With regards to training, after my knee surgery, herniated disc in my lower back, a slight curve in my upper spine and constant weekly tension headaches, I had all but given up on exercise and martial arts. Silat Sharaf is not flashy in appearance, you wont be the next wushu champion. This is real, raw self-defence with a real bite. Learning the technique is half the battle, and most schools stop there, leading students to a false sense of security. Silat Sharaf teaches the second half of the equation and thats the correct mindset. I was surprised after having spent a decade in my early 20s studying martial arts, just how unprepared I was to face an actual altercation in the streets. The playing field changes drastically when you don’t have the luxury of rules of sparring or the watchful eye of an instructor and the unspoken agreement of engagement we often develop with fellow students. What do you do when faced down with a group of guys with knives in a dark alleyway? how about being held up at gunpoint in a car? Seems improbable but it happens daily to people who thought like me and you, thinking “That would never happen to me!” the principles of Silat Sharaf teach you to train your body and mind for exactly these types of altercations. As mentioned, I have a number of mechanical issues which I used to think prevented me from being strong and healthy again, Silat Sharaf taught me that the only restrictions are the ones we place on ourselves. I used the principles to tackle my weaknesses and I am back to training like I used to, and even taking part in activities which I once hated like running. Weakness is all in the mind and where the body does have real limitations due to past injuries, there is always a workaround and areas you can improve on. Silat Sharaf for me was a game changer! If you’re looking for someone to massage your ego and tell you it’s all going to magically be ok, then this is not for you. But if you’ve reached a point in life where you feel enough is enough but you don’t know how to change, be prepared to leave your excuses at the door and give Hussein a shot, prepare to see your life change for the better.

Although I don’t routinely deal with violent individuals anymore, when I do, my confidence in what I’ve learned through TUS lets me know that I WILL persevere. It doesn’t give me any other option. Ironically this has led me to be better at de-escalation and allowed me to curb potentially dangerous situations instead of resorting to more hands on measures. You can see more options when you are better able to manage fear. You’ll be able to pick the right response without the traumatic uncertainty of knowing your actions were the best you could do in the situation, and you’ll be able to get through it with the least personal damage to yourself. You’ll learn how to act quickly, decisively, and efficiently. I wish I’d learned this years ago, it’d probably saved me a few scars and restless nights.

Hussein has managed to take the martial arts lifestyle and rejuvenate it, breathing new life into it and making it relevant for everyone from the average person who may never face a violent threat, to those who, due to the nature of their occupation or lifestyle, find themselves in the midst of conflict in a regular basis. This is a unique thing, a martial lifestyle which is just as cerebral as it is physical. It is an assertive survivors mindset. Hussein teaches practical self-defense strategies which are overlooked in traditional martial arts, which might give lip service to avoidance, awareness, and deescalation but never discuss what to look for or how to address it. They certainly don’t teach tactics or strategy. This is an earnest and sincere modern iteration of Silat. It is a martial lifestyle for the modern world.

TUS coaching also helped me improve physically. I was overweight before I started Silat Sharaf training, although I had been practicing martial arts about 13 years prior. I didn't get any motivation to be fit and physically toned. When I started training with TUS coaching, I started making lifestyle changes, eating right, and training at least 2hrs everyday. When I qualified as a team lead, I increased my training and lost so much in a short time. Now my speed and reflexes are up to par.

Once was when a family friend and myself were trapped by deceitful, corrupt police officers. The mindset helped me to lead us out of this situation and finally beat them at their own game. The second was on business in the Congo when I had to use my car as a weapon to get out of a hostile crowd that already attacked some men. A cheering bystander associated me with them and motivated the crowd to drag us out of the car. This was during tensions because of the murder of an innocent teacher and students. The third challenge had to do with a life-changing situation where I simply had no control anymore. All I had left was my mindset to change the way I perceived and managed the problem.