Formerly, one could learn an Iranian-inspired type of bodybuilding in the gym – a kind of dance with big clubs. Today, however, western forms of training dominate.
Many simply work out for the sake of exercise, but some people see it as a possible route to honour, fame and money. Honour is extremely important for Afghan men, and winning a bodybuilding competition does not only bestow honour and glory on the athlete himself, but indeed on his entire family.
That is evident in the Danish documentary Afghan Muscles, which you can see to the right. The film follows Afghan bodybuilder Hamid Shirzai on his long journey to stardom. Hamid says that he started working out to honour his clan after the tragic deaths of his brother and uncle in a plane crash. Both were national bodybuilding champions:
“They were the heart of our clan” he says. “We were so proud of them. No event in our clan was ever celebrated without them.“
The documentary shows how Hamid and the rest of Afghanistan’s national bodybuilding team go to Bahrain in 2004 to participate in the Asian Championship. It also shows them going back home to Afghanistan without medals. Indeed it was not till 2013 that the Afghan national bodybuilding team won their first medals at the Asian Championship – but then they also won 6 in total.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big name among Afghan bodybuilders. Photo: Jens Kjær Jensen, 2003
The 2007 documentary ‘Afghan Muscles’ was made by Andreas Møl Dalsgaard (director) and Christian Vium (idea and sound) when they both studied Social Anthropology at Aarhus University.
“I have studied Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career in detail. He accomplished everything he strove for. I too have dreams.” So says Noorulhoda Shirzad. He is one of Afghanistan’s many bodybuilders who uses workout to create a meaningful existence in a society marked by tragedy. Photo: Jens Kjær Jensen, 2003