Farshad Azad

Grandmaster Farshad Azad has taught personal safety and personal empowerment since moving to Chico in 1985 to study for his master’s degree in public administration at Chico State University. He is the owner of Azad's Martial Arts Center in Chico and the CEO of Azad's International Inc., focusing on international real estate investment and business coaching for small and midsize businesses. He holds a 10th-Degree Black Belt in Jongshindo, Hapkido and Tai Chi Chuan. He is president and CEO of World Jongshindo Association.

Farshad is known for his deep involvement in the community, most notably as founder and organizer of the annual Azad’s Thanksgiving Basket Brigade. The Basket Brigade has provided Thanksgiving dinners to 60,000 people in Butte and Glenn counties in the past 30 years. He also serves on the board of directors for the American Red Cross and Butte College Foundation. He is a member of the Butte Strong Fund Committee, Chico State Kinesiology Department Diversity Committee, Chico State Police Chief Advisory Committee and Enloe Healthy Communities Committee. He has been a part-time faculty member at Chico State for 30 years and is faculty advisor to the Circle K Club (Kiwanis Student Club) at Chico State. He is vice president of the board of the World Sinmoo Hapkido Foundation, as well as president and regional director of World Sinmoo Hapkido Association Middle East.