Meet Mohammad Ashraf, former auto driver turned karate instructor who trains celebrities

Most people would be shocked and might even freeze when someone attacks them. Kasaragod native Mohammad Ashraf is committed to training people in self-defence, making them more confident and alert in dangerous situations. Ashraf offers online karate and self-defence classes via his social media page, 'Karate and Fitness Tutorial', and offline at fitness centres in the Kasaragod and Ernakulam districts. Ashraf’s power-packed self-defence classes are quite trending on social media. 

It was his mother who compelled Ashraf to get karate training when he was in school. He had to give up studies after class 12 due to financial struggle and became an autorickshaw driver to make ends meet. Although he dropped out of studies, Ashraf didn’t give up his love for karate. He spent a small part of his meagre income on karate training. Ashraf, who earned his black belt at 18, continues to learn karate. He started a YouTube channel called 'Karate and Fitness Tutorial' during the COVID times with support from his family and friends. Ashraf says he decided to start the channel because he wanted to utilise his karate skills to help others. 

The channel quickly gained traction and attracted millions of views. Ashraf says his life changed a lot after his channel gained attention. It was after the immense success of the YouTube channel that he was able to start the fitness centres and build a house. Meanwhile, he got trained in mixed martial arts in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Ashraf considers the opportunity to train for a week with Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff as the best experience in life. 

Now, both commoners and celebrities train in karate, fitness and self-defence under Ashraf. Young actors like Sunny Waine, Antony Pepe and Neeraj Madhav are often spotted at Ashraf’s fitness centre for training. Initially, the training centre was opened only at Kasargod. However, another branch was opened in Ernakulam too when Ashraf began receiving enquiries from celebrities. He also works as a stunt trainer in the forthcoming movie Kaattalan. 

Besides karate, gymnastics, and mixed martial arts, Ashraf impresses the audience by performing extreme stunts, such as clapping in the sheershasan posture and handwalking with legs up. Ashraf has also entered the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records for performing these stunts.