Three-time running World champions. The Iranian fighters are simply the best on the planet today. The head coach is Shahram Heravi. We met him. His vision of karate, Iran’s national team, its organization, its ambitions ... The boss enlightens us.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo: Kphotos

Ganjzadeh, Poorshab, Asiabari, Asgari, Derafshipour, Mehdizadeh ... That names thrill adversity. Iran is 16 podiums in the last 3 Worlds, including 6 gold medals ! What is even stronger is that they combine aesthetics with pragmatism. Made of a tempered steel mind, they offer a karate beautiful to see. The blacksmith, the head coach is called Shahram Heravi. He is like a cat, a little behind, always discreet. He intervenes surreptitiously to correct the detail. It is only in the warming up hall, a few minutes before the fight, where he occasionally raises the voice to mentally prepare his fighter. He enlightens us on the best school in the world...