An inner call to be a fighter
Few months ago, Midhun Jith made headlines when he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for most number of martial arts kicks in a minute.
But that achievement wasn’t the end of his dreams.
The 22-year-old, with a degree in marine engineering, is fascinated by professional fighters and in his pursuit of becoming one, left his home in Wayanad for Pattaya in Thailand.
After almost a month there, Midhun cherishes the opportunities he had to train at Golden Glory, a martial arts academy with world champions such as Bas Boon and Filip Verlinden.
“I am told not many from India have travelled to be trained by the world’s best. It is such a privilege and I want to go back soon,” said Midhun, who is home for a break.
Midhun, a fan of action movies and a trained fighter himself, has more than a dozen State and national titles in karate.
“I was fortunate to be accepted by Golden Glory and on August 1, I reached there. It is a hub of professional fighters and though the programme was for only eight days, they allowed me to continue for two more weeks,” he said.
“If you are a fighter, you have to compete in professional fights and there is nothing beyond it. I have been asked to drop a few kilos and return in October,” he says.
“There are martial arts experts and trainees from Russia, Spain, Netherlands and various south Asian countries and I take so much pride in representing India there,” said Midhun, who could not take part in a kick-boxing world event in Croatia for technical reasons.
Midhun says it is his guru, Shihan Gireesh Perumpatta, who gives moral support for venturing into a world unknown.
“All I’m thinking now is to prepare myself for the second stint with Golden Glory. I am now training with Jophin Lal, a mixed martial arts trainer in Kottayam,” he said.
“There is a professional fight in Belgium in October, but they tell me I am not ready for it. I will train hard, my chance will come. I don’t repent not pursuing engineering, but if I miss my inner calling to be a fighter, it will never calm me down,” says Midhun.
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