From Fasting To Fighting

With the absence of food and drink during daylight hours, training during Ramadan is a huge challenge for many Muslims. Here at SportsWave we wanted to learn more, so we delved into the training schedule and everyday life of 12-year-old Tafuiq Ma during Ramadan.

Tafuiq is a 12-year-old Taekwondo prodigy fighting out of the Shins academy in Manchester – a place that has produced a number of national champions. Earlier this year, he received his black belt, specializing in dynamic Korean martial arts.

Tafuiq is one of many young Muslim athletes navigating their way through Ramadan while trying to maintain the same level of performance under strict regulations.

Doctors, coaches, and athletes are always trying to find new ways to better performance. Tinkering with diets and training plans is a personal journey to find what works best for you. Many professionals find intermittent fasting to be a flexible and sustainable way to improve their overall health. The most common form of intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method, fasting for 16 hours of the day and limiting the eating window to 8 hours each day.

Ramadan is primarily a religious practice for Muslims, the main purpose is not focused on health benefits. However, fasting can have potential health benefits for individuals who participate. The act of fasting promotes self-discipline and can help strengthen the mental state of athletes. Shaping the youth of today by installing a strong foundation of hard work and discipline is one of the main reasons so many Muslim athletes dominate their chosen sport.

He walked me through his daily experience during the month.

“At first Taekwondo was very hard to do while fasting, but after getting used to it while doing sport, it has become much easier to do both at the same time,” said Tafuiq.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, recognized by practicing Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. The exact dates change every year due to Islam using a calendar based on the cycles of the moon.

This year is starts on March 10 and ends on April 9, Tafuiq has been fasting while attending school, Taekwondo training and connecting with his faith.

“I wake up before sunrise to go and eat and then head back to sleep around 5:00-5:30am.

“I then get up and go to school at 9:00am.

“After school I take some time to relax, usually this involves spending time reading the Quran.”

Fasting from dawn to sunset is compulsory for all healthy adult Muslims during Ramadan. Muslims break their fast before dawn, this meal is referred to as Suhoor, and the nightly feast is called Iftar.

Tafuiq has been participating in Ramadan since he was 10-years-old, the dedication and hunger to be so mature beyond his years is a testament to his belief in his faith and the team he surrounds himself with.

“At around 6pm, I get ready to go to Taekwondo and break my fast just before the session starts.

“I break my fast with small snacks like dates, I make no major changes to my nutrition especially while training.

Lasting twenty-nine to thirty days, Ramadan will end with a celebration of Eid on April 9 commemorating the end of the month.

“After I finish training, I go home eat properly and do my final prayer of the day before heading to sleep.”

The next big tournament for the Shin Academy will be the Paris Olympics beginning July 26, although Tafuiq will not compete in this year’s Olympics, his coaching team and fellow teammates will be setting their sights on a successful campaign.

Tafuiq is looking ahead to the GB Taekwondo Championship in October, an inspirational kid with a bright future, he will be one to watch.