Tareq Azim Knihy

"If you knock on Wakil's door, he's going to kill you." Tareq Azim faced this warning as he approached the Taliban warlord's home, but fear had no hold on him. Descended from Afghan royalty, Tareq's family fled to San Francisco after the Soviet invasion in 1979, transitioning from privilege to Section 8 housing. He thrived in American sports, excelling in wrestling, boxing, and football, but the loss of his ancestral land weighed heavily on him. Determined to reclaim it, Tareq returned to Afghanistan, only to find his childhood home destroyed and countless children vulnerable to Taliban recruitment or trafficking. Inspired to help, he envisioned training young women in boxing as a means of empowerment. Gaining permission from the local warlord required a bold knock on his door, but Tareq succeeded and trained Afghanistan's first female Olympic boxer at just 24. Back in San Francisco, he opened gyms named Empower, aiming to help others. This memoir and game plan intertwines Azim's journey with actionable strategies for overcoming fear. Featuring a diverse cast, including Governor Gavin Newsom and NFL star Marshawn Lynch, it addresses challenges like addiction and toxic relationships, empowering readers to confront and conquer their fears.