Open Hands

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Martial Arts Veteran and Educator Fariborz Azhakh Announces the September 2026 Release of Two New Books Focused on Leadership, Character, and Human Development

WOODLAND HILLS, California — September 2026 — After more than four decades of teaching martial arts and mentoring thousands of students, renowned martial arts educator and Team Karate Centers founder Fariborz Azhakh is proud to announce the release of two companion books that challenge readers to rethink the true purpose of martial arts.

Scheduled for release in September 2026, Open Hands Vol. II and Building a Martial Arts Legacy offer two complementary perspectives—one deeply personal and reflective, the other practical and visionary. Together, they present a powerful message:

“We are not teaching martial arts. We are teaching people.“

Open Hands Vol. II

Part memoir, part philosophy, Open Hands Vol. II is a collection of true stories, personal reflections, and life lessons gathered over more than forty years of teaching.

Through heartfelt experiences, humorous moments, and profound conversations, Azhakh explores themes of family, resilience, leadership, kindness, loss, purpose, and what it truly means to live with “open hands”—remaining willing to learn, to serve, and to grow.

“Rather than teaching readers how to fight, the book invites them to discover how to live.”

Building a Martial Arts Legacy

Written specifically for martial arts school owners, instructors, and future leaders, Building a Martial Arts Legacy is both a practical guide and a call to action.

Drawing from decades of experience operating Team Karate Centers, Azhakh shares systems, philosophies, leadership principles, and cultural practices designed to help instructors create schools that extend far beyond belts and tournaments.

The book explores curriculum design, staff development, student retention, parent engagement, school culture, and the moral responsibility that comes with becoming a teacher.

Its central question is simple:

What legacy will your school leave behind?

A Shared Mission

Although written for different audiences, both books are united by a common philosophy:

Martial arts is not the destination—it is the vehicle.

Whether speaking to parents, instructors, business owners, or lifelong students, Azhakh argues that the highest purpose of martial arts is not producing stronger fighters, but stronger human beings.

“After forty years of teaching, I realized my greatest responsibility was never to create better martial artists. It was to help create better people. These two books are the culmination of that journey.”

— Fariborz Azhakh

About the Author

Fariborz Azhakh is the founder and chief instructor of Team Karate Centers in Woodland Hills, California. Over the course of his career, he has taught thousands of children and adults, mentored instructors, organized charitable events benefiting organizations such as the Bruce Lee Foundation, and dedicated his life to using martial arts as a vehicle for character development, leadership, and community service.

His philosophy has always been that true martial arts extends far beyond self-defense—it is about living with integrity, compassion, discipline, and purpose.

Availability

Open Hands Vol. II and Building a Martial Arts Legacy will be available beginning September 2026 through major online booksellers and select retailers.

For updates, speaking engagements, and release information, follow Fariborz Azhakh and Team Karate Centers on social media.

How to Order Your Copy

Thank you for your interest in my books!

You may purchase any of the 3 books in print format (requires shipping, $10 extra) or PDF (sent by email, usually in less than 24 hours). You may contact by emauil afetr you make your payment or fill out this order form.

1) Open Hands Volume I $25 (please choose printed or PDF)
2) Open Hands Volume II $30 (please choose printed or PDF)
3) Building a Martial Arts Legacy $40 (please choose printed or PDF)

Add $20 per book if you like to have a PDF copy as well as the printed copy.

Payment Options

  • Zelle: azhakh@gmail.com
  • Venmo: @Azhakh

You may also purchase these books straight from Amazon here:
Open Hands Volume I, Open Hands Volume II, Building a martial arts legacy

Shipping

If you would like your book(s) shipped, please add $10 to your total to cover shipping and handling.

Personalized Autograph

Each book can be personally autographed. (except the PDF copy)

When submitting your payment, please include:

  • Your full name
  • Your shipping address (if applicable)
  • Your email address (if ordering a PDF copy)
  • The name you would like the book(s) autographed to
  • The title(s) and quantity of the book(s) you are ordering

Thank you for your support. I hope these books inspire, encourage, and serve you for many years to come.

What people are saying about the “Legacy” Book

9/1/2026) I just got my copy today and have devoured it. What a wealth of advice and knowledge for anyone looking to start a school, looking to improve as a martial arts instructor, or looking for great life advice in general. I love how the book lays out a process that allows one to clearly define their own purpose and goals in teaching martial arts and how to go beyond just teaching students how to “punch and kick.” Like a sword forged in fire, this book sharpens its readers into stronger teachers of the arts.
Rian

What people are saying about the “Open Hands” Book

9/1/2026) I started reading the book and could not put it down and finished it all. I loved how relating it was to read the stories and how every story had its own lesson. I loved the letter from Laila. It is incredible how someone who lost his dad as a very young age turned out to be the most amazing father himself. I loved the story about your father as well as the one with your Mom trying to find where they had taken her older son. As a mother I can relate as I would do anything for my children. I also loved the lessons learned regarding the marriage as I thought it was fare and that accountability was taken where needed. I related the most with the story regarding leaving your work problems behind and walking into the house with a clear head tensing to family. I am so beyond honored to know you as not only my Sensei but also a friend and most importantly a respected, kind, and overall a good human being. Thank you for all the lessons you have thought us all.
With respect,
Parisa

9/9 2026 A Beautiful and Meaningful Book

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Mr. Fariborz for nearly 20 years. He was my children’s sensei, and over the years I’ve come to know him not only as an incredible teacher, but as someone who genuinely cares about the people he touches.

Open Hands Volume II is a beautiful reflection of the wisdom, experiences, and values that Mr. Fariborz has shared with so many of us. Reading it feels personal because I can recognize the same thoughtfulness, discipline, compassion, and perspective that he brought to teaching my children.

What makes this book especially meaningful to me is knowing the person behind the words. Mr. Fariborz has always had a way of teaching lessons that extend far beyond the dojo—lessons about character, perseverance, humility, and how to approach life with an open heart and mind.

I’m grateful that he has put these ideas and experiences into a book that others can learn from and enjoy. Open Hands Volume II is a thoughtful and inspiring read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in personal growth, wisdom, and living with greater intention.

Dear Sensei Fariborz,

Thank you so much for your wonderful book. I truly enjoyed the stories, related deeply to many of them, and learned so much from the lessons they shared. The illustrations for each story were also very beautiful and they matched the narrative so nicely.

A few stories stood out to me in particular:

“Character in Small Things”: What Sensei Benny did in this story moved me deeply and had a lasting impression on me.

“A Handful Of Salt”: I loved the story about your mom and its gentle lesson on how to help people in the right way.

“Yousef’s Son”: Reading the story about how the villagers felt about you brought back memories of losing my beloved professor. During that period of intense grief, the only thing that comforted me was spending time with his family. Being near them made me feel closer to him, which felt very similar to how those villagers connected with you because of how much they loved and respected your dad.

“Unseen Gardener”: I recently caught myself feeling a wave of envy when another relatively new student of my art teacher won a major art award. I’d never even considered entering art competitions before, yet I suddenly felt like a failure. While I might enter competitions in the future, this story reminded me that the true reason I create art is the  joy of painting, not the praise of others and that my greatest accomplishment is the art itself, not having my name recognized in the art world.

“Weight of Knowing”: This offered a crucial lesson for my own life. I often feel deep sadness over the personal struggles of my friends and family, and I catch myself wanting them to do what I believe is right. This story helped me realize that helping and controlling are not the same thing. I need to accept their right to navigate their own journeys as they see fit and simply be there for them whenever they need me.

Thank you very much again for this amazing book,

A Profoundly Moving Collection That Will Stay With You Long After the Final Page

Open Hands Volume II by Fariborz Azhakh is one of those rare books that doesn’t just tell stories—it reaches into your chest and rearranges something inside you. I found myself crying through so many chapters that I lost count. This is not sentimental fluff; these are honest, human stories told with such clarity and heart that you feel you are living them alongside the author.

In “Two Tickets and a Mother’s Love,” the simple act of a complete stranger taking a mother and young boy into his home, introducing them to his family, feeding them, and giving them a place to sleep until they could reach a brother serving far away in the military is almost too pure to believe. The quiet dignity of that kindness—unasked for, unearned, freely given—left me staring at the page in gratitude. It is a reminder of the best that people can be.

Then came “The Road Back.” I had to put the book down. I sat there crying like a child, unable to continue for a while. The sheer unfairness of what happened to that beautiful family is almost unbearable. Azhakh does not sensationalize the tragedy; he simply tells it with such restraint and love that the pain becomes your own.

“The Unseen Gardener” is a quiet masterpiece. The idea that true beauty is created not for recognition or applause, but simply because it should exist—and that the gardener’s greatest accomplishment is the garden he leaves behind—will stay with me. It is a perfect metaphor for a life well lived.

“The Last of the Mohicans” introduces us to Sensei Benny Urquidez (Benny “the Jet”), a man who is both an undefeated world champion many times over and one of the most humble human beings imaginable. Having had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Sensei Benny myself, I can confirm that the portrait painted here is accurate. He is, without exaggeration, one of the most remarkable martial artists and people on the planet. The chapter captures his spirit beautifully.

“A Clear Path Home” will leave you devastated. I challenge anyone to read it and remain unmoved. The insight and emotional depth are extraordinary.

“A Handful of Salt” is almost biblical in its wisdom. The lesson a mother teaches her child about giving generously while remaining completely humble—never announcing the gift, never making the recipient feel small—is one of the purest moral teachings I have encountered in any book. It is a principle I intend to carry with me.

There are so many other chapters that struck deep chords: “A Letter Every Teacher Dreams Of,” “Borrowed Wisdom,” and “Don’t They Have Warriors There,” in which a world champion’s desire to take real action for the oppressed is both inspiring and heartbreaking. “Family Rituals,” with the father and his three children at Donut Queen, shows how ordinary moments become lifelong treasures. “Friday Mornings with My Hero” captures a brother’s quiet, sacrificial love—traveling thousands of miles on his only day off just to spend time with his little brother and take him to Bruce Lee and martial arts movies. The love in that chapter is almost tangible.

And then there is “A Father’s Day Letter from My Daughter Laila.” If you are a father, this one will undo you. I cannot imagine a more beautiful or affirming letter. To be seen and loved by your child in such a way is the highest achievement any parent could hope for. I found myself wishing I could accomplish even a fraction of what the author has clearly done with his children. It is simply beautiful.

Toward the end, “Round One” delivers a powerful principle taught by Sensei Benny that propelled the author through fifty rounds—an accomplishment that speaks volumes about perseverance, character, and the quiet strength of true mentorship.

Every page of this book is written with sincerity, wisdom, and deep humanity. Azhakh has a gift for taking ordinary and extraordinary moments and revealing the sacred within them. I could not put it down, and when I finished, I felt both emptied and filled at the same time.

Dear Fariborz (or Sensei Fariborz), please keep writing books like this. They matter. They change people. You have changed me. Your spirit of generosity, humility, and love is a gift to anyone fortunate enough to encounter it. I am eternally grateful.

I recommend Open Hands Volume II with my whole heart. Read it slowly. Let it work on you. You will be better for it.

Shaun T Bejanian