With over thirty years of experience in the martial arts field, Kanishka  trains counterterrorism teams and is also  the Chief Combat Mentor for the Indian Special Forces. He has also  choreographed action sequences in Bollywood films. As part of the ‘Move without Fear’ initiative of the Delhi government, he and his team also provided training to over 25000 school going girls in Delhi.

Commonly known as Shifu Kanishka, Kanishka Sharma has been in the martial arts field for the last 34 years. He is a Chief Combat Mentor for many Indian special forces, and has also been associated with Bollywood movies as an action choreographer.

Although Kanishka was born in Lucknow, he was raised in Delhi. In a family of well-known journalists, Kanishka is the only member to choose martial arts as a profession. From the age of seven, Kanishka made it quite evident that he aspired to become a martial artist. He attributes his introduction to the world of martial arts through movies to Sooraj, his father's driver. Kanishka desired to study under Shaolin, the Kung-fu master. He took up karate due to a lack of knowledge and training opportunities in India. He then trained in martial arts for 11 years in India, but he was not happy with the quality of training. He studied for an MBA in Europe and was awarded a gold medal for the same.

Kanishka began working at Reliance Industries after returning to India, where he spent eight months. It was also during this time when he learned his father had cancer. Kaniskka discussed his life aspirations with his dying father during his visits. He came to the realization throughout the conversation that learning martial arts professionally is his actual purpose and source of happiness.

Within a week of the conversation, Kanishka's father passed away. After deciding to follow his ambition, Kanishka sold his jewelry and automobile and also stole some cash from his mother. He left his well-paying position at Reliance Industries and traveled to China's Shaolin Temple. When Kanishka returned to India after completing a rigorous martial arts training programme there, he discovered that he had no money left. He started over by instructing students in martial arts. His career progressed gradually.

His first significant endeavor was anchoring and performing for the 26-episode ‘Synergy of Martial Arts’ series on Doordarshan. He went on to land ‘Shaolin Road’, another project with Doordarshan, following the overwhelmingly positive reception to his previous endeavor. This brought in some money for Kanishka. For half a year, Kanishka worked to support himself while honing his martial arts abilities in Taiwan, Thailand, and other nations. He claims he is the only Indian martial artist to master more than 10 forms of martial arts.

When Kanishka, then just 24 years old, got a call from Farhan Akhtar and started training Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Arjun Rampal, it was one of the greatest moments of his life. Before this significant achievement, he trained Akshay Kumar for the National Geographic Channel’s series ‘Seven Deadly Arts with Akshay Kumar’, which was another significant accomplishment. Kanishka trained the Indian Army concurrently. But, when things went downhill in 2006, Kanishka was left broke despite being at the pinnacle of his career.

Kanishka claims that because martial arts training taught him how to successfully control his emotions, he was sane during his difficult times. Kanishka goes on to say that martial arts educate people how to battle and handle difficult situations in real life, not just in competitions.  There are three parts to Martial Arts, namely Chan, Wu and Yi which is a combination of self-defense, medicine and healing.

In response to a question concerning obstacles in life, he states that although his straightforward approach cost him some significant Bollywood ventures, he does not regret them. Above all, he adheres to his work and his values. Additionally, he has turned down big financial offers because he would have to compromise his morals.He thinks that there will be ups and downs in life and that nothing is permanent. What counts, he tells us, is how we act when things are tough.

Kanishka recalls the difficult period during the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that every member of his family contracted the virus and that full recovery from it took a long time. Each person had an optimistic outlook that aided in their  recovery. It is critical to have confidence and faith in God, in tough times. Also, he used breathing techniques he had picked up from martial arts to relax his mind and body.

Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," and Kanishka draws inspiration from this statement. His parents and mentors have also served as inspirations to him. Kanishka's mother has consistently encouraged him to follow his passion of being a professional martial artist.

Kanishka advises us that, even under the most trying circumstances, it is crucial to choose passion and love. He tells us that your career should follow your passion. He thinks that instead of chasing money, we should pursue our passions, which will lead to financial success.

Kanishka highlights the advantages of martial arts by telling us that they improve neuro-coordination and muscle memory, two things that are beneficial in many aspects of life. The foundation of martial arts is the three E's: economical in motion, simple to learn, and effective in outcome. Martial arts improves you as a person overall. Furthermore, according to Kanishka, martial arts should be taught as an art form rather than a sport.

In response to a question concerning his views on leadership, Kanishka states that he remains convinced that a person develops their leadership skills by their personal experiences. He provides a personal example of this, stating that his training in martial arts helped him overcome stage fear. He now speaks comfortably to others and gives motivational speeches. He also feels that a person may experience a full and beneficial transformation through proper training and grooming.

Kanishka believes that respect must be earned; it cannot be taken for granted. It is important to work and carry oneself in a way that inspires others to respect and want to learn from you. Kanishka also holds that persistence is the key to success and that one should never give up.

Kanishka stresses that individuals should only study martial arts professionally if they are passionate about the art form, especially for young people who want to become martial artists. If someone's primary goal in entering this area is to make money, they should not do it. In the martial arts industry, training is crucial, and martial artists should never stop learning new things. This will enable them to develop their talents more efficiently, which will ultimately pay off. He also counsels other professionals in the field to quit deceiving the public under the false pretense of martial arts.

The only people who genuinely care about you are your family, thus Kanishka encourages everyone to ask for support from them whenever necessary. In addition, he wishes to inform parents to just let their kids be. Transparency and openness in communication are crucial because they support children's genuine development and help them reach their full potential. Finally, he says, "Live, learn, and love." By this, he implies that life begins at birth, that learning occurs both consciously and unconsciously, and that one should learn to live a life filled with love.