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Abdulrahman Alazzawi

I’ve been passionate about martial arts and self-defense since I was a kid. Now, I’m an expert! I’ve participated in national events in France and represented my club in Paris. I’m also a poet, having written many poems in Arabic and a few short ones in English. I’m a dedicated photographer with excellent mobile photography skills. Additionally, I work as an English-Arabic translator and know some French. I’m a father to two wonderful kids. I enjoy photo editing and video production and am constantly working to improve my skills. Photography is my escape and my endless little world .

My Story

How did your passion for martial arts and self-defense begin, & what has driven you to become an expert in this field? - Can you share a memorable experience from participating in national events in France or representing your club in Paris?

Well, it all started when I was 6 years old,

I was an active kid, and I didn’t like football. I had seen Mortal Kombat movies, and I started imitating the movies, which led my father to finding a training hall.

My father had planned a surprise for me ,

and registered me!

I was so happy!

I kept on with training for six years until I had to stop.

This was because Kung fu championships and tournaments

were banned in Iraq.

I then joined Sanda club for three years, later moving onto Muay Thai for two years

and continued onto kickboxing for two years.

This led me to participating for the first time in an official fight

in the north of Iraq.

I stopped after,

when my mother passed away.

A lot of things had happend all at once,

& Iraq was attacked by Isis.

—————————————

Then I met that one girl!

We got engaged & moved to France.

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I joined a Muay Thai Dojo

there in the south of France ,

I moved near Paris where I

joined a kickboxing club.

Shortly after a

few months

I participated for

the first time there

I won my first

fight ever in Paris

and my coach

was super happy

I had finally

made

my Father,

my coach

proud of me!

What inspires your poetry, and how do you find the process of writing in both Arabic and English? - Would you share one of your favorite poems and the story behind its creation?

Poetry in Iraq is a culture of more than 5000 years old .

It’s part of our identity as Iraqis.

My inspiration remains inspired by the nomads and the desert .

Knowing several various accents helps a lot to open the gates of imagination widely with what I do and envision! I don’t write often, but when there is something happening or has happened, you could call it situational (I don’t know if there is a specific term for that).

I write for many events that have happened throughout my life and through the experiences of life itself, and to tell the story of others (friends, family, relatives, etc.) in my writing.

I developed my skills of writing when I attended The College of Arts.

I wrote more than 50 poems.

Here is a translated version of an Arabic poem I wrote 16 June 2013:

There in a quiet corner...

May my love settle forever...

As You’ve settled you’ve enlightened my heart...

The way I could see it...(through your eyes)

Brightening Like a pearly lake...

It's not like that.

And sure not fake..

But her eyes are magical...

Drawing me of the Horizons of the earth...

Without an effort or intention...

Oh, I miss you ...

How loneliness is killing me...

How it scares me the distance between us...

It feel like I have no identity...

And My poem is without a title...

you meant To be

the title of my poems...

This is just a translation I hope it gives an idea about my writing and once I found other poems that I have written in English I plan to share more -( for a poem doesn't belong to the poet but to the audience ! )

How did you develop your interest in photography, and what do you enjoy most about capturing images with your mobile device? -Around what age did you first pick up a camera and realize photography was your passion? How has your interest in capturing photos evolved since then? - What does photography mean to you, and how does it serve as an escape and a creative outlet? -what’s your inspiration, this could include life experiences or other artists and if others perhaps a particular artist you even just have an eye for .

My photography passion

started in France

( Aix en Provence ) south of France.

I fell in love with

the old buildings, statues and roads.

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Everything was

so beautiful

and captivating I

had old phone with blurry photos.

My wife bought me my first iPhone .

This gift from her while there

Is when I began my photography passion.

From watching videos of other photographers explaining certain ways of technique with photo shooting, I would start outside and apply what I was learning. I kept up doing this for over two years (actually I’m still sowing this not often but when I see new technique.)

During my learning, my entire family in law were my best supporters. In my life they have always supported me all that I do. During this time a friend from there who has had a company, wanted to make interviews with some personals in France for a business and had asked me If I would like to be the photographer!

I was so happy! There it was. This would be my first step into the photography world.

As my journey began, I continued to learn and grow with my techniques. At this same time in my life, I worked in the royal historical Chateau (château de Vaux-le-Vicomte) that helped me a lot to upgrade my skills .

I came back to Iraq and started doing street photography . I created car drifting reels, Safari and touristic photos and videos. Finally. I started working as a photographer for the international NGOs.

How did you get started with photo editing and video production, and what motivates you to continually improve your skills? - Can you describe a project you’re particularly proud of in either photo editing or video production?

At the beginning photography was just a hobby for me,

something I like to learn and practice.

But the more I learned, the more I discovered, that it’s not just photography!

It’s about how to maintain the original shot with the best enhancements

and to edit without going far off from the original shot!

I needed to learn how to transmit the view that I see with my eyes to the photo editing.

The thing is, I’m still learning and will continue be learning as I continue.

The day I fail will be the day I stop learning.

I plan to never stop

How did you get started with photo editing and video production, and what motivates you to continually improve your skills? - Can you describe a project you’re particularly proud of in either photo editing or video production?

For the videography and production,

I have been always asked by people

around me to pile up my photos and

video and create a video.

It would work better to attract people ,

rather than just silent , still-life photos.

So I started learning, by understanding

beats, transitions, effects, use of

Timelapse and slow-mo techniques

and so on..

One of my best works was a series

of a few collected videos.

I think around 5 videos for a BMW team

I had put together.

A reel for the Château de Volle Vicomte
in France.
Along with video of success story for
an international NGO.

In addition to other videos and photos you can watch in my insta account.

What led you to become an English-Arabic translator, and how do your skills in French complement this work?

- What challenges do you face in translation

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I was the weakest in English among all my family members which my family would laugh at me about.

I decided however to improve my language while attending high school.

After one year I had improved my English so much better!

I then decided to join the college of Arts- translation Dept.

I officially became the first

translator among my family 😄

I knew from that point on that I could do more than just translating!

This opened many doors for me as a translator .

So one day,

I was interviewed by a local radio channel, where I was asked to summarize

the study of translation.

I described it by saying :

“Translation is the science

of studying everything "

-AA.

Because you need to know what you are going to translate.

As a father, poet, martial arts expert, photographer, and translator, how do you balance your diverse interests and responsibilities?

- How do your children influence and inspire your creative pursuits and professional work?

-How do you keep balance?

Well, to be honest

I don’t know how to answer this question

as I am constantly running all the time in my work 😅

I would have to give thanks to my wife to make this all possible!

Without her,

It wouldn’t be possible

if it wasn’t for her by my side!!

She is my rock !

What are your future goals in each of your passions: martial arts, poetry, photography, and translation? - How do you envision your skills and interests evolving over the next few years?

I’m currently working on a project with a friend to open a sport center where martial arts

and kickboxing will be the focus.

I will be there as the Coach.

My goal is to continue

or transmit the legacy of it all.

Poetry:

As Iraqis we are bonded with poetry for life !

Poetry

will always be

my hideout

to relieve my feelings

and my thoughts.

-A.A

Photography:

I’m focusing to

achieve more

in the

coming years !

I see myself,

being somewhere in the list of the worlds top photographers ,to be recognized for finding and creating new techniques,

capturing unique photos

(AGAINST THE SUN LIGHT )

maybe 😊
Definitely there will be less focus on my

personal interests and my skills

because parenting comes first !

I’m going slow for now but I refuse to give up!

Message to Self or Audience ::

Simplicity is the key to your success!

No matter what you do or achieve,

please stay the same person you are !!

You have reached this level

with this person you are !!