Muhammad Zahid, International Advisor to the International Northern Ssireum Federation
(Reporter Kim Min-jeong)= The International Northern Ssireum Federation (INSF) has announced the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Zahid of Pakistan as an International Advisory Board Member, strengthening the Federation’s expanding international network dedicated to the preservation and promotion of UNESCO-inscribed Northern-Style Ssireum, Silk Road wrestling traditions, and Eurasian warrior culture.
According to the Federation, the appointment forms part of its long-term strategy to build a global platform connecting martial arts leaders, traditional wrestling practitioners, researchers, and cultural heritage specialists from around the world. Unlike conventional international martial arts organizations that primarily focus on competitions and rank systems, INSF describes itself as an open international network promoting cooperation in traditional sports, cultural heritage, academic research, education, and media.
Mr. Muhammad Zahid has devoted many years to the development of Taekwondo in Pakistan through MZ Taekwondo Academy Pakistan, where he has trained numerous students and promoted martial arts education within the local community. He is also recognized as a Kukkiwon-certified 5th Dan Black Belt, reflecting substantial experience in martial arts instruction, technical education, and athlete development.
INSF officials stated that Mr. Zahid’s professional background, combined with his long-standing commitment to martial arts education, made him a suitable candidate to contribute to the Federation’s international advisory activities.
The Federation also emphasized Pakistan’s historical importance as one of the principal regions along the ancient Silk Road, where civilizations, cultures, and martial traditions interacted for centuries. Owing to this geographical and cultural significance, Pakistan preserves a rich heritage of traditional wrestling systems and warrior culture that continue to influence regional physical culture today.
Among the country’s best-known traditional sports is Kushti (Pehlwani), a wrestling tradition that combines indigenous South Asian practices with historical influences from Persian and Central Asian wrestling. Traditionally practiced in akharas (wrestling schools), Kushti represents more than a competitive sport, encompassing physical conditioning, discipline, ethics, and cultural identity. Pakistan also maintains various regional martial traditions and historical combat practices that form part of the broader cultural landscape of Eurasian warrior civilization.
According to INSF, Mr. Zahid is expected to provide professional advice and cultural perspectives related to Pakistan’s traditional wrestling heritage, martial arts education, and warrior culture. His knowledge is anticipated to support the Federation’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation in the preservation, documentation, and promotion of Northern-Style Ssireum and other traditional wrestling cultures across the Eurasian region.
The Federation further indicated that the appointment extends beyond sporting activities. As an International Advisory Board Member, Mr. Zahid is expected to participate in a range of academic and educational initiatives coordinated through INSF, including collaborative research projects, scholarly publications, educational programs, documentary production, multimedia projects, and international publications focusing on Northern-Style Ssireum, Silk Road wrestling traditions, traditional physical culture, and Eurasian warrior culture.
INSF also noted that these initiatives aim to establish an international knowledge-sharing platform where martial arts instructors, researchers, and cultural practitioners contribute their regional expertise while preserving their own traditional heritage. Within this framework, advisory board members are expected to facilitate dialogue between their respective countries and the Federation’s growing international network.
Federation representatives added that Pakistan’s long-standing martial traditions and strategic location within the historical Silk Road provide valuable perspectives for comparative studies on traditional wrestling systems and cultural heritage. Through cooperation with experts such as Mr. Zahid, INSF intends to expand international academic collaboration and promote broader understanding of traditional physical culture among researchers and practitioners worldwide.
The appointment of Mr. Muhammad Zahid represents another step in INSF’s continuing effort to develop an international network that integrates cultural heritage preservation, academic research, traditional sports, and cross-cultural cooperation. Federation officials expressed their expectation that his participation will contribute to future international research, educational activities, and publications dedicated to UNESCO-inscribed Northern-Style Ssireum and the diverse wrestling and warrior traditions of the Silk Road and Eurasia.
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