Period of training leading up to the attempt was quite enjoyable. It began with Rajesh Battacharjee and selected students overcoming unease at kicking me in unprotected groin. At first they were very afraid of hurting me and I had to build up their confidence with repeated assurances. Each time they kicked and I did not collapse they felt a little bit better until they were able to use full force with no inhibition. Then it was all plain sailing. First few days were sore but I kept this news from them to spare their concern. When I adjusted my breathing pattern and added extra meditation time into the warm-up it became fun for everybody. Every session produced better results and I was able to withstand more kicks with no ill effects, up to twenty continuously. When this milestone was achieved I was comfortable that success was in the bag.
Then a heavy drawback when Guinness people refused to recognise the event. I received fateful message only two weeks before the big day — as you can imagine this put me in a spin and I was gravely worried that my carefully laid plans would be all for nothing. The letter explained that due to extreme nature of this activity they were unwilling to encourage possible harm to my person. I respected their decision as they are organisation of worldwide esteem but it left me in state of punctured spirits.
‘Perhaps it is a sign that you should abandon this course before you receive injury,’ my wife told me. ‘There are other records you can break if the desire is still strong, and they are less dangerous.’
Of course I did not listen to her opinion as it made no sense. We were at that time still quite newly married and she did not know how strong was my belief in these great moments. I could no more give up on this new goal in my life than a fish can stop swimming. ‘There is another solution,’ I told her. ‘If the Guinness people will not ratify this record then I will get the support of Limca instead. They will be more than keen to jump on board, I am sure of it.’
If you are not familiar, the Limca Book of Records is the world’s greatest collection after Guinness — and to make all the more satisfying is exclusive to achievers from my country. Limca are also more welcoming to aspiring record breakers with commitment to spreading word of Indian excellence to all corners of the globe. I received their full approval sans delay — the record was in my grasp again! One more week of intensive training and I would be ready to take first giant step into my future of dreams.
This final week was nail-biting time. Not only was I very busy with my work at the factory on top of heavy practice schedule, also my wife was not very encouraging. To avoid marital strife I was obliged to cease kicking practice in my home and instead focused all my energies on overall strength training and prolonged bouts of meditation. Only when she was not in the vicinity I would ask one of my friends to kick me in the groin to confirm that resistance still remained there and training regime had paid off. Then the big day came calling. One last appeal to my wife to come and support me went unheard, she remained at home with the child. Despite this snub I left for the venue in frame of great confidence and peacefulness. It was a beautiful sunny day and the almighty was walking alongside me, positive outcome was decided.
Large section of my friends, students and colleagues were gathered at the home of Rajesh Battacharjee to greet my arrival with warmest words of encouragement. Amrit Battacharjee, brother of Ramesh, manager on his behalf of Everest Audio-Video Retail, acted as official video cameraman despite troublesome cataracts and set up in courtyard for capturing the all-important footage for means of official recognition. My student Vijay Two took charge of the stills camera (I had at this time four students called Vijay and it was a joke of ours that I would refer to them by number to avoid confusion). Official count taken by my oldest student Gopal Dutta, who has trained under me since my first karate class attended in Navi Mumbai Sports Association, my local facility, and who at seventy-five years was most trustworthy occupant for this role. He was downtrodden that I did not include him in band of kickers — my observation told me while power was no problem he did not possess necessary speed in legs — but when I conveyed to him the vital importance of timekeeper’s job he jumped in with both feet. He joined the practice group in lead-up to the big event to perfect counting method — everyone agreed the best action was to mark each kick with clear downward movement of his hand as well as verbal confirmation so the camera would pick everything up for purpose of verification — and together the six of us formed a tight bond.
By the day of the attempt we were well-drilled squad. No more mishaps of one kicker getting in the way of another and all kicks delivered with matching tension — we had the routine in total control and the smiles on our faces after each practice session were proof of this.
Back to the big day. Myself and four kickers prepared with stretching, period of meditation and intake of water. Final messages of support were conveyed by the crowd, who filled the small space and also watched from inside Rajesh Battacharjee’s home where his wife had prepared mango and sweet lime for all-comers. Feeling of love was evident from every side. I stripped to my briefs to confirm to the world and camera that no protective garment had been secretly installed on my person. Also made a short statement that no numbing agents had been used and my conduct was at all times that of honest dedicated sportsman. Then I cleared my mind of all external things. Took ready position. Four kickers made a circle around me as we had determined, all maintaining ideal distance from me and each other to make a smooth action. Gopal Dutta stood in prime spot to carry his duty. Every element was in its correct place.
Needless to say I was very relaxed by now. I could feel the almighty sitting on my shoulder — he spoke very quietly to me: ‘You will do it, BB, you will do it. No need to worry.’ Everything would click according to his pleasure. I made one final breath and gave Gopal Dutta the nod.
‘One. Two. Three. Start kicking!’ and we jumped into action. Rajesh Battacharjee delivered the first kick. It was straight and hard exactly as rehearsed. It made its target imperfectly, however, and I widened my stance slightly to take account of this. Next one, delivered by Nihal Prasad, the youngest and most eager of the four, was a real beauty. I sensed the impact of his foot most sublimely and exhaled in a trice to protect myself against the force. His example gave us all a boost and kicks three and four connected on schedule — I felt a small tightness on number four but I quickly erased it from my mind. At this point my concentration was so complete that I was not aware of the world around me. I was focused only on my breathing and counting the kicks as they landed. It was great feeling like floating on a wave of love and positive energy.
My supporters were working wonders, aiming their kicks with great precision and speed. Only Rajesh Battacharjee, who was untrained in martial arts and also unfit due to poor diet and general laziness was finding pace difficult to keep up.
‘I cannot carry on,’ he whispered, his eyes wearing look of panic and legs beginning to wobble like overladen donkey. I tried to urge him on with reassuring expression but he slipped in trying to connect his next kick and landed in a pile on the ground.
‘Twenty!’ counted Gopal Dutta.
‘I am sorry, BB!’ panted Rajesh Battacharjee from his prone position.
Grim looks exchanged between the remaining group but we quickly recovered our senses. The three kickers moved in to close the gap Rajesh Battacharjee’s fall had created. We pressed on in seamless style, we would not let any goofup derail us from our pursuit of glory.
‘Go on, BB!’ shouted a well-wisher from the crowd.
I was comfortable to press ahead for a high total. The kicks kept on coming at steady pace.