Kicks and punches were under the spotlight at Shivaji Gold Cup, a full contact classic karate championship organised by Shihan Shivaji Ganguly’s Academy: mind and body, at Lake Club on April 2.
TT Bureau
Published 25.04.17, 12:00 AM
Kicks and punches were under the spotlight at Shivaji Gold Cup, a full contact classic karate championship organised by Shihan Shivaji Ganguly’s Academy: mind and body, at Lake Club on April 2.
The national-level tournament — recognised by Kyokushin India, All India Full Contact Karate Organisation and IKO World So Kyokushin, Japan — saw four young fighters challenge eight senior martial artists. The meet also commemorated the 35th year of the Ganguly’s second prize at the 1982 Asian Championship in Singapore.
“Way back in 1977, I started giving shape to my dream of being a successful Kyokushin karateka. I went through a roller-coaster ride to pursue a successful career in martial arts. I had no equipment other than a pair of dumb-bells to train myself and I could only practise at home. But I faced the challenges and represented India in the world championships,” said Ganguly (inset), who is hopeful about the future of full contact karate in Calcutta.
“Now so many youngsters are taking it up it for better neuromuscular coordination and synchronisation between hands and legs. Kyokushin karate boosts one’s mental strength and self-confidence,” he said.
(L-R) Souvik Dey and Shyamantak Ganguly engaged in a close fight in the final. Shyamantak, 2nd Dan black belt, was the champion. “I have been into karate for 18 years,” said the 22-year-old middleweight fighter and three-time national champion. Souvik, 25, came all the way from Allahabad to take part in the tournament. “I have been practising karate for nearly a decade. It is a dream come true to perform in front of a pioneer in Kyokushin karate,” said the heavyweight fighter.
When Sandeep Chadda was wheeled into the Indoor Sports Complex at Lake Club, there was a moment’s silence before the audience burst into applause. A former student of Shihan Shivaji Ganguly, Chadda won a karate championship in 1988. Paralysed waist down, Chadda has had to give up karate but not his spirit. “Despite a tragedy in life, he is still smiling. That’s the spirit of Kyokushin,” Ganguly said.
(L-R) Mainak Das and Biswaroop Das in the semi-final. Biswaroop, a middleweight fighter, received the 2nd runner-up trophy. “It was interesting to take on challengers who are new to full contact karate,” said the 23-year-old who has won several state- and national-level tourneys. Mainak, a 1st Dan black belt and a lightweight fighter with high kicks, came to the tournament without any expectations. “I am happy to have learnt some new techniques,” said the 29-year-old.
Shibayan Ganguly, the secretary of Kyokushinkai India, showed off some skills, including breaking tiles with elbows.
Schoolchildren demonstrate karate techniques on the sidelines of the tournament.
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