An Iranian refugee in search for asylum, Soolmaz grew up in the slums of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Now she’s a world champion in karate. With a PhD. And uses her knowledge to help refugees and athletes learn the skills to overcome conflict.
REFUGEE
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When you’re politically active, on the run, and fighting systemic oppression, your wedding looks like this. No tuxedo, reception, joyous smiles, flashy poses, and celebrations. My mom’s dress was borrowed and this pic is one of a handful that was taken that day.
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Mom and me at a gathering in Bangladesh. It was cheaper to make clothes rather than to buy them, so the tiger print dress worn by my mom is handmade. Her sewing skills are self-taught, ones she continued to perfect by making clothes for me even while in Canada.
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Mom, dad, and me in Bangladesh. We only had each other to rely on.
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Dad and me at the University of Dhaka. Education was a must, even in hard, sometimes impossible, times.
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Mom, dad, and baby Maral in Canada. The joys of new beginnings.
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Dancing at public event on New Year’s eve to ring in 1991; four months after arriving in Canada. Freedom feels good.
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Picnics were a favorite past-time for our family. Here, I’m with my baby sister
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Mom and me at a park in Canada. New place and new opportunities meant new playing spots.
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“Biggie 2” When we were in Bangladesh, my Mom had sewn together a big doll named so that I could have a life-sized friend. This is her replica.
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Sisters
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Competing in Krakow, Poland in 2016
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Who said you can’t kick at 9 months?
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4 months after giving birth – The Abooali Girls leaving for competition arena to kick off the Pan American Championship, November 2017.
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Golden at Worlds
An Iranian refugee in search for asylum, Dr. Abooali grew up in the slums of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Experiencing the realities of violence, poverty, discrimination, and disempowerment, it is here that she developed a spirit to fight conflict; one that has ultimately shaped her identity and work as a scholar, a martial artist, and an Iranian-American Muslim woman.
Today, Soolmaz is a 3-time World and 5-time Pan American Champion, 16-time US National Champion, and USA team member in Traditional Karate. In 2019, she received her PhD in conflict resolution from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, with a focus on how non-governmental organizations use sport to address conflict. Soolmaz is also a professor at the University, teaching about the intersections of sport, conflict resolution, and diplomacy.
In 2025, Dr. Abooali was elected as the first female president of the World Traditional Karate-Do Federation. This was an historic moment reflective of inclusiveness within a traditionally male-dominated art form.
Through leveraging her athlete platform, Dr. Abooali uses this unique set of experiences to change mainstream perceptions of marginalized groups and to foster their empowerment. Her work was featured by UNHCR on World Refugee Day.
Using her expertise in sport and scholarship, she conducts sport diplomacy/conflict resolution workshops for cross-sectional audiences within and outside the United States, and specifically with marginalized groups such as immigrants and women and girls. Her initiatives include partners such as United States Institute of Peace (USIP), United States Department of State (USDOS), the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN), philanthropic figures, and non-governmental organizations.
In her efforts to pay it forward, Soolmaz has served as an Athlete Ambassador for the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) where she promoted equality for women in sport through sharing her story at lectures and events. Alongside the AAKF, Soolmaz continues to increase public awareness of Traditional Karate in school systems and immigrant communities through her speaking engagements and class instruction.
Her debut book chapter, Building a Foundation for Diplomacy through Sport: Iran and United States, was published in 2017 and speaks to the role that athletes can play in bringing together people from divided nations. Soolmaz is currently working through her first book, a memoir that offers conflict resolution techniques for individuals in high-stress professions.
ATHLETE
2025 – Pan Am Championship, Gold
2025 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2024 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2023 – Pan Am Championship, Gold
2023 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2022 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2019 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2018 – World Championship, Gold
2018 – World Championship, Gold
2017 – Pan Am Championship, Gold
2016 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2016 – World Championship, Silver
2015 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2015 – Pan Am Championship, Gold
2014 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2014 – World Championship, Bronze
2013 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2012 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2011 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2011 – Pan Am Championship, Silver
2010 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2009 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2009 – Invitational World Cup, Silver
2008 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2007 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2006 – US Nat’l Championship, Gold
2005 – US Nat’l Championship, Silver
2004 – US Nat’l Championship, Bronze
2003 – US Nat’l Championship, Silver
2003 – Pan Am Championship, Gold
2002 – US Nat’l Championship, Bronze
2001 – US Nat’l Championship, Bronze
WATCH KATA
SCHOLAR
PRESS
“A ‘peaceful’ world can only be achieved if we make it a priority to understand our own goals, desires and needs, and use that knowledge to address broader social issues - one step at a time." - Soolmaz Abooali, Los Angeles youth workshop with Joaquin Phoenix, UN and River Phoenix Centre.
Engaging mental health: A conflict analysis guide for professional athletes School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Newsletter
Stress is Good! Think like a martial artist The Perfect Game Foundation
On the Issues: Preventing Conflicts and Peacebuilding through Athletic Competition United States Institute of Peace
Athletes Pick A Side At The Women’s March Deadspin
Muslim Women Find Empowerment Through Competitive Sports Des Moines Register
Unclenched Fists The Washington Diplomat
In new class, students get lessons in karate kicks, world peace, diplomacy The Washington Post
High school students learn conflict resolution through karate Fairfax Times
Stuart High School Students Use Traditional Karate to Help With Conflict Resolution Fairfax Times
Doctoral Student Goes to Hollywood to Teach Peace Techniques George Mason News
Women-in-Combat Plaintiff to Present Keynote at Gender and Conflict Center Reception George Mason News
Featured Student: Soolmaz Abooali, Incoming S-CAR Ph.D. Student S-CAR News
TELEVISION / WEB / PODCAST
Iran: The Untold Story, The Hill Episode 10
Interview with International Organization Development Association (IODA)
Real Talk Sportz Mason Cable Network
Athlete Ambassador Calling for Support for Shirzanan 2016 Shirzanan
VOA News VOA Farsi
Sports Diplomacy, Martial Arts & Conflict Analysis Conflict Specialists Show with Dave Hilton
Work With Me
I am available for workshops, seminars, speaking events as well as consultations, publication and research projects.
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Unparalleled Expertise
3x World and 5x Pan American Champion. 16x U.S. National Champion in Traditional Karate. Refugee and scholar with lived experiences of conflict. Bringing a distinct perspective to work and research in conflict resolution within groups and institutions. Available for consultation, seminars, publication inquiries, and research on the use of sport as a tool for conflict transformation.
Inspirational Speaker
I bring my story as a refugee, a decorated amateur athlete, and my work as a scholar together to deliver conflict-resolution workshops, self-defense seminars, and talks that uplift, encourage, and stimulate participants.