Where kids fight for their future

Luck can bring people together, but survival in a tough sport like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for people requires dedication – and the two young men, hailing from a modest background, Syed Abdul Nazzeur and Lenin Prakash, showed that they had plenty of it. They had trained in school and had come to Ajit Sigamani, founder of Combat Kinetics, enquiring about classes and eager to learn more. They didn’t have the money to pay the fees, but looking at their determination, Ajit Sigamani agreed to take them in. They’d train in the morning and work as trainers in their free time, which enabled them to earn money too – and that came in handy. Syed and Lenin went on to win national and international competitions year after year. 

“Their journey inspired me to open doors for many such champions,” says Ajit. “There is plenty of talent here, but it needs moulding. Now, we have a team of MMA fighters and some of them are 18-19 years-old boys, who are either in college or have just finished studies, and join us. They get coaching for free and a chance to be assistant coach. Again, the screening process is very strict. They have to be on time, have to work out for a particular time and give it their all. Only those who are serious about it survive the drill — because it is an intense one,” he explains.

Ajit also runs a separate programme for kids from the slums in Nungambakkam in the age group of 13-14 years. “If someone has it in them, we will train them further to fight at the next level of competition,” he points out. The support doesn’t end there. The MMA fighters who make it to the higher levels even get sponsored to participate in tournaments. “We provide them with the gear and equipment and also help them get sponsorship.” 

The programme is designed in a way that these amateur fighters also get employment opportunities. “The main reason why youngsters are not attracted to sports and fitness is the lack of employment options. We have people who are just out of college and are able to support their families: now that is called ‘fighting’ for their dreams,” says Ajit.