Inside Australian Taekwondo

RIP – Mahir Unalan

There is no other way to start this blog than to start with one of the most known, most loved, and most missed fighters to ever represent Australia on the world stage.

The younger generation may have only heard of the name from older fighters and coaches, but as everyone else knows, I’m talking about the one and only Mahir Unalan.

Taken from us long before his time Mahir trained at the High Performance Centre in South Melbourne for as long as I have known him. He was always the first one there, (usually a couple of hours early) and the last one to leave. He represented Australia at the biggest competitions on the world circuit, fighting players like the current 3^rd ranked fighter in the world Sebastian Michaud from Canada at the 2007 World Championships and 2 time Olympic Gold Medallist from Iran Hadi Saei at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, whom of which he kept a very close friendship with for many years.

I personally had a very close relationship with Mahir, training and travelling with him over many years. He was a very easy going guy that just loved to have fun with his friends. He never did wrong by anyone and he had a love for Taekwondo like no one else.

I remember a time at the World Cup in Japan when Mahir, my sister Lisa Carneli and myself all got lost in Tokyo when we decided to walk the streets without the other Australians. All I could hear was Mahir panicking that we would be lost forever. As others would know, Mahir was rather nervous outside of his own environment, and the streets of Tokyo were deffinatly not Mahir’s preferred environment. My sister and I found the overly worried Mahir very funny, and so did the rest of the Australian team once we found our way back to the hotel.

There is not a Taekwondo day that goes by that I, and I’m sure the majority of our Taekwondo family don’t think about Mahir, simply said, we miss him!

As Mahir had many friends in the Taekwondo community, I have caught up with a few of them to share with the world what they remember of Mahir Unalan.

As you will read he is still truly loved and missed by all! – RIP Mahaa

DANIEL TRENTON

Mahir, like many of us defined himself to a great extent through his practice in Taekwondo and it is the way in which our relationship formed, not only as his mentor and coach but as a dear and close friend and what I believe is as close as family you could get without being born by the same parents.

Our time together now seems sudden and short but it did in fact extend beyond a decade.   I remember before I actually met Mahir, seeing him as a young up and coming athletes giving anyone he faced the hardest of times in the ring. His young never give in attitude had already won me over and I hadn’t even said two words to him yet.

It was late 2000 in Perth at a Nationals where I met Mahir first. I remember seeing him standing by himself nearby and we got to talking and I asked …”Hey buddy, who are you with?”  And he replied, Im on my own and that he came up to enjoy the comp irrespective of being alone.  It was at that time I knew that this guy would not only become a dear friend but also one of Australia’s best Taekwondo athletes. That day I invited him to grab some lunch in town and he came along. He sat quietly in the back seat but I could tell through his smiles and laughter that he had found a group of friends and athletes that from that point onwards would be around and as many of you know from that day forwards, Mahir stood by my side.

It wasn’t long after that I became his coach and our first competition together was indeed a memorable one. Mahir’s character shone bright that day. I remember he was in the final bout of a selection for the National Team and an exchange took place resulting in Mahir’s finger bone shooting through his skin…He immediately came over looking away from his hand repeating “Is it broken, is it broken?”… and I said, “well Mahir I can see your bone…” He looked me square in the eyes and said im fighting on Daniel im fighting on. Before I could call the doctor in Mahir had stepped back into the ring  and won the fight with a few seconds to go securing his place on the National Team.

The last minute injury in the final of an incredibly important bout soon became Mahir’s trade mark. He would be up by several points and where he should cruise home to victory, Mahir would do something totally unexpected and stack the odds against him. Not only would it be something that would result in an injury but it would allow his opponent to sneak back into the game and go to a sudden death show down. Mahir did like to dramatise every event and we soon labeled this as The Mahir Show.

Mahir soon grew accustomed to being the National Champion and fittingly found himself a long bright blue Champion Jacket that soon became his common piece of training and competition attire. Mahir, that Champion jacket was worn with every right.

They say that when a Taekwondo person competes you get to see their true character and their true nature. Mahir was no exception to this. Mahir was a brave warrior who never backed down. Mahir was a fighter who fought for others as much as he did himself and never once did he let us down. Mahir gave his heart and soul during every second of every fight and earned the calling of Champion as so many of you rightfully been stating on his Facebook page.

As a friend Mahir was no different to the fighter. He was always true, always reliable and never said no when it came time to ask a favour. Its not because he felt uncomfortable saying no, it is because he truly wanted to be there for everyone around him. I cant recall a time where there has been a birthday, an engagement, a social outing or a time of need where Mahir has not been there.

Mahir’s giving nature has touched the lives of every athlete in this country. He has been a mentor and role model to our up and coming juniors. He has been a team mate to many of you seniors. He has been a loyal and dedicated club instructor and has assisted coaching staff as a senior member on the National Team numerous times.

Mahir, in the times that you spent with us sparring and fighting, in the times you spent with us teaching classes at the VTA, in the times you spent with us as team members and the times you spent with us hanging out generally… your passing has left us all missing you and wondering how life can go on without you.

A friend told me after his passing that Mahir came to them in a dream and said, please let Daniel know that everything is going to be ok…and I thought, that’s just like Mahir, always thinking of those around him and never himself.

Thank you Mahir for the way you have touched everyone around.

You are the type of person that when we reflect on our times together we all enjoy our memories as nothing but good times and smiles appear.

You are the type of person that when we reflect on our times, nothing but I am sure I speak on behalf of the Taekwondo community and as a dear friend when I say that Mahir with each day that goes on we will miss you greater.

You will forever live on in our memories..in our hearts and we know that you will forever live on with us in spirit.  We love you buddy.

TUMAY HAMZA

I trained with Mahir under coach Daniel Trenton, I believe we were two of his most prominent athletes. We travelled on many teams including World Championships, Universiade and many Opens throughout Asia and Europe. Mahir was always serious about his training and passionate about fighting and winning.

I remember Mahir always telling me off for eating junk food the week of weigh in when he couldn’t because he would be dropping up near 8kg – great memory and fun times!

I remember when we were playing BB gun wars on a Korean Open trip where I finally got revenge and shot Mahir and Zarko in the lip, then he chased me down the hotel hill and corked my arm – I could hardly move it for a week.

If I could say something to Mahir right now it would be ‘common Mahir aren’t you warmed up yet’? – This is what he used to say to me every training session… (He would get there early and be ready for sparring by the time everyone else was walking in).

RIP Mahir (Eye of the Tiger)

CASSIE ZERVOS 

I remember his cheeky smile, always up to something or was making jokes during training. When I first joined VTA his name confused me the most..I always thought his name was ‘My-Hair’…but got to love his personality and friendship very quickly.

As a junior training with senior athletes at the High Performance Centre, it was incredibly scary, the nerves I got just walking up the smelly stairs was enough to put anyone off the sport but Mahir always said hello, and made sure he’d take time out to spar with me and the other juniors..his passion and love for Taekwondo rubbed off on all the juniors that trained at HPC.

Mahir used to teach me dirty fighting moves, for example one of them was in closed stance, with your front foot, step on your opponents front foot so they lose balance then lift off and kick them in the body or chest.

After training Mahir would unstrap his taped legs and feet then throw his smelly tape at me and laugh. When he was dieting he used to eat all the ice cubes that were in the freezer at HPC and at comps he would steal everyone’s lollies and come over to you while you were warming up with a mouth full and just laugh.

Mahir had a heart of gold, his friendship was lifelong and one of the most caring people I have met in the sport.

Lets go get ice cream and pizza Mahir!!!! If I remember correctly it’s my shout from last time.

ALI KHALIL

I remember Mahir as the type of person you would want to be around to stay in a good mood, he was always honest and did anything I asked of him, even fed me fatty food when I was suppose to be dieting..

When Mahir and I would travel he would always straighten his hair because he thought it looked really good. Also one time overseas at the 07 Worlds Champs Mahir carried on how he wants to quit Taekwondo, he went on for hours about it, then straight after he fought he was already talking about how he wants to train when he got back home.

He also forced me to make him the main event in my Fight Night..he called me everyday to make sure of it…lol and at one time I got him calling everyone “CLOWN”

If I could say anything to Mahir right now…I would scream out CLOWNNN pack your bags your coming with me to the London Games!

And that he was a champion both on and off the court I LOVE YA BUDDY.

CHLOE IRIYADI

Mahir had a way of always making people be comfortable around him. As a junior he was so friendly and approachable. He took the time to encourage and help us train, so we could get to the level he was. We all looked up to him, as a role model and he would never let us forget that he could beat us all!!

He was there for us on the beach as we sprinted through the sand, he would pour water all over us although we begged him not to. He was there while we ran up endless stairs in the city making us do extra when he wanted a rest. And he never failed to trick us when sparring throwing his cap in your face then kicking you while you couldn’t see.

As I was warming up for my Junior Worlds he sat me down and told me that if I really wanted to win that I could. Every fight I won that competition he would simply just say “told you so” and then he told me to just simply do it again. It was so simple but it really helped me believe in myself at that competition and every competition I have been in since.

One memory I have that I think sums him up is when Jaz and I asked him to come for a walk with us late on night in Copenhagen, as we needed to lose weight. After begging and pleading with him he finally agreed. We made it about 100 meters from our hotel when he tells us his starving and drags us into a restaurant and makes us watch him eat a massive pizza instead, then blames it on us and we get in trouble for being out past curfew!!!

NIC TSIOULOS

The first time I met Mahir was at the US Open in LA, he was a young inspiring athlete looking to get experience at one of his first international event. One morning after I came back from a run, I went back to bed in my motel room, needing a rest after a long flight. I was kept awake by someone kicking a football around the car park outside my room, and when I went to tell them to be quiet, Mahir invited me for a kick of the footy. I thought how carefree this kid was, and decided to join him. After an hour of playing kick to kick, Mahir made it into a competition. Who could kick the footy between the American flags above the reception. I thought to myself, this kid doesn’t worry about rest/ recovery but loves a competition. The next day I witnessed Mahir have 4 fights at the US Open, and losing a close game against one of Egypt’s top competitors at the time to a split decision, fighting a magnificent fight. I remember Mahir being this carefree kid who would in one instance acted like this big kid and the next turn on the intelligence and desire to take on the world.

There are so many stories that involved Mahir and his antics that could fill a book. One that comes to mine was when Mahir would compete he would love to put on a show. A few of us would award him an ‘academy award’ for some of his performances. The shows would include spectacular techniques, faking injuries, and imitating the gestures of some of the top athletes in the world. But all this acting/ showboating would almost cost him his match. So we called this time the “Mahir Show”. Mahir would be winning very comfortably in one instance and then be facing his opponent in the fourth round in golden point because, as we all would say, put on the “Mahir Show!”

I would love to tell Mahir that all his efforts and persistence with the young athletes is now starting to prosper. The hard work ethic you instilled to the young inspiring athletes is now paying off. The times when the HPC closed down and all the hours you put in with kids where training down on the sands of South Melbourne beach in the middle of winter has not been forgotten. The hours you spent mentoring these kids and the love and affection you gave them has never been forgotten.

Mahir, your legacy has not been forgotten!

LISA CARNELI

Mahirs dedication and love for Taekwondo was a huge inspiration, not only to me but everyone that got to know him. Awesome Taekwondo player and an awesome all round guy, gone too soon.

Japan World Cup in 2002 is a very memorable time for me, this is where I apparently got us lost in the city of Tokyo! He never let that go

My first of many memorable trips with Mahir. – R.I.P

Dedicated to the Unalan Family