Student strength

Three of his students participated in the 24th AIKF (All India Karate-Do Federation) National Junior and Cadet Karate Championships at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on May 18 and 19, 2012, with Farzeen Titina picking up a bronze medal in individual kumite (Cadet girls) in the + 54 kg category. "My students are my strength… All they need to do is put in more efforts which will help them win more competitions not only in karate but in other fields also. My vision is to spread the art of karate and judo with sincerity, dedication and hard work,” says Shihan Jehangir Shroff, sixth dan black belt who is the president of Yudansha Kobujitsu Karate-Doh Federation (YKKF), India. The Delhi event, conducted under the leadership of AIKF president Sensei R. Thiagarajan, had 750 participants representing 32 teams from different states and paramilitary forces.
"This was my first national level participation and I hope I have done my Dojo and Sensei proud by winning a bronze medal at this level. For me, this is an achievement not merely as an individual but as a representative of the state I live in and the community I am part of,” states Titina. "This was my first national tournament in the nine years I have been practicing karate. Even though I did not win a medal, I am satisfied with myself for reaching this level,” asserts Shazad Udwadia. "My parents have supported me throughout … finally seeing myself standing on the mat fighting to be in the top spots in India is an achievement in itself. The people I met there and the things I learned are way more important than winning! I will defend the title of being Maharashtra No. 1,” declares Tina Tengra.

Jehangir Shroff (back row, third from right) with Tina Tengra, Shazad Udwadia, Farzeen Titina (standing 5th, 7th and 8th from left) with Senseis and students

In February, prior to the national meet, 15 of Shroff’s students won gold, silver and bronze medals in the girls’ and boys’ groups at the 33rd Maharashtra Karate Association (MKA) state level tournament at the Courtyard Marriot, Hinjewadi, on the outskirts of Poona. Participating in both kata and kumite, they ranged in age from under nine to under 17. With 2,000 participants from 30 districts of Maharashtra, the meet was conducted under the new MKA committee accepted by the governing body of the AIKF, with Salauddin Ansari as president, Viraf Vatcha as general secretary and Shroff as treasurer.
Shroff began his karate career in 1978 under Shihan Vispy Kapadia and trained with him till 1991. Later, he received guidance from Sensei Hoshi Batliwalla, sixth dan black belt, and Saiko Shihan Ron Yamanaka, ninth dan black belt and founder of YKKF (International) which has affiliations with over 22 countries, as per www.ykkfindia.org He also had the opportunity to train under Shihan Pervez Mistry, seventh dan black belt and a pioneer of karate in India. Shroff has travelled extensively all over the world "to take part in training seminars and tournaments and has won innumerable laurels and trophies,” notes the website. "My message to all karatekas is to be united,” he says, so that the art may flourish to the maximum.