Afghan Bruce Lee - A 20 years old man from Kabul who looks, dresses and practices martial arts moves like the legendary Bruce Lee is the newest Internet sensation.
"I want to be a champion in my country and a Hollywood star," Abbas Alizada aka Bruce Hazara said during an interview with Reuters. The young Afghan Bruce Lee impersonator Alizada says that as a child he was inspired by the famous martial artist and actor.
The news of Afghan Bruce Lee's moves and striking resemblance with the Kung fu legend has since gone viral. He has been widely discussed online especially on social media. Alizada has over 50,000 followers on Twitter, where he posts pictures and videos of himself undertaking kung fu poses and moves similar to Bruce Lee's behind famous and ruined Afghan buildings.
"The only news that comes from Afghanistan is about war...I am happy that my story is a positive one," Alizada said. "The destruction here makes me sad, but it also inspires me," he added.
The aspiring martial artist and Hollywood actor comes from a poor family of 10. Although our Afghan Bruce Lee's interest in the Eastern art was obvious from childhood, his parents couldn't afford to send him to a Chinese mixed martial arts academy. However, a trainer saw the young boy's determination and drive and choose to teach him for free.
Today, Alizada trains twice weekly; sparing with partners and working to perfect his nunchuku and wushu techniques he has learned. Reports indicate that the Afghan Bruce Lee was ranked at the top of his class during a recent martial arts competition.
The news of the Afghan Bruce Lee has gotten the attention of several international media houses. Reuters have reportedly traveled all the way to Kabul to interview the young impersonator. While al-Jazeera have also done a feature film on him performing some impressive martial arts moves.
