SYRIA: Syrian man amazes crowds with painful endurance show

Record ID: 279265

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrian man amazes crowds with painful endurance show
  • Date: 24th May 2010
  • Summary: DAHDOUH'S BACK VARIOUS OF DAHDOUH PUTTING HOOKS IN HIS BACK VARIOUS OF DAHDOUH PULLING A CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED DAHDOUH, SYRIAN ENDURANCE PERFORMER, SAYING: "The goal of this show is to prove to the world that we put obstacles in front of us in order to prove that we can pass over those impossible obstacles through sport, as long as it is connected with faith.
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2KV1T5O1SRP837AA43JYWSSU
  • Story Text: Syrian Martial Arts expert and endurance performer Khaled Dahdouh amazed large crowds near Damascus on Friday (May 21) when he pulled and lifted heavy objects using hooks through his skin before offering the crowd a grand finale.
    Dahdouh, whose face couldn't hide the pain on many occasions through the night, pulled a car with hooks pierced through the skin on his back.
    He said he goes to extremes so he can prove the boundaries of human performance can always be extended.
    "The goal of this show is to prove to the world that we put obstacles in front of us in order to prove that we can pass over those impossible obstacles through sport, as long as it is connected with faith," he said.
    The performer then lifted a grown child with skin from his elbows and throat.
    "My work is very difficult, I say to the world not to give up because man is always the winner and not to let failure beat you. You can beat all the obstacles with your will whether you are a man, woman, a child or even if you were ill," he said.
    Dahdouh, 50, also showed his martial arts skills when he smashed concrete blocks with his arm and head.
    Hassan al-Hussein, the Syrian coach of Kyoba - a local form of Taekwondo - says Dahdouh brings them pride.
    "We are making some hard steps in order to establish a school for Kyoba in Syria that includes all national expertise; world breaking champions whether they were Syrians or Syrians who live outside the country," he said.
    Dahdouh's childhood hero was Martial Arts legend Bruce Lee, but his most bizarre act was a crucifiction when his aides hammered large nails through his hands into a plank of wood, with his weight also aided by hooks on his back attached to the board.
    Dahdouh's name made the Guinness book of World Records five times from the year 1999 until 2003.
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