| AHMEDABAD - Gajanand Rajput gives the | | | | equally adept at all of them. "Wushu is as much a |
| impression that he wouldn't hurt a fly. But looks are | | | | training regimen for the mind as for the body. Not only |
| deceptive. Behind the placid demeanour is a man who | | | | am I more confident physically but I am also more |
| can take down bullies twice his size with a single | | | | focused mentally because of it," says Rajput. |
| punch. | | | | His obsession opened new avenues for him and he |
| Rajput (28) is a 35th generation Shaolin Temple | | | | recently worked on the TV serial 'Prithviraj Chauhan' |
| warrior disciple, the only Indian at that. He was trained | | | | as an action choreographer. |
| at the Shaolin temple in Henan, China and even bore a | | | | "Not only is Gajanand Sir very accomplished in Wushu |
| Chinese name, Shi Heng Chang, meaning 'Long time | | | | but his knowledge about martial arts in general is |
| relative', bestowed on him by his Master. | | | | phenomenal," says Gaurav Rokade (24), a BPO |
| The first generation of warrior monks began practising | | | | staffer and disciple of Rajput's. Rajput has been |
| Wushu in the 11th century AD. The cult was outlawed | | | | awarded a doctorate from the International University |
| after the monks started a revolution in China with their | | | | of Sport and Martial Arts Science, New Jersey |
| unbelievable fighting skills, as Shaolin Kung-Fu achieved | | | | because of his proficiency in Wushu. |
| notoriety. | | | | "When I was in China, I saw people of ages 4-80 |
| "I began practising Wushu as a hobby 15 years back | | | | years practising martial arts, I think we in India too |
| but it soon became my occupation and lifelong | | | | should make martial arts more popular. I dream that |
| obsession," says Rajput, also general secretary of the | | | | one day martial arts will be taught in every school in |
| Martial Arts Authority of India. | | | | the country." With people like him dedicating their lives |
| Wushu has many disciplines like unarmed combat, | | | | to it, that day may not be too far off. |
| sword-play, staff-play and spear-play and Rajput is | | | | |