When the Kula Lumpur based Asian Goju Ryu Karate Federation qualified Vidhit Naik of Auckland for Black Belt Ni Dan (Second Dan) along with Black Belt First Dan, one of those who displayed least surprise was his Guru Jeffery Chandy.
For the Master, a Guinness Records holder (Indian Newslink, December 15, 2009), knew well about his student who went under his watch five years ago.
The accolade from the Federation was a great morale booster, which prompted Chandy to organise an event to demonstrate the prowess of the 19-year-old student.
Raw power
An invited audience watched with awe (on April 19) as the young man gave a fabulous display of grace, skill and raw power.
Beginning the show with ‘Seyunchin Kata,’ Vidhit used a combination of kicks to break pine wood boards, followed by breaking a bottle with bare hands and tiles on different parts of his body.
As Jeffery and Vidhit warned, “These are not to be tried by anyone anywhere other than those involved with Martial Arts, for demonstration only.”
The high speed and precision use of the Nunchaku to knock off an apple right out of his father’s hands displayed both courage and confidence, drawing cheers from spectators. They also applauded his skill over Katana, sword of the legendary Japanese Samurai warriors.
Vidhit also successfully broke seven roof tiles with his elbow, followed by 12 sheets of glass, both of which he executed with power and perfection. The finale was a heart- stopping smash of five roof tiles on fire, with his bare fist.
Other talents
His father Gautam Naik (who works for Nova Energy Solar as its Commercial Sales Manager) said that his son’s talent is not confined to Karate.
“During his final year at School, Vidhit made us proud by doing well in Karate, Tabla and scholastic pursuits. He is now a Mechanical Engineering student at AUT University. He has learnt to manage his time well so as not to neglect any of his interests. He is aware that he must excel in whatever he does in a competition world,” he said.
For anyone meeting him for the first time, Vidhit comes through as a soft-spoken and well-mannered teenager and does not give the impression that he is a tough young man capable of breaking with ease a stack of eight tiles with one elbow blow.
Five years ago, he migrated to New Zealand with his parents from his native Goa leaving behind his large circle of childhood friends to start a new life in Auckland. He took up swimming, Karate and music to overcome loneliness.
While attending his swimming class at the Cameroon Pools in Mt Roskill, Vidhit met Jeffery and instantly became his student.
High performer
With ‘Nothing is impossible’ as motto and a non-compromising approach to training Jeffery expects a high level of performance from his students, a fact that was displayed at a karate demonstration held as a part of Santa’s Parade on Queen Street in 2010.
Vidhit won the Overall Champions Trophy in 2011 at the Karate Competition organised by Jeffery. He excelled in Kata, which involves detailed choreographed movements with proven karate techniques as natural reflex.
