February 27th, 2026 | 2-minute read

PhD Student Appointed to the Order of Canada

Muzammal Nawaz, World champion kickboxer and Laurentian PhD student recognized for outstanding leadership, community service, and national impact.

(February 27, 2026) - Muzammal Nawaz is a world champion kickboxer, coach, community leader, and PhD student in Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. On December 31, 2025, he was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. This distinction recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.

Born in Liverpool, England, Nawaz moved to Canada at the age of seven. As a child who experienced bullying and racism, his parents enrolled him in the martial arts. After exploring various martial arts and self-defence disciplines, he found his place in kickboxing. Guided by coaches who also came from diverse backgrounds, Nawaz felt understood and supported in his struggles.

His early competitive career was far from easy. He lost his first 10 fights, with referees stopping several of them early. However, he refused to give up. Over time, he went on to win medals in 8 World Amateur World Championships and later became a five time professional World Championship.

Reflecting on his success, Nawaz shared his journey:

“I tried it, and I wasn’t very good at the beginning. What really kept me going with kickboxing was my childhood experiences being bullied. It was a place where I felt afraid and when I could overcome those feelings, I felt like I could be in control of my life.”

Throughout his career, Nawaz has served as a teacher and mentor, working with the Red Cross, supporting youth in group homes, contributing to policy development with various organizations, collaborating with NGOs, coaching athletes, competing internationally, and eventually founding his own kickboxing gym. He has consistently held leadership roles both within sport and in the broader community, including establishing the first-ever national federation.

Since its creation in 1967, more than 7,600 individuals have been invested into the Order of Canada. Nawaz now joins this distinguished group. When asked about the honour, he expressed humility and gratitude, dedicating the recognition to the mentors and advisors who shaped his path. “I feel like I need to give thanks to them. They’re the ones who helped me become who I am, and most of them did so selflessly.”

In 2025, Nawaz began his PhD in Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. Coming from a strong academic family, he sought to bridge his passion for kickboxing with scholarly research. His work explores how coaches can better support the personal growth and leadership development of their athletes.

Under the supervision of Dr. Robert Schinke, Nawaz is researching an area of the combative sport environment that remains largely unexplored. Having collaborated with Dr. Schinke in the past, he was eager to begin this new chapter — one that aims to contribute meaningful research to both the sport and the broader community.