Iranian Kung Fu master Yasar Zomorodi is fighting to gain citizenship in Australia, to represent the country in the World Games this November.
A five time champion in Iran, Yasar has won national titles in Australia but can't yet compete internationally. Instead he volunteers his time teaching children self-defence in the outer Melbourne suburb of Dandenong.
Head coach at Lifestyle Martial Arts Bruce Corles says Yasar's background and language is a real asset to the gym that's located in an area with a large population of refugees and migrants.
Yasar Zomorodi. (SBS)
"The demographics of the area is such that we have a lot of Afghani people here, and when the young Afghani kids come they also speak the same language," he said.
Yasar is on a bridging visa that doesn't allow him to work.
He arrived in Australia in 2013 on a boat from Indonesia, following which he spent 10 weeks in a detention centre and gained release just before a change in government and the enactment of the so-called "turn back the boats" policy. He said his life in Iran was a painful memory.
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"I don't know what happened to me if I have to go back there, I have nothing there, just my family," he said.
Last week Yasar won gold at the Australian Kung Fu Wushu Championships. Head coach Bruce Corles says Yasar's skills are well beyond anything previously seen in Australia.
"The skills that he's got, his competition was just so effortlessly won. He really impressed the selectors," he said.
Yasar has now qualified for the World Games in Indonesia this November, but without citizenship he's not allowed to represent Australia. His trainers were working with immigration lawyers to make sure he can compete come November.
Team manager Sarah Corles said it will be a great disappointment if he misses out.
"For Australia to miss out on these precious medals that we need so desperately it's a real shame. The head coach and myself are working very hard with a group of people including immigration lawyers and local MPs to try and speed up the process and all fingers crossed we can try and get these professional athletes to represent us."
Yasar said he was confident of winning gold for Australia but his students were happy to keep him training for a few more months.
"He makes me be a good champion and that I should never quit and he's very funny," said student Shadi.
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