Self-defence workshops for women and girls

Attack is best form of defence! So say several groups of martial art trainers and groups, who shocked by the horrific gang-rape case here last month, are offering a slew of workshops and self-defence classes free for women and girls.

“We want women and girls to be able to know what to do when faced with assault, be it at the workplace on the streets or even at home,” says Vicky Kapoor, renowned Krav Maga and combat trainer.

Krav Maga is a martial art form developed by Israeli defence forces. It revolves around the idea of how one can overcome an an enemy who is much stronger.

“It is especially suited for women, as they are generally petite as compared to the built of their attackers in most sexual-assault cases,” says Kapoor.

Kapoor is part of SLAP (Street Level Awareness Program) a non-profit voluntary body of concerned citizens, formed after the December 16 rape of a 23-year-old girl.

The organisation is holding free workshops to impart tips and tricks to be always combat ready in case of contingency.

The first workshop is scheduled to be held in Delhi on January 26 and similar workshops are being planned in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

“Krav Maga is very effective and very easy to learn. It is still an evolving system and we call it a battle effective system. It is a full fledged survival system,” says Kapoor who has been holding free workshops here every Sunday.

Another group SkillKindle has partnered with self-protection firms such as Fitcomb, Invictus, Amit Lalwani’s Academy and Endzone to offer two full weeks of free self-defence training “for anyone looking to learn in Delhi NCR and Mumbai”.

The workshops, say organisers are being run by experts who have trained National Security Guard commandos as well as worked with central and state Police departments and civilians across the country.

“Self-defence course can give you enough concepts and skills to help you build your own self-protection strategies.

Also, self-defence is not just a martial art. It does not require years of practice to get right and might not look very elegant but can dramatically increase your chances of coming out of a sticky situation, safe. Let us learn how to take care of ourselves, while the country gears up to take care of us,” according to organisers SkillKindle.

Mriganka Dadwal, who is coordinating SLAP says, “Apart from teaching women tips and tricks on how to save themselves in SOS situations, through demonstrations as well as case-study of sexual assaults we are keen on educating women and girls about basic rights also like filing FIRs etc. We will be launching a massive campaign and take to the streets to ensure women safety.”

Street plays to sensitise men towards the issue and spread awareness towards upcoming workshops are also on her agenda.

Meanwhile the women’s wing of the Delhi police are also conducting self-defence training for girls in state-run schools and colleges.

They had been conducting “Swayam initiative”, which organises camps to impart martial arts training that have benefited school and college girls and women from rural areas.

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