Abbas Alizada, a 20-year-old from Kabul, Afghanistan, is nicknamed “Afghan Bruce Lee” and there’s reason for it. Not only are his physical features strikingly reminiscent of the legendary martial artist, but his practice of martial arts are similar as well.
Videos and photos of him posted on his Facebook page show him in Bruce Lee’s famous “about to attack” pose, doing backflips, and delighting anyone who has seen Fist of Fury. These posts have gained lots of attention and he is now internet-famous in Afghanistan’s smaller internet community.
Alizada hopes this will only be the start. “I want to be a champion in my country and a Hollywood star,” Alizada told the Japan Times.
In his pursuit of fame, however, he rejects the name Bruce Hazara given to him by friends. Instead, he remains with his roots and ethnicity, preferring to be known as the Afghan Bruce Lee, especially in a country so divided.
From a family of ten children, Alizada never had enough money for him to study martial arts. According to Reuters, the school’s trainer decided to teach him anyway after seeing his promise.
As Alizada’s home country continues to be shaken by violence and controversy, he tries to contribute by showing the different dimensions of his homeland. “The destruction here makes me sad, but it also inspires me,” he told Reuters. “The only news that comes from Afghanistan is about war… I am happy that my story is a positive one.”
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