Alive and Kicking | Maiidan

ANUP PRAKASH

I follow the noise of people screaming aggressively, a little scared. I timidly peep in and see a 5'5" tall Roshan Bikram Bhattarai (left) kicking a punching bag as he flies in the air for a brief moment. Roshan is the kickboxing instructor at the Dasarath Stadium. He flicks his long straightened hair away from his sweat drenched face and gestures me to take a seat on the sole cane stool outside the room. I sit on it obediently and look nervously into the room as students try to imitate Roshan's kicks.

"Kickboxing is a difficult sport," says Roshan who first took up martial arts at the age of 10. "It requires hard core training and a lot of dedication," he explains as he stops a student and teaches him the correct way to kick. Fifteen minutes into it and I know exactly what he means when he says it's difficult. Roshan, a resident of Jhapa, switched from karate, after playing it for six years, to kickboxing some 14 years ago. "This game has more power and speed," explains Roshan on being questioned why. It was for the same reason kickboxing was developed when karate practitioners became frustrated with the strict rules in other martial art competitions that didn't allow full contact kicks and punches. The high power kicks and punches have raised many safety questions against the game and it now allows the use of protective gear.

The Nepal Kickboxing Association was formed in Nepal eight years ago by its enthusiasts Subodh Pradhan and Mukit Sangram Bista. "There is a lot of scope for the sport here in Nepal but the lack of proper facilities has hit hard on the development of the sport," he says. Roshan, who is also a part time stuntman for Nepali movies, reveals that the lack of funds for the interested and absence of the dedication in ones with resources stops this high energy martial art from being as popular as others.

An overall body exercise, there are several types of kickboxing, Chinese kick-boxing, Thai boxing, American kick-boxing just to name a few. "Each of these styles of kickboxing has their respective rules and everywhere you go kickboxing is treated as a religion," informs Roshan. As for Nepal, the interest is rising but the lack of interest from the Sports Council has only a few numbers of people trickling in to learn and play the sport–one of who is Bipendra Thapa, a young kickboxing enthusiast. "I use to come to the stadium to play other sports and when I noticed the gurus practise, I started developing an interest towards it," says Bipendra who then on came just to watch Roshan and his friends practise. "That was four years ago. Even though I still find it difficult I am going to continue because of the confidence it gives me," he says.

"This game is not just a sport but also a form of self defense, which in turn increases self confidence and makes a person internally strong," says Roshan whose dedication to the game has sort of started a fan following. Every evening there is a small group of future martial arts player watching him in awe as he back flips and kicks the pads with a loud roar. Though ignored by the Sports Council, Roshan's passion for the sport keeps the sport alive off the busy streets of Tripureshwor. "I want to spread this game all over Nepal and have kickboxing tournaments, someday, across the country," he says with a hint of sadness in his eyes but a smile on his face.

Class timings are 4-7 PM at the Dasarath Rangashala. An initial charge of Rs 500 is required to be a member after which it's just Rs 200 per month.