This techie packs a punch

He kicks up some fun and fitness, with all seriousness. For more than 15 years now, Pancham Prashar, director of Cue Blocks Technologies, a city-based web technology...

He kicks up some fun and fitness, with all seriousness.

For more than 15 years now, Pancham Prashar, director of Cue Blocks Technologies, a city-based web technology, social media and Internet marketing company has been learning and teaching martial arts. An integral part of his life, Prashar, a third Dan black belt in full contact kickboxing recalls how Jackie Chan was his idol when he was first introduced to marital arts in Class VIII.

“I owe it all to my teacher Master Ali Ashraf, a black belt, who is from Iran and gave me both time and space to learn and an opportunity to teach once he thought I was capable,” says Prashar who takes weekend evening classes for a group comprising children, women and senior citizens!

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Gaining entry to the classes is not a cakewalk, for Prashar makes sure that only those who are serious and dedicated join in.

“There’s a different dedication you need to learn kickboxing. I spend as many as two-and-a-half hours per class and it’s about quality time and stuff. I don’t charge anything and am not doing it for commercial purposes, but only for the love of martial arts. I simply enjoy and love every move,” Prashar feels even if you’ve learnt the intricacies, there’s a need to be in constant touch.

Close contact kickboxing, according to Prashar is practical and a combination of kicks, punches, strikes and the benefit of the age-old tradition is not only physical, but mental and spiritual too. “Stamina, flexibility, endurance, mental discipline, respect for others, I have gained so much from this and there’s now a sense of giving back too, which is heartening. Yes, with work you do need to take out time for your passion, but in the end it’s worth it and I hope to continue with it as long as I live.”