Bruna Kajiya is Brazilian World Champion Freestyle Kitesurfer. She is winner of numerous world championships in freestyle kitesurfing. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your interest in kitesurfing started while in school looking out of the window from your math’s class onto a busy kitesurfing beach, you could not resist running down after school with your friends to give it a go and later you reached the pinnacle of success in 2009, when you won PKRA World Tour overall championship. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Bruna Kajiya:
In order to become a World champion in most sports you need a combination of many factors working your way to get that combination of success. In my case my passion for the sport driven me to go further then what I expected to be possible, to try harder, to give my all. I could kite for hours on end trying one trick, wanting to do it so badly that it eventually worked out.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have career in competitive kitesurfing starting from 2007 when you won MOVISTAR Venezuela World Cup and till current year you went on to get 2nd position in Dakhla Kiteboarding World Cup 2014. During all these years you won numerous competition. You are nothing short of a phenomenon. Tell us how you are able to achieve the tenacity, perseverance and discipline over such a long number of years?
Ms. Bruna Kajiya:
I believe when you do something with your heart in it you manage to find strength and energy to go the extra length, that’s where my perseverance and determination come from. I pour all of me into it and the results come from that focus.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You while in one of your first competitions you attempted to do a trick to close to the beach with on shore winds & crashed head first on the sand. You had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance & had a neck brace for a week. That’s where you learned not to do tricks on shore wind with less than 3m from the beach. How you were able to overcome such a physical injury/setback and what advice you can give to fellow sports person in a similar situation?
Ms. Bruna Kajiya:
On the heat of the competition, with the adrenaline pumping thru your veins sometimes you make bad judgments or forget about the risks involved in a extreme sport such as kiteboarding. I’m a person that always take safety first when it comes from kiting, we already practice a sport with risks, why make it more dangerous? So when training I always keep my distance from the beach and other people to avoid accidents.
An injury is always the nightmare of most athletes, especially when it comes together with an accident, being able to overcome that is a challenge. In order to perform well in freestyle you have to be a bit fearless and after an episode such as that one fear of having the same happen again is always there. You have to take it slow, regain your confidence and day after day, and only try the same trick once you feel you can do it, there’s a time that you just now it’s the right time to try it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Bruna Kajiya:
Apart from the time I spend training in the water I also do a special functional training developed by my trainer, it’s called Core 360. Depending on my competition schedule the training program varies a lot. But some exercises are always present, such as core training with the medicine ball and squats on unstable surfaces. For my sport you need strength but also a lot agility so most of my training program is focused on getting me strong, slim and quick,
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Bruna Kajiya:
I have a diet that isn’t strict on the amount of food intake but is strict on the quality. I’ve been on a gluten free diet for a few years now; I also prioritize alkaline foods such as veggies and fruits. My white sugar intake is very low for a few years, I’ve read a lot about it and how it can be not only highly addictive but also damaging for your health. When possible I always eat organic, of course since traveling so much that’s a very hard task.
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