In a display of sheer determination and a forehead of steel, 27-year-old Indian martial artist Naveen Kumar has reclaimed a unique Guinness World Record. Kumar managed to smash an astounding 273 walnuts with his forehead in just one minute, surpassing the previous record held by his longtime rival, Muhammad Rashid.

The Nut-Cracking Rivalry

This nut-cracking rivalry has been ongoing for several years, with Rashid first setting the record in 2014 by cracking 150 walnuts. He then broke his own record in 2016 with a total of 181 walnuts. However, Kumar entered the scene in 2017 and shattered Rashid’s record by cracking 217 walnuts.

The competition between the two escalated when they went head-to-head in a Guinness World Records challenge on an Italian TV special later that same year. Both surpassed the standing record, but Rashid emerged victorious, cracking 254 walnuts compared to Kumar’s 239.

Reclaiming the Record

Fast forward to the present, and Kumar has once again risen to the challenge, smashing a grand total of 273 walnuts, which equates to over 4.5 walnuts per second! This feat was achieved using raw common walnuts (Juglans regia), which can be laid out in any formation on the table, but only one walnut may be cracked at a time. To count towards the record, the walnut shells must be completely smashed into at least two pieces.

Despite the pain and the growing welt on his forehead, Kumar maintained a blistering pace throughout his attempt. Following the event, all the walnuts were donated to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The Power of Determination

Kumar’s record-breaking journey was inspired and guided by his martial arts instructor, Prabhakar Reddy, who holds several martial arts records himself. Reddy has been training Kumar to follow in his record-breaking footsteps, and now that Kumar is in his athletic prime, he could potentially claim many more of Muhammad’s records in the future.

This story serves as a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and a little friendly competition. It’s a reminder that records are made to be broken, and that sometimes, all it takes is a strong will (and an even stronger forehead).