Mangalore: Cheetah Yajnesh Shetty inducted into US Martial Arts Hall of Fame


Brijesh Garodi
With Inputs from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Jul 14: Cheetah Yajnesh Shetty, a famed Bollywood stuntman who hails from Karkala, has added yet another feather to his cap by being inducted into the 'United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame'. He is the first Indian to receive this honour.

Addressing a press meet here on Monday July 14, Shetty said, "With parents' blessings and god’s grace, I have been able to reach this position. I recently received the 'United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame' award and I am proud to break this news in my hometown first."

Sharing his journey, he said, "I was born in Ninjoor of Karkala and after completing my schooling, I went to Mumbai in search of job. Finally, I got a job in a restaurant in Mumbai, as an assistant waiter. As I was immensely interested in martial arts, I used to practice my skills in the restaurant's terrace at night after duty hours.

"Once, a family who visited our restaurant saw me practicing and wanted me to teach martial arts to their son and daughter. I was scared as none from the hotel management was aware that I was practicing martial arts in the restaurant.

"After a few days, my ITC manager called me to his chamber and handed a letter to me. I was scared that it was something bad. But when I read the letter, I had mixed feelings as I learnt that I had been promoted as the manager of fitness training.

"This was indeed a turning point in my life, as it was then that my career in fitness training took off. Today if I have reached this position, it is mainly due to the blessings of my parents and god's grace. Whenever I have something new to share about my career, I make it a point to first make it known in my hometown, and thus today I am in fornt of the media here to announce that I have been selected to for the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame," he said.

"I run a fitness federation by name ‘Chitah Jeet Kune-Do Global Sports Federation’, which provides fitness training to many students, Bollywood stars and especially to women. I have been selected for thousands of nominations because of my dedication; discipline, confidence, patronage, sacrifice and martial arts skills," he added.

The award was announced by Prof Marty Cale, US Hall of Fame director, International Martial Arts Council of America Board of Directors. The award ceremony was held at St Louis, Missouri Sheraton City Central Hall on June 21.

"The award was conferred in the presence of the great masters GM Richard Bustillo (senior most student of Bruce Lee), Bill 'Super Foot' Wallace, undefeated PKA Champion, UFC veteran fighter Karo Parisyan. Due to short notice, I was unable to attend the ceremony and hence my master GM Richard Bustillo received the award on my behalf. He will be in India soon with my prestigious award," he said.

Yajnesh Shetty also said that he has trained more than two lac women across India under the Nirbhaya women empowerment training programme, and imparted training to street children, special children etc. "I have set up a special module for training girls, house wives etc called ‘simple techniques - powerful method’, wherein women and girls can protect and defend themselves at times of danger through simple techniques. We have employed these techniques successfully," he added.

Shetty has also trained almost four generations of Bollywood actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor and their children as well. "I have trained almost 150 movie stars, a feat which is going to enter in the Guinness Book of World Record. I have also been appreciated by the legendary Jackie Chan for my unique martial arts. Sir Richard Attenborough who starred in 11 Oscar Awards winning movie ‘Gandhi’ has also been trained by me. Oscar winning director Ang Lee selected my student Ayush Tandon for the movie Life of Pi," he informed.

"I have plans for starting up a martial arts training school in Mangalore as well, but the location has not been finalized. I also plan to direct a movie on martial arts, for which shooting will being in September or October," he said.

  

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Comment on this article

  • NAGESH PRABHU M, MANGALORE/ABUDHABI

    Thu, Jul 17 2014

    Congratulations! I appreciate his effort, dedication and gratitude too. we need people like him to train the youth, especially the ladies. I request the friends of Mangalore to come forward to find a suitable location for him.

    DisAgree [46] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Lobo, Vittla/Melbourne Australia

    Thu, Jul 17 2014

    Congratulations Yajnesh!!
    Proud and happy on your achievements.
    May God bless you with more success and good health.you have made Valley View Manipal proud!!

    DisAgree [45] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bipin kanchan, mumbi

    Wed, Jul 16 2014

    congratulation Mr.cheetah shetty.With best wish and god give more strength.We mangalorean will be happy if u put martial art at mangalore very soon

    DisAgree [44] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • chitah yajnesh shetty, ninjoor

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    IAM VERY MUCH EXCITED TO SEE ALL YOUR COMMENTS ,THANK U EVERY ONE ,BY YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT I WILL WORK MORE HARDER FOR KEEPING YOUR BLESSINGS AND FAITH IN ME,THANK U AGAIN.CHITAH YAJNESH

    DisAgree [46] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishvanath Shetty, Belapu/Bangalore

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    Many congratulations Yajnesh Anna

    DisAgree [47] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • AUBB, Kuwait

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Congratulations........!!!!!

    DisAgree [46] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • jeetendra hegde, mumbai

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    congrats.

    DisAgree [44] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Congrats Yajnesh, you deserved it, your hard work had paid off.

    DisAgree [46] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kushal Shetty, Budnar Udipi

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Yanjnesh Shetty and Pooja Hegde has brought honor to our family,God bless Kushal Shetty Texas USA.

    DisAgree [53] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    It is indeed a great honor to be inducted into U.S.Martial
    Arts of Fame. Cheetah Yanjnesh Shetty has brought honor not only to his family but but has also made Mangalore proud.

    Yagnesh has had the privilege of providing training for almost four generations to Bollywood actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor and their children.

    This is a great achievement and I join several others in saying congrats to this prodigy. May he be blessed and may he continue to develop and train many more students.

    Kudos to you Yajnesh.

    Joe Gonsalves

    DisAgree [48] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shekar Moily Padebettu, Udupi/India

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Heartfelt congratulations Mr.Shetty on being inducted into US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.Appreciate your dedication in spite of all the odds.May God bless you to accomplish your future missions.

    DisAgree [48] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charan, Bangalore/ Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    The award ceremony was held at St Louis, Missouri Sheraton City Central Hall on June 21.

    Congratulations!!!
    Why are national media not reporting this great news?

    DisAgree [47] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sathish Shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 15 2014

    They are very busy with telecast Rape stories only

    DisAgree [6] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Karan, Katapadi/Dubai

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Hats off to you!!
    You are one of such mangalorean who goes to Mumbai (generally in 70's and 80's) and take up job in hotel industry and with the hard working and commitment you achieve your goal.

    DisAgree [50] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D'sa, Belman/Dubai

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Mr. Shetty
    we are very proud of you***
    We wish you many more awards like these in future & may God give all blessings from above...keep up the good work. Ronald

    DisAgree [47] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • N.Gafoor, Nooral Bettu/Karkala

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Congratulation sir

    DisAgree [49] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, Manchi

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    Congrats Cheetah Shetty. Anyone will respect his hard work and dedication which made him to reach this position. I am really proud of you sir.

    DisAgree [48] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdulla, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 14 2014

    congrats sir... Awesome

    DisAgree [48] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore: Cheetah Yajnesh Shetty inducted into US Martial Arts Hall of Fame



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