Mixed Martial Arts, kickboxing catch up

What was virtually an unknown sport has been catching up in the city for the past few years - kickboxing has managed to gather its own followers. As it was popularised by the hit Tamil movie, M Kumaran S/o Mahalakshmi, many adults began these classes as a way to stay fit and exercise.

However, children too have entered the sport. Apart from traditional kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which combines different forms of martial arts are also gaining students.

J Keshav, President of the Tamil Nadu MMA Association and founder of the School of Vedic Boxing, says that the main reason children are attracted to kickboxing is that they gain stamina and endurance, along with confidence. “They gain a positive attitude and are ready to fight not only physically, but gain a mental strength,” he says.

With many families living in apartments, children find a way to release their pent-up energy when they attend classes. As many kids stay alone at home till the parents come back from work, knowing a combat sport like kickboxing will help them protect themselves should the need arise, Keshav says.

When classes were first started in 1999, only two students signed up. “Now 250 to 300 students attend my class,” says Keshav. The only downside with kickboxing is that there are no black-belts or levels to work towards, unlike karate. “To motivate children, we give them certificates,” he says. “It is more fun teaching kids as their mind is completely free, and they reflect exactly what is taught to them. It is like a dream for any martial arts teacher,” he adds.

Other popular sports martial arts for kids are Vedic boxing, Krav Maga and Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing). Vedic boxing is a traditional Indian fighting system which harnesses mind, body and external sources. Krav Maga, an Israeli fighting system is taught as an advanced self-defence form and is popular among teenagers. Muay Thai is both sportive and self-defensive, harnessing hand, leg elbow and knee. MMA involves all these and grappling.