Shamim started his martial arts training under Bob Breen and Terry Barnet in Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing and Eskrima. He also trained under Pat O'Malley, Simon Wells and John Harvey in Lapunti Arnis De Abanico.

In 1993 Pat O'Malley and John Harvey together created Rapid Arnis and Shamim was one of it's first students. He quickly progressed through the ranks to achieve his 1st Dan Black Belt in 1995.

In 1993 he started training privately in the Kalis Ilustrisimo system under John Chow who was a student of the late Tatang Ilustrisimo and Tony Diego.

In 1994 Shamim travelled to the Philippines to compete in the 3rd World, Eskrima, Kali, Arnis, Federation (WEKAF) Championships as part of Team Great Britain where he won a Bronze medal.

Whilst in the Philippines he trained with noted grand masters Inting Carin, Momoy Canete, Dioney Canete, Danny Guba and Ondo Carbunay.

In 1998 Shamim opened is own school in Bethnal Green in East London, called the "Filipino Martial Arts Academy" where he taught Doce pares, La Punti Arnis de Abanico and Rapid Arnis.

In 1999 was formally given a recommendation by John Chow, which all students need to begin formal training, to study under GM Tony Diego. That summer Shamim and Abjol Miah flew to Manila and trained extensively for 4 weeks in the Kalis Ilustrisimo System.

In 2000 Shamim again represented Great Britain in the 6th WEKAF Championship where he became the World Champion in the men's flyweight division.

Shamim has since been back to the Philippines 3 times to continue his training and now stands as the UK representative of Kalis Ilustrisimo.