Onika Maheshwari/New Delhi
Sayam Hyder, who is known as the ‘Rubber Boy of Kashmir ’, leaves audiences stunned with his physical flexibility, astonishing stunts, and control over his body. His acrobatics make people wonder how a human body can possess such a degree of suppleness.
However, behind these feats of this young man from Sumbal, Bandipora, lie years of rigorous practice, the pain of injuries, financial hardships, the loss of loved ones, and the memory of an individual who believed in him when others frowned upon his obsession.
Sayim Hyder is known for performing difficult feats such as rotating his neck almost 180 degrees, bending his arms and legs in extraordinary ways, and pulling his entire body out of the frame of a tennis racket without strings.
His performance with the tennis racket has been especially discussed. According to Syam, he performed the feat of passing his body from the frame of a tennis racket without strings five times in one minute. This feat got him entry into the International Book of Records.
He received honours like the Influencer Book of World Records and India Book of World Records. These achievements were not just a piece of paper, but a recognition of his long struggle as he came through frequent falls to realise his dream.
However, to understand Sayam's story, one has to see beyond his records and viral videos. When he started his journey, there were no trainers, academies, or even equipment to help him hone his skills.
However, his desire to do something different gradually transformed his hobby into his passion and identity.
Sayam Hyder started practising his art in his adolescence. He developed an interest in body movements, dance and extraordinary movements at the age of just 13. While watching videos on the internet, he realised that there are many things in the world of dance and physical activities that common people cannot do easily. This curiosity inspired him to learn something new.
Initially, he would watch dance videos and try to repeat their movements. Gradually, he started liking popping and animation dance. These dance styles involve controlled movement of different body parts, muscle control, and movements that may resemble the movements of an animated character.
Sayem says that around the year 2010, he started practising by watching such videos and imitating them.
At that time, perhaps he had no idea that the activity he was learning as a hobby would one day give him the name of 'Rubber Boy of Kashmir'.
Initially, he did not have the facility to train in any big academy. He would watch videos on the internet, try to learn from them and then practice at his home. For him, every new movement was a challenge and every successful attempt inspired him to do something better.
His journey began with dance and gradually evolved into yoga and the art of contortion. Contortion is a discipline in which a performer demonstrates the ability to bend and balance their body to extraordinary extremes.
Mastering it requires not only physical flexibility but also a solid grasp of technique, control, consistent practice, and safety. Rather than being content with merely observing this art form, Sayam decided to learn it himself. He gathered information through videos available on YouTube and social media, and incorporated regular practice into his daily routine.
According to him, honing this skill demanded years of rigorous practice. After nearly a decade of persistent effort, he reached a level where his performances began to leave audiences astonished. During this period, he also received training from Afaq Sadi, a martial arts instructor.
Sayam notes that Afaq Sadi helped him refine his techniques for stretching and enhancing bodily flexibility. This guidance provided him with the opportunity to approach his craft in a more structured and systematic way.
Sayam’s journey serves as a reminder that talent does not necessarily begin on a grand stage or with access to expensive resources. Often, a simple video, an unconventional idea, or a desire to learn something new can shift the entire trajectory of one’s life. However, transforming such an idea into a tangible achievement requires the patience to persevere through years of hard work.
When dance videos failed to bring recognition, he chose a different path.
Sayam Hyder began his career by creating dance videos for social media. He wanted to showcase his dance moves, hoping that his talent would be recognised. In the early days, however, he did not receive the response he had hoped for. He continued to create videos and practice, but gaining recognition proved to be no easy task.
Many people might have become discouraged and given up at such a point. Instead, Sayam decided to channel his interests in a new direction. Upon discovering a video featuring contortion and arm contortion, he realised that this art form held the potential to set him apart from others. He resolved to master it and share his skills through his videos.
When Sayam first shared videos of these feats on social media, the response was positive. One of his videos went viral, sparking growing curiosity among viewers. This reception instilled a sense of self-confidence in him; he realised that his unique talent had the power to captivate an audience. From then on, he began exploring various movements and developing new stunts. Rather than simply repeating his previous performances, he sought to experiment and innovate within his craft
Gradually, social media became the most significant platform for showing his talent. While he initially struggled to gain recognition, his videos eventually became a topic of widespread discussion. For him, this transformation was not merely about popularity; it was a triumph of the very conviction that had sustained his practice through difficult times.
The feat of rotating his neck 180 degrees and the astonishment of the audience
One of the most notable aspects of Sayam Hyder’s performances is his extraordinary physical flexibility. A particular segment of his act leaves the audience stunned: he demonstrates the ability to rotate his neck by nearly 180 degrees. Similarly, by contorting his limbs in highly unusual ways, he showcases his remarkable control over his own body.
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