Today is the birthday of Mustafa Ozturik (1954-1995), the sixth-degree black belt in taekwondo, the founder of the Taekwondo Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the international coach.
The famous athlete was born on November 23, 1954.
Born in Istanbul, Mustafa Ozturik is considered one of the founders of Kazakh and Turkish taekwondo. He is a representative of the Kazakh diaspora, who in the 1930s, when his grandfathers were in trouble, went to the Altai of China, and from there crossed to Turkey through India and Pakistan.
Ozturik studied at the University of International Politics in Taipei in 1975-1980 and received a diploma in journalism. According to his official biography, he became interested in taekwondo in this country, learned oriental martial arts, and advanced his skills to the 7th degree (yellow-green belt). In taekwondo, where the highest level is 10 kip (white belt), only 7 kip holders are called "sahyunnim", i.e. master. After graduation, Ozturik works as an oriental martial arts trainer for the military and policemen in Munich. Later, he opened one of the first Taekwondo schools in Germany. In the early 1980s, the Mustafa Ozturik School was opened in Istanbul, and Turkish students began to win prizes in world competitions.
In the spring of 1990, Mustafa Ozturik visited his historical homeland for the first time at the invitation of the authorities of Kazakhstan. In the fall, Ozturik permanently settled in Kazakhstan to introduce Kazakh youth to taekwondo, and in 1991, he founded the Kazakhstan Taekwondo Federation. In 1992, Kazakhstan became a member of the International Taekwondo Federation (WTA). This year, Mustafa Ozturik will receive the citizenship of Kazakhstan. His students went to the international competition in Turkey for the first time in 1992 and returned with two gold medals.
In 1995, Kazakhstani athletes coached by Mustafa Ozturik won the second place in the team standings, ahead of only the South Koreans at the World Military Taekwondo Championship.
Many streets of Kazakhstan's cities are named after Mustafa Ozturik. A monument to the athlete has been built in the village of Besagash, Talgar district, Almaty region. Many Taekwondo schools are named after Mustafa Ozturik.
