Armand Krajnc became WBO world champion in middleweight in 1999 and retained the championship belt until 2002.
But he could just as easily have become a karate master. Before boxing took over, he won a black belt and managed more than 200 karate matches.
Since childhood, he has had the Chinese-American actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who died at the age of 33 in 1973, as his role model.
– He studied every single technique and did choreography and everything himself. With the poor technology for film that existed then, he made rapid movements that those who filmed barely had time for. Can you imagine if he had lived today what he had flashed with today’s technology.
That Krajnc is impressed by Bruce Lee can not be missed.
“Be like water” is one of Lee’s most classic quotes. Krajnc believes that it was about being mobile, adaptable and having a pure soul.
– These are words of wisdom that apply to all martial arts, says Krajnc.
During the Olympics, they will compete in kata and kumite.
– The sport can be difficult to understand as it is an assessment sport. It’s fast, it’s not like a 90-minute match in football, Krajnc states.
– Armand Krajnc welcomes karate as an Olympic sport.
Photo: Karin Törnblom / TT
In kumite, the athletes are placed against each other. The most common kumite rules are non-contact, ie the blows may touch but not hit hard.
– Then you fight against each other on a carpet. On the stomach and body you have to mark a little more. The stroke should fit perfectly with precision with an outstretched arm. It is not possible to go in and just swallow, but it should be a nice straight blow and it should often at the same time be a well-timed kiai, a loud shout. Everything should come from the stomach, there will be a massive explosion.
Opponents often stand and look each other in the eyes after the referee has said “fight”.
– Nothing happens in the beginning because then they read what the other should do. I like that passion, to wait because you never know what will come, it will be a blow or a kick, what does he do? That’s what’s exciting. You have to face what the other person is going to do. You have to have everything to be good, but number one is the timing and the look. You can be as strong as you like and super trained, but you have to anticipate the other person’s technique before the blow comes.
Kata is about making punches and kicks in the air in different directions following a certain pattern without having an opponent nearby.
– It is about a special technology and timing. But it is difficult for those who are not familiar because they do not see the difference, if you can not kata, it is more difficult to judge.
Krajnc preferred to compete against man in kumite.
– I tried some kata but it was not my thing, I wanted to be more active.
Sweden has no participants in karate in the Olympics.
– Karate was bigger in Sweden in the 1980s, then came other martial arts. In Asia, karate is huge as a national sport, the competition and interest is huge. There are many Asians who are good, it’s a lot about martial arts.
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