MASTER MARCO SAFAKHOO

"Beginning at the dawn of humanity and spawned from the most essential survival needs, martial arts have served through the ages as a source of national security as well as a catalyst for spiritual development. As man has evolved so too have his martial arts; developing into art forms expressive of his inner struggle between instincts of animal savagery and the beckoning of spiritual enlightenment. This is the Warrior's eternal quest. Nabard is my eternal quest, my creation, and my legacy." -Master Safakhoo

“Research inspires experience. Experience inspires imagination. Imagination inspires creation.”
-Master Safakhoo

Grandmaster Safakhoo has dedicated his life to resurrecting the original purpose of Nabard by deciphering the "science" of combat rather than merely its movements. In 1983, Grandmaster Safakhoo introduced his art to the United States, where Nabard flourished into the internationally recognized martial art of Persia.

At a very young age Grandmaster Safakhoo attended martial arts schools. As his education progressed so did his interest in the historical aspect of martial art practices. Using the experience he had gained from martial arts, he began to look into the reason behind the actions and applications he had been taught. His search began by researching into the fighting skills of different cultures. With an analytical approach he developed an understanding of the purpose, inconsistencies, and effectiveness within the realistic aspects of each martial art technique.

The fundamental importance of adaptability in actual combat encouraged Grandmaster Safakhoo to create a martial art which has interchangeability based on utilizing the biomechanics of mankind. His unique concept has an advantage of being manipulated in numerous manifold postures: strikes can become blocks, blocks can become grabs, and grabs can become throws, all in harmony with the requirements of the situation. His concept has been based on how to combat fluidly, adaptively, creatively and effectively.

By applying the principles of Nabard (the word ancient Persians used for combat) to a realistic strategy of survival and by combining his experience in various styles of martial arts, Grandmaster Safakhoo conceived the martial art system known as Nabard- The Persian Art of Combat. From its ancient Persian roots in Nabard came an interchangeable and adaptable style called Nabard which applies to the individual and the situation.