Musha Shugyo Is Not Just for the Japanese The Journey of Master Yasser Hegazy Part Two *So, what other things were you studying? You said you. You did Kung Fu. What other things were you studying when you were young *Do you remember what countries in Egypt? you visited? In Egypt around that time, they brought some experts from China to Yes, I remember when I remember teach Wu Shu and Tai Chi Ch’uan. I Paris. I did some martial arts in Paris in 1995 I remember in Johannesburg studied these as well. in South Africa, there was a guy who, who was really famous for *What did you get out of that? Kata and I asked to train with him. It was like you know, when you go It was amazing. We were doing eight into something and then you take it or nine Katas instinctively, one guy with you and train in another thing, from Egypt and another guy from you don't just forget all that you South Africa, and we did the same have learned. You just try to capture exact moves. It was it was stunning, as much as you can. Not knowing then. That's basically what happened that I was following the Jeet Kune in each country. If I go to a gym, or, or Do concepts. I didn't know this. a place where they have a kickboxing So, I went there. I started learning bag, I would definitely take advantage and then along the way, another of that. You know, as a martial artist interesting thing occured. I started yourself, you see that. If you don't learning the path to my soul, I didn't train for two or three days, you feel have any time or really any interest that something is missing. You aren’t in enjoying a normal teenage boy’s comfortable. life. I was just totally immersed in my *When did you stop working as cabin training. crew? Did you go to university then? *So, when is the first time that you I was doing both at the same time. left your country? I was studying in the Faculty of Okay, I worked as cabin crew on Commerce (the English section) in Egypt Air when I was 18 years old. I Egypt at the same time while I was would still try to train on my leave. If working as a cabin crew. So, I started I had time to go to see dojo if or I if I very young. had time to train in a gym, or maybe do some kickboxing, I would find a *So, you also studied languages at university? way!
Languages must use picked it up using English as the medium. That's a language I started at kindergarten. And at my school, it was an English school, French also was there. But I started learning adding more languages So, when you graduated from university, you went from there to training to be a diplomat? Yes, exactly. That's the exact words that I would have used. Because it's very hard to become a diplomat in Egypt. You need to go into a long process of consultative exams and, and interviews and, you know, it's a very long process. Do you think your edge was from your extensive martial arts background? Did that make you different mentally, physically and spiritually? You got it! This is the core reason of all the success stories that I have, being a martial artist. It means that you never quit. You need to to overcome the challenges that
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