23/2026

The Difference Between a Black Belt and a Black Character:

The difference between a black belt and a black character lies in the symbolism—where black character is a metaphor for depth and moral values. In my more than fifty years of walking the Taekwondo path, I have seen thousands achieve a black belt; yet not all have achieved a black character. A black belt can be earned through years of practice, perseverance, and success in examinations. It represents technical skill, knowledge, and physical capability. However, a black character is reflected in respect for others, humility in success, patience in adversity, honesty in conduct, and service to the community and students. A black character cannot be obtained through a test, nor can anyone grant it to you. It is built through years of living, behavior, and character. One may hold a black belt and yet struggle to control their anger, show respect to others, or fulfill their moral responsibilities. On the other hand, someone with a black character earns the respect of those around them, even without displaying rank or title. From my perspective, the ultimate goal of Taekwondo is not merely to achieve a black belt, but to cultivate a black character—because while a black belt may be worn around the waist, a black character must be seen in the heart, mind, and actions of a person.