Oldham karate champion comes home a hero winning four medals for Great Britain

Oldham teacher Arif Mohid has returned home a hero - winning four medals for Great Britain and an unexpected black eye - after a triumphant performance at the World Martial Arts Championships in Norway.

After a 15-year break from karate, Arif made a remarkable comeback. He earned a place on Team GB and travelled to Oslo to compete against some of the world's top martial artists. 

Just two days before flying out, he suffered a back injury that doctors suspected was a torn muscle.  

But despite the pain, he refused to withdraw from the competition. On Day one, he fought through the injury to secure a bronze medal.  

He later went on to face the reigning World Champion Samuel Diaz from the United States in the finals and won a silver medal. 

I had only just returned to karate after 15 years and was carrying an injured back," Arif said. "He caught me with a shot to the eye, so I came home with medals and a nice souvenir to remember the fight." 

Across three intense days, Arif, a father-of-two, won four medals (three silvers and a bronze) for Team GB, representing Dojo.net Karate Centre in Rochdale under Head Coach Sensei Irfan Ansari. 

“Without the guidance, support, and wisdom of Sensei Ansari, none of this would have been possible for me or for the rest of our GB team, who went on to win so many medals for the country,” added Arif. 

Sensei Irfan praised Arif’s achievement and described it as "a true display of resilience and spirit" and "an inspiration to the community." 

Arif runs his tuition academy called Aim High Tuition and is a maths teacher at The Radclyffe School in Oldham. 

He has previously cycled across Bangladesh and England and has taken on several charity and endurance challenges to encourage young people to push their limits and stay active. 

Reflecting on his achievement, Arif said: "It has been humbling and inspiring. I am proud to have represented my country and community, and I am grateful for all the support from my family and friends. 

"You don’t need perfect conditions to achieve something great. What matters is effort, consistency, and the courage to keep going.” 

He now hopes his journey will motivate others in Oldham to believe in themselves and take positive steps forward.  

He is currently leading a personal campaign (Aim1Million) that aims to inspire one million people to take one action that could change their lives, whether it is starting a sport, learning a new skill or finally beginning something they have always wanted to do. 

"Oldham is full of hardworking and talented people," Arif said. "I want to remind everyone, especially young people and those who feel stuck, that one small step can make a big difference."