By Richa Kharshandi
When whole of the country is going gaga over mixed martial arts (MMA), the North East is not far behind either. MMA is a sport which has recently started to gain popularity in the state as youths from Meghalaya have competed at several national-level fights, including the star-studded Super Fight League (SFL).
Currently more than 100 boys and girls are getting trained in this full contact combat sport, some even preparing to compete in nationals and internationals. The state has three MMA gyms or dojo, as it is called, and each dojo has a good number of fighters. The city has two dojos, Ray’s Combat Team MMA Training Centre and Happy Red Rooster MMA and Ground and Pound MMA Gym which is in Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi.
Most of these fighters are inspired by Connor McGregor, one of the world’s best MMA fighters.
Sunday Shillong spoke to some of these energetic, passionate and hardworking fighters of the state and their coaches.
Aristone Manbha Ryndongsngi and his younger brother Anastacius from Ri Bhoi have competed in several fights. The brothers, who have triumphed in the nationals, said they started fighting a few years ago. They were engrossed in the sport because it has distinctive styles and techniques. Aristone is a student of St Anthony’s and Anastacius is MMA coach in Bengaluru. Both brothers are focused and determined, however, Aristone says MMA is just a passion for him and he wants to become a leading producer of fish in the state. The 23-year-old is studying BSc fisheries. Anastacius is the first Khasi to hold championship belt in Boom MMA Indian Premier Fighting League.
Frankystar Momin, who has competed in five fights, including nationals, is from karate background. The 21-year-old competed in the First Open MMA National Championship held in Guwahati in September, but couldn’t make it to the final. But Momin hasn’t lost hope, he is now twice determined and training for his next fight. “I like to adapt different methods. Even though I am an MMA fighter, I like to adapt styles from boxing, wrestling or Muay Thai (Combat sport from Thailand) When I am in the ring I use all the techniques so that I confuse my opponent.”
The state has produced several sport stars like Aiborlang Khongjee and Eugeneson Lyngdoh (football), Linza Fenny Syiem (karate), Johnny Ryntathiang and Cores Marwein (SFL) to name a few. These are not just sportspersons but also pride of the state representing Meghalaya in national and international levels. Likewise, MMA youngsters want to bring pride to the state and their family.
Another MMA fighter, Remi Kharshandi says he has always been interested in sports, however, his story is a little different. “As a teenager, I had brawls and was involved in several street fights but as I grew up, I realised that I want to do something bigger so I joined this gym.” Kharshandi, who is 30 years of age, has been training for the last one year. “My coaches motivate me everyday. They helped me in becoming who I am today. Before joining the dojo, I was a different person and now I like where I am,” Kharshandi says. When asked if he wants to take up MMA as career, he says “I am already 30, I don’t know if I am still eligible but if there’s a chance, why not.”
Reforming Marwein also trains at Happy Red Rooster, the young lad recently joined the combat sport. “I used to watch the fights on television, which stimulated me. I wanted to become like one of them, strong and fit,” says 20-year-old Marwein, who has played against Assam recently.
They say nowadays girls can compete with boys in every field, which is an absolute fact. Iohtilyn Wankhar is a 20-year-old female MMA fighter. She has competed at the national level against Assam. Wankhar, who started training MMA last July says, “The story behind me joining MMA is funny. One day I got into a fight with my cousin and couldn’t defend myself and decided to join the dojo.”
In a male-dominated MMA, Wankhar is fighting her way to reach the top. “She is undefeatable and has so much of potential,” said one of her coaches at Happy Red Rooster.
Wankhar informed that there are other female MMA fighters in the state, which is good. “Hopefully our number will grow,” she adds.
Like Kharshandi, other fighters are also sure that if proper platform and assistance is provided, they can prove themselves. However, lack of funding from the government restricts the players to spread their wings outside the state. The fighters shed blood, sweat and give their 100 per cent. It is inspiring to watch them practising.
One of the coaches at Happy Red Rooster MMA, Isaiah Kharmawphlang, who was also an MMA fighter, informed that MMA is still new here in the state but it is growing rapidly. The coach says their gym is just one-year-old and the number of students is increasing. Kharmawphlang is the chief delegate for MMA for Meghalaya as nominated by the All India Mixed Martial Arts Association.When asked how he got the idea of starting the dojo, he says, “I had been competing in Brazilian Jujitsu (BJJ) at the national and the international levels over the years. I am a student of the art of Brazilian Jujitsu. It just so happened that I had been showing the techniques to other enthusiasts at the dojo and everybody started calling me coach.”
Further speaking about his journey from being a fighter to a coach, he says, “I had been coaching BJJ for over a year now. Many years ago, a poor lifestyle choice had led me to develop a number of health problems. To improve my fitness, I decided to try out martial arts. I had tried kick boxing and studied the art under MMA pro-fighter Johnny Ryntathiang. But I found that I was more inclined towards grappling arts. I was hooked on Brazilian Jujitsu the moment I attended my first BJJ seminar conducted by the All India Mixed Martial Arts Association in Bangalore in 2013. I had been training in BJJ ever since.”
Initially the coach and his partner Reuben Lulam would train in their living room by clearing out all the furniture. Then more and more people came to know about them and soon many members joined. “We then became a family and now our family is ever growing. But we do invite international level coaches for seminars and many had been kind enough to visit and share their expertise with us,” Kharmawphlang says.
The two coaches are positive that MMA will soon become one of the prominent sports in the state. “Fighters from the North East have always been naturally gifted. With enough support in diet and training, they have what it takes to reach the top,” adds Kharmawphlang.
As they say, nobody can support or motivate a sportsperson more than their coaches, it wouldn’t be a lie to say that these fighters have the best coaches.
It is more like a miracle for Meghalaya to practise this form of international martial arts and bring up the best fighters. Many from the state have already competed in national leagues, but there is one man who reached the international level. Raymond Johnny Kurbah, who competed at the All Africa Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Johannesburg in South Africa, is currently coaching at Ray’s Combat Team MMA Training Centre. Agreeing with his fellow coaches, Kurbah says many good fighters have been coming up.
“I started coaching in 2013. As a fighter I have gone through many challenges, it was not easy. I have shed tears, blood, sweat and even as a coach I have to endure many challenges with my students as we don’t have a proper training centre,” he adds.
In coach Kharmawphlang’s words “discipline is an important factor in every sport, which is a fact”. Asserting on how important it is for a fighter to not lose temper, he says, “A fighter must be disciplined physically and mentally. He or she must not get distracted by any elements.”
Talking about discipline, a well-known boxer of the state Johnny Nongrum, who recently joined MMA, says he wanted to try his hands in some other combat arts. Nongrum hails from Ri Bhoi and is a renowned sportsperson. He has competed in several boxing matches in the national level.
The former boxer says he started gaining interest in MMA after watching the international fights like UFC and other leagues on television. “I was very much influenced by their unique style. I had actually joined Happy Red Rooster as boxing coach. However, I wanted to train myself with MMA techniques.” Nongrum, who says MMA is a “well-polished street fight”, had competed at the national level against Mizoram.
No doubt these energetic players will make it to the peak. But it is also a fact that without help from higher authorities of the government, the road to success is difficult.
The state has just three MMA gyms, which are private. The equipment and infrastructure required for this skilled combat do not come cheap.
Fighter turned coach Kurbah of Ray’s Combat has struggled and still is for finding sponsors. “At times I feel like giving up, but when I think of my students I boost up myself again,” he says. Kurbah fought five nationals and two internationals and shared his experience when he went abroad. “Their training centres and ours are completely different. They have better equipment and infrastructure. I have lost in South Africa and in some or the other, I blame our poor infrastructure.”
“The government needs to be more proactive. There is a need for government officials to visit training facilities at the grassroots level and assess the need and requirements of these training facilities. In this way there will be a greater understanding on how we can collectively work to raising the standard of training and competition,” says Kharmawphlang.
The fighters couldn’t agree less with their coaches. “Lack of fund from the government is certainly a hurdle. We don’t even have a proper training centre and if it was not for my coach, I wouldn’t have reached where I am today,” says Aristone Manbha.
However, Nongrum believes “if we approach the government properly, we will surely get help. Most of the people from the remote areas don’t know how to approach the government and someone should guide them”.
In a state, where football and cricket are the most popular sports, MMA is leaving its impact, succeeding to win hearts. The day is not far when MMA, which is a great sport if one possesses knowledge of the techniques, will equally be adored as other sports, feel the fighters.
