Dynamic expert

Age is just a number, proves Master SK Murthy, founder of Dynamic Jujutsu in India. Silvertalkies met the unassuming martial arts expert at his residence.

Master Murthy with a student

Master S.K.Murthy, 71, can put many a young man to shame as he gives us a demo of Dynamic Jujutsu with one of his students. One of the most senior Samurai Martial Arts experts in India, it’s clear that he is passionate about this martial art form that has definitely been his calling. “The three purpose of SMA is physical fitness, mental balance and emergency self defence. Regular practice brings you three qualities – health, happiness and harmony,” he says, educating us on the martial art form.

With an agility that only comes by regular exercise and fitness training, Master Murthy demonstrates some of the moves, telling us that martial art improves muscle toning, among other things. “Samurai martial art is the number one in battlefield art,” he elaborates further.

Murthy is the founder of Dynamic Jujutsu and Dynamic Aiki Jujutsu in India. Considered the parent art of Judo, Jujutsu is a complete martial arts system that was practised by samurai warriors in Japan. It consists of several styles and techniques which Master Murthy proceeds to demonstrate but would frankly require one years of practice to even fathom the basics of it.

A martial art practitioner for over 40 years, Murthy now teaches very few students as he is interested in taking only genuinely dedicated pupils. “Unless you practice you don’t get the three Ds, Discipline, Devotion, and Dedication. You need regular practice to be quick and alert,” he says, adding cheerfully that he has never thought of himself as 71. He attributes this to his constant practice of martial arts and says that Yoga and Martial Ars give a person longevity.

“My alertness improves with regular practice and my joint problems are taken care of,” Murthy adds that he works out daily for three to four hours. At the age of 60, Murthy had breathing problems and suffered from high BP. After reluctantly taking medication for a year, he developed relaxation exercises which helped improve his condition and according to him, have been the main secret of his health.

Murthy’s interest in martial arts was developed when he joined a Karate class at the age of 29. He lived in Chennai and worked as a stenographer then. An interest in Taekwondo saw him pick up a book to learn this martial art form as classes were not available in Chennai then. Murthy even invited Richard Chung, a Taekwondo black belt to Chennai, before going on to learn judo in 1971.

In 1974, he developed his own technique, Murthy’s Taekwondo by mixing different forms of martial arts along with native locking techniques. “People would make fun of me,” he says candidly, alluding to the name.

Murthy moved to Bangalore in 1980 and subsequently learnt Aiki Jujutsu from an expert. In 99, he launched Dynamic Jujutsu, which, according to him is a “complete system concentrating on controlling the opponents by locking.”

Murthy was also associated with the Indian army and trained Army personnel at the AEC Centre in Bangalore from 94-98 in Murthy’s Taekwondo. Today he does not mind taking in fewer students and runs his classes only by word of mouth. Several black belts also come to him to perfect their technique or learn new ones like Aido, which is a sword drawing technique.

Murthy, a bachelor, is keen on staying fit and thinks that’s what the elderly should focus upon. He feels people should keep themselves busy, have a good controlled diet and avoid sitting or sleeping unnecessarily. “Taking in unnecessary worries is also not good,” he says, adding that he is prepared for whatever ailment age will bring him next but he won’t stop staying active and fit.