Tariq Abdul-Haqq – the schoolboy gladiator

He is now 17 years old, into his second year of A’Levels at St Mary’s College, Port-of- Spain (CIC) and focused on having a career in Law.

Why does he keep changing his mind, one might ask. But it is not so. Abdul-Haqq is still pursuing and excelling at all three sporting disciplines while successfully keeping abreast of his studies.

At CIC, he was accelerated from Forms II to IV, and obtained nine CXC O’Levels in 2006. By his peers in boxing and martial arts, he is considered a true gladiator in the fighting arena.

In a recent interview with Newsday, a 6’1” tall 182 lbs Abdul-Haqq admitted shyly, “I have won several trophies, as well as 43 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals in local and regional competitions.”

He is also the 2005 National Junior Amateur Middleweight Boxing Champion, the 2006 and 2007 National and 2006 Caribbean Under-17 Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Abdul-Haqq recently obtained a gold medal at the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association championship in TT, where he defeated his opponent in the final with a score of 19-5.

His most recent boxing match this year was in TT on March 31 against a member of the visiting Puerto Rican boxing team. Abdul-Haqq won his fight, knocking out his 21-year-old opponent within 45 seconds of the first round.

In addition, he has been honoured by the National Amateur Boxing Association for being the Best Cadet (under-17) in TT, one of the top five fighters in TT and for his 2007 Under-17 win (see above).

This young athlete’s training background is quite diverse and he is ranked in a number of various styles in the martial arts.

“Currently I train at Goshin Do Karate Dojo in St James, Tiger’s Boxing Gym on Prince Street, PoS, and with Korean-born taekwondo Master Jung in Woodbrook.”

Does he ever relax?.

Abdul-Haqq said he doesn’t feel the need to find relaxation time, because even though he has a full schedule, he does not feel tired or stressed.

“When I am not at school or training, I just like to eat and sleep. This might sound strange for someone my age, but my friends are very supportive in what I do. Also I believe everyone has certain choices to make and I choose to do these things right now.”

His martial arts styles include second degree black belt in Shito-Ryu karate, first degree black belt in Ju-Jitsu, first kyu brown belt in Shotokan karate, first degree black belt in Taekwondo and first kyu brown belt in Don Jitsu-Ryu.

In the sport of Taekwondo, he emerged as the 2005 national champion and was awarded a special prize as the best senior fighter.

Even though it is his desire to practice law in TT, Tariq said one of his dreams is to represent this country in boxing and/or taekwondo at the Olympics. “This is next year and I will also have exams, so there are still some aspects that I need to consider about trying out for this.” According to his father, Yaqub Abdul Haqq, who is a certified boxing coach, a third degree karate black belt and the managers of Tiger’s Gym, Tariq is a disciplined and well-balanced young man. “I am not just saying this because he is my son. As a coach I think he is the type of athlete that coaches and instructors enjoy working with.”

Abdul-Haqq is scheduled to represent this country in taekwondo at the fourth Pan Am Junior championships to be held October 3 – 7 in Florida, USA.