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Pocket-sized rocket
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Kritika Madhukar Jois packs quite a punch for her size. She is one of the youngest exponents of the little known martial art, muay thai
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I have no regrets in taking up Muay Thai and the rewards are just coming for my efforts KRITIKA MADHUKAR JOIS
Kicking for glory Kritika Madhukar Jois: `The rewards are just coming my way.' Photo: Murali Kumar K.
Kritika Madhukar Jois has brought joy in abundance to the entire fraternity of the little-known sport of muay thai. The 15-year-old, 10th standard student at the Adi Chunchunagiri Composite High School, Shimoga, does pack quite a punch for her size.
"I want to win a gold medal at the World Championships," the petite girl says. MetroPlus caught up with her during the intensive training camp prior to the Indian team's departure to the championship in Bangkok where the fraternity's hopes rest on her and her co-participants.
Winning the title of Best Fighter in the Muay Thai Nationals at Guwahati last December, has underlined the qualities that the pin weight girl possesses. Shy to a point, she comes to Bangalore for special training sessions with Master M.H. Abid at least three times a year. She says she owes her success to him.
"I seemed to lose energy in the first two rounds of the final... but stayed in the ring and due to better technique, achieved my desired goals," Kritika says on her win over Achita of Nagaland in the pin weight category. Winning the gold at Guwahati showed that the girl has the steely determination to make a mark on the international stage.
The second child of an industrialist father and homemaker mother, Kritika has had all the support needed right from the beginning.
"It was my mother who used to push me at first. She would ensure that I had my food and practice on time. She would virtually drive me around and I am mighty pleased that she did it then," she says. Her coach in Shimoga is Shabbir Ahmed and he is the one who started sending her to Bangalore for advanced and intensive coaching at Abid's camp.
But why muay thai when there are several other martial arts around? "Kickboxing and karate do a lot for self confidence. And the discipline that they instil in one is immense. I have no regrets in taking up muay thai and the rewards are just coming for my efforts," Kritika says.
M.H. Abid is the Chief Coach and sole representative of the Muay Thai Federation of India in the world body. He too sings praises of his young ward's performance. "If she continues to train this hard and maintains a strict regimen then there is no reason why she cannot win more laurels for the country," he says.
Kritika's next objective and focus is the Asian Indoor Games in November. She and her fellow trainees both at Shimoga and in Abid's stable at Bangalore are all geared to ensure that there is a rich haul of medals at the competition.
The history
Muay thai began in Thailand as a close-combat battlefield fighting skill more deadly than the weapons it replaced. As for its evolution, the sources aren't clear and often contradict each other. But there are two main theories.
One says that the art developed as the Thai people moved down from China and struggled for land. The other says the Thai people were already there and that muay thai was developed to defend the land and people from constant invasion threats.
The second theory, while controversial, has considerable academic backing and archaeological evidence. The first is, however, possible as the area opened up to the early pioneers. What is known is that muay thai was an essential part of Thai culture right from its dawn. And in Thailand, it's the sport of kings.
In olden days, national issues were decided by muay thai contests. The first great upsurge of interest in muay thai as a sport, as well as a battlefield skill, was under King Naresuan in 1584, a time known as the Ayuddhaya period. During this period, every soldier trained in muay thai and was adept at it, including the King.
The 1930s saw the most radical change in the sport. It was then that it was codified and today's rules and regulations were introduced. Ropes binding the arms were abandoned and gloves took their place.
Source: World Muay Thai Council
AVINASH NAIR
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