Karate Kid Takes on Global Voices

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Shadya airs on Global Voices Sunday, July 25

A young Muslim Israeli is trapped between her passion for karate and religious tradition in Shadya, airing this Sunday on Global Voices on PBS World (check local listings).

Directed by Roy Westler, the film takes place in Northern Israel and profiles a 17-year-old charismatic karate champion. Shadya is a rare breed, a feminist in a male-dominated culture and a Muslim Arab living in Israel.

As she grapples with the looming tension of an early marriage and her Palestinian identity, Shadya refuses to play by the rules of her traditional Muslim community.

Check out the trailer for Shadya ahead of the broadcast this Sunday.

  • Jesse

    I recently came across the PBS special featuring Shadya at a world Karate competion in 2003. Her behavior after losing a match and storming off the mat, indicates she knows nothing about real martial arts, dicipline, humility, and respect. She behaves like a spoiled child. How she ever achieved any rank is astonishing. As a stundent for over 30 years with blackbelts in multiple diciplines, I was embarressed that she represents any marial arts organization. Her teachers failed to teach the real aspects of true martial arts.