From Athlete to Coach

Hey, I’m Kathit, a coach at Netrin Sports Technology and a 20-year-old international-level athlete now stepping into the world of sports science. I’m passionate about using data to understand the body better, refine training, and explore what it really takes to perform at your best, whether on the field or off it.

How it started?

I still remember the moment that set my journey in motion. I was watching Bloodsport the Legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. Van Damme’s acrobatic movements left a lasting impact on me, and at just eight years old, I made up my mind: I wanted to pursue martial arts.

I joined a Judo club and immersed myself in learning the fundamental movements, rudimentary skills, and throwing techniques. I quickly fell in love with the process and realized this was more than just a hobby; I wanted to compete. From that moment on, my life revolved around one thing: getting better. My days became a relentless cycle: eat, train, study, sleep, repeat. I was lucky to have parents who not only supported me but gave me the freedom to explore what I loved. Their encouragement, along with the guidance of some exceptional coaches, made all the difference. Judo is a contact sport that blends explosive power with high-level skill. Strong technical foundations are non-negotiable. With the right mentorship, I was able to build those foundations early and grow faster than I imagined.

As I grew older, both my passion and achievements in Judo kept rising. I competed in numerous tournaments, winning several matches along the way. My first major breakthrough came at 14 when I was selected for the Madhya Pradesh State Sports Academy in Bhopal. This opportunity paved the way for me to train at India’s top sports institute, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), where I had the privilege of training alongside some of the country’s best Judo athletes.

My days in the academy

I was fully committed to a high-performance 'train to win' environment, where I learned what it takes to compete at the highest level. My training included cross-country running, Olympic weightlifting, and strength workouts in the morning, followed by three more hours of skill training every evening.

It was grueling. Injuries and illness became part of the cycle. While prepping for Nationals, I fractured my second metacarpal (for those who missed the bio class in school, it’s the bone in your hand that really doesn’t feel like being broken). It was a tough blow, but also a reality check. In a contact sport like Judo, setbacks are part of the game.

Thankfully, I had an amazing team of nutritionists, physiotherapists, and doctors who helped me recover and keep going. The physical grind was one thing, but the emotional toll was another. Phones weren’t allowed, and the homesickness was real. What kept me grounded was simple: that hustle mindset. The drive to keep showing up, no matter what.

Against the odds

Since I was under 16 at the time, there weren’t many Judo competitions for me in a year. Just before the pandemic, while I was home and away from the academy, I discovered a sport called Kurash, which is quite similar to Judo. I was eager to give it a shot, so I competed in a state-level tournament, won, and qualified for nationals, where I brought home a silver medal for my state.

Later, I found out that the Judo federation didn’t allow athletes to compete in other sports. That meant I could no longer compete in Judo, which felt like a huge setback. But even though I wasn’t allowed to step on the Judo mat anymore, my competitive spirit and love for combat sports never faded.

In 2021, at just 16, I made a bold decision to move to Bangalore to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). It was a completely new world. I had no friends, no relatives, and no connections in the city. My parents were terrified to send me alone, but my dedication and passion for the sport convinced them to let me go.

What drew me to BJJ was how different it was from Judo. In Judo, you mostly win by points, but in BJJ, you have the opportunity to pin your opponent on the ground and experience absolute victory - a victory by submission. That made it even more exciting for me. I began training at one of India's top Jiu-Jitsu institutes, and my background in Judo helped me pick up the art quickly.

Ground combat

The art of breaking limbs

Ground combat

Accomplishments

As my skills improved, I started competing in BJJ and won back-to-back National Championships in 2022.

That success led me to an even bigger stage The Siam Cup in Bangkok, Thailand (2023). I pushed myself hard in training, determined to make the most of this opportunity. All that hard work paid off when I won the gold medal in the 73 kg category. It was the proudest moment of my career. Every athlete dream of representing their country and, having my name on India Jersey was a moment I will never forget.

Siam cup

From Curiosity to Career: My Journey into Sports Science

During my training, I noticed experts at the international level collecting tons of data on their athletes. I always wondered how they were using that data to optimize performance. Even when I trained at some of the country's most elite sports institutions, I never saw the collected data being used effectively or noticed any strong load monitoring strategies, and performance insights were often missing. A big reason for this was that sports science in India was still developing. That gap, those unanswered questions — sparked a deeper curiosity in me. I wanted to understand the science behind training, not just the practice.

So, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning from an American Irish university (QQI Level 7), which I’m currently pursuing. The course has given me a strong base in high-performance coaching and program design, not just for elite athletes, but for anyone looking to move and train better.

I truly believe that science-backed training programs are the key to helping people achieve their goals in a more efficient and effective way.

How did I become a coach in Netrin?

This is truly going to be interesting - when I started my undergrad, I was eager to put what I was learning into practice and gain some hands-on experience to see if it actually worked in the real world. So, I began working as a strength and conditioning trainer at a local gym in Bangalore. I trained a variety of people, from athletes to everyday individuals. My schedule was packed. I’d wake up at 6 a.m. for a run, then spend the day studying, completing assignments, and in the evening, I’d coach at the gym. My day wouldn’t end until 10 p.m., and I’d hit the gym again at 11 p.m. for my own workout. I’d finally get to bed around midnight, only to wake up and do it all over again the next day. It was a serious hustle back then, and it still is.

Fate stepped in one day when I was introduced to the CTO of Netrin at the gym. He became one of my clients, and I started working with him on foundational movement patterns, compound lifts, and Olympic lift variations. Our sessions often turned into deep conversations about the science behind training, and I found myself more and more intrigued. I told him I wanted to learn more and that’s how I came on board as an intern.

Fast forward to now: I’m a full-time coach at Netrin, still studying, still training, and still pushing to learn more every day.

To everyone reading this: If you're someone looking to take your performance to the next level, or just want a smarter approach to training, I truly believe connecting with Netrin can be your next big step, just like it was for me.