So I went to Iran and got the MRI and surgery done in three days.
He’s also brought Omid Amidi, a gold medal-winning taekwondo world champion, over from Iran, on a visa, to coach him.
“When I was in the national junior team, in Iran, he was representing the team in seniors which was the next generation up.”
Eisa is also glad to be over an ACL injury that he sustained at the Oceania championships in Tahiti late year when he was fighting in the 80kg plus heavyweight division.
He’s undergone extensive rehabilitation and even went back to Iran because the health service was quicker.
“I wanted to have the surgery in New Zealand but the waitlist to do the MRI was about three weeks, and then about four months for the surgery.
“I felt that if I waited that long I would miss out on my chances for Olympic selection.
“So I went to Iran and got the MRI and surgery done in three days.”
He’s going back to his original weight category, under-68kg, for his Olympic hopes.
Eisa, who is steadily dropping weight which he put on during the post-surgery rest period, had a positive outlook.
“I’m very confident and grateful to have a coach as well as Stella’s support.”
The pair would eventually settle on the Kāpiti Coast and run their own club in two different venues before its current location, which used to be the Golden Coast Chartered Club, offered the space to accommodate the growing membership.
Eisa, a multiple-time Iran, Australia and New Zealand national champion, said a club member’s parent, who works in real estate, suggested the former chartered club as an ideal base.
“She said ‘If you’ve got some savings maybe come and look at this place – it could be the place you need’.”
It was perfect so they bought it, converted it to their needs, and never looked back.
Asked what the secret to the club’s success was, Eisa said, “We go the extra mile.”
As well as teaching taekwondo, the club fosters self-respect, respect for others, confidence, control and leadership.