Shyamantak Ganguly Success Story

Shyamantak Ganguly in full contact with karate (Kyokushin karate) for the last 23years.

A brief introduction to yourself?
I am from West Bengal, India. I train under Shihan Shivaji Ganguly, my father who is a direct disciple of Sosai Mas Oyama. I have my academy in Kolkata and give online training as well.

How did you develop your fondness for karate?
My fondness developed seeing my father and elder brother Shibayan Ganguly who is a 4th Dan black belt. And I was inclined towards combat sports.

What drew you to Karate out of all other sports?
Because of its discipline, training, and the philosophy of full.contact karate.

At what age did you start learning karate?
I started when was I was 3years old.

What is your style and what rank do you currently hold in karate?
I am into Kyokushin Karate(full contact karate) and I am 2nd dan black belt.

What was the highest prize you won?
2nd place is International Kyokushin karate championship, Brazil,2019.

What do you like more Kata or Kumite?
Kumite.

Do you have a favorite Sensei?
My father Shihan Shivaji Ganguly and my Brother Sensei Shibayan Ganguly.

How did you get to this position and how was your journey being in this sport?
In India infrastructure for full contact karate is not much and we also don’t have regular fighting partners to practice Kumite. For the first 4 years of my international career because of bad judgment, I lost every fight. But that gave me the motivation to practice more and my father uses to make me practice 1000 kicks almost every day and this training showed its result in the 2016 world championship where I knocked an American fighter in the first 15secs which was my first international win.

Do you take karate as your profession or is it just a hobby?
This is my full-time profession. I have my academy in West Bengal. And I teach online as well.

Who’s been an inspiration for you throughout your sports journey?
My father. I always had a dream of highlighting India in the world forum of Kyokushin Karate.

What challenges did you come across on getting where you are at today?

You can share any injury story as well.
I had challenges regarding sponsorships for tournaments as when we don’t get support from the government. and from the beginning, I trained alone as I didn’t have any fighting partner as such which is the biggest hurdle in my karate journey.

What motivates you the most about your profession as an athlete?
To do something for my country and my father.

What are your strengths as both an athlete and as a person?
Consistency never gives up the spirit, and love taking challenges.

Do you have something you want everyone to learn?
Respecting everyone around you and the most important thing is hard and smart training as there is no alternative to hard training.

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