Calm karateka

"He excels in studies as well as sports and has a streak of determination behind that calm expression on his face. He was most regular in the training sessions irrespective of academic exams or any ailments,” wrote Sensei Devavrat P. Bhatt, commending his student Kyrus Sethna who achieved his first degree black belt after six years of dedicated training. Bhatt, a fourth dan (degree) black belt, is the chief instructor of India of the Dev Shotokan Karate-Do International, affiliated to karate federations in Japan and Europe.

"No, it is not difficult to combine karate with studies because I enjoy it and make time for it. My dad (Rustom Sethna of Sethna Constructions Private Limited) had put me into a karate class when I was small because other boys used to bully me. I started liking karate after I reached a certain level,” remarks 14-year-old Kyrus, a ninth standard student of Bombay Scottish School at Mahim.

Sethna: martial arts and music

"Kyrus is very proud of his karate. The black belt has given him a great sense of achievement and boosted his self-confidence. Though initially we had to push him a little to go, he began to find it interesting and now he loves it,” remarks his mother Huzan. Be it the nimbleness of moving kumite (fighting) or the stylized elegance of the katas (series of movements), the young karateka, who trains twice a week at Saint Stanislaus School at Bandra, scripted an unflustered success at the black belt exam.

From martial arts to music, Kyrus’ piano lessons with teacher Nergish Dungor take him through the pleasures of Mozart or Beethoven’s Für Elise. "We really don’t want him to concentrate too much on piano exams. He plays music that appeals to him,” says Huzan. With swimming or the occasional roller skating course in school within his ambit of interests, Kyrus looks forward to expressing his creativity by becoming an architect.