Bengalureans

There are also workshops that cater to aspiring entrepreneurs. Mukta Darera, who recently held a seminar on restaurant management says, “We get mentors who talk about factors like license registrations, regulations and concept building.”

Shwetha Prakash, a student who attended the seminar says, “I thought all I needed to open my restaurant was money. The course was an eye-opener.” She adds that youngsters are attracted to these seminars because, “you meet like minded people.”

Those who enroll are also taken to a restaurant to learn about book-keeping and handling kitchen staff — practical advice which is greatly appreciated.

There are also workshops on self-defence. Frank J Wolf, who teaches Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defence technique, says that he has many youngsters, notably women, who attend. “The crime statistics in India is frightening and professionals who commute at night want to feel secure.”

Kunga Tenzing Wanguyal, an IT professional says that Krav Maga is about, “honing your natural instincts and getting away from a sticky situation. Workshops can help you develop a broader world-view too.”

Most seminars cost upwards of Rs 1000, but youngsters feel it is money well worth spending. “The workshops on Krav Maga lets you test your capabilities,” says IT professional Mats Kuruvilla.

But Kunga warns that not all workshops are created equal. “When people identify a demand for such workshops, the market is flooded with ‘experts’ who are just in it for the money.”

Suneesh Surendran, a project manager, says that the market is overrun with management seminars. “A lot of them are unimaginative and boring. It comes down to what you do with the information you have received. But ultimately you are the key.” And you don’t need a seminar to tell you that.

Tai chi

Spiritual balance is an important component of any martial arts form. Martial arts expert and celebrity fitness trainer Harshal Mehta says, “We begin tai chi by breathing in deeply and taking energy from the earth and air to cleanse the entire system.”

This practice not only helps to improve the respiratory muscle functions, but also helps the lungs remove toxins. He explains, “The blood flow is guided by the chi (energy). The tai chi movements guide the energy so that more oxygen enters the blood. Because of the continuous slow motion, fresh blood cleans, repairs and nourishes every part of the body. Also, the waist-turning movements of this martial art increases the flow of blood and urine through the kidneys and the tai chi breathing method delivers more oxygen and removes larger quantities of carbon dioxide.”

Krav maga

“The Israeli military combat regimen krav maga follows the Zen philosophical quest where the practitioner of krav maga is so engrossed in his performances that it’s only him and the combat. The concentration is so strong that it turns off the analytical mind for a few minutes, pumping in a fresh stream of blood, thus cleansing the central nervous system,” says Vicky Kapoor, a krav maga expert.

Yoga

People perform yoga but often forget kriya, which is a vital cleansing routine. Yogic kriyas like jal neti, sutra neti, vamankriya and shankhaprakshalan help in removing the toxins and wastes from the body.
“In jal neti, water is poured through one nostril and taken out from the other nostril. It is done using a special kind of neti pot. This helps cure sinus infection and allergies. Similarly, sutra neti, which is performed using a cotton thread, helps stimulate the nerves and is good for eyes, ears and nose,” explains Payal Gidwani, a celebrity yoga expert, who asserts that yogic kriyas have to be done under the guidance of an experienced trainer.

To improve the digestive system, shankhaprakshalan is very efficient. “It is effective for those who have a troubled stomach. It is comparatively difficult and needs days of practice to master. However, vamankriya is a simpler way of cleansing the throat and the chest, where salt water mixed with warm water is used for removing the mucus lining from the body,” she explains.

Source: Deccan Chronical

It’s never too late to learn a how to defend yourself — after all, the streets aren’t getting any safer

You could be petite or small-built, but never underestimate what your body can actually do. And that goes even for the women. The world isn’t getting any safer and one of the best ways to protect oneself is to learn a form of art that will come handy when you’re in trouble. From judo, karate, kick-boxing, kalari — there are plenty of options. Even a form that has its roots far away in Israel like Krav Maga is fast-gaining popularity in Bengaluru.

Krav Maga enables you to defend yourself without having to use a weapon.

Frank, a certified instruction, has been training 200 people and most of his students are women. “It is important for women to learn this more than the men as they can defend themselves better during a blind-attack situation as they kick and punch their way through the brawl. This form of martial art also instills confidence and improves a person’s body language,” he says.

Many women have secured themselves from the fear of being attacked and harassed by kicking and punching away in Krav Maga style. Frank has been trained by Vicky Kapoor, chief instructor, Krav Maga, India, who has also trained Abhay Deol for his upcoming film.

“My tryst with Krav Maga began while I was living alone in Delhi, since it was an unsafe city. It was when I met a few army officers who told me about this martial art that I developed a passion towards it and finally turned into my profession,” says Frank.

There is no specific criterion required to learn Krav Maga and Frank says, “There is no strength factor involved in this form.  Krav Maga does not mean getting into a fight. Instead, it works as a stress buster that helps you get away from it.”

Sreenivas Janyala Posted online: Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 0259 hrs

Hyderabad : The changing security situation in the country has made training for the IPS probationers a lot tougher. From Krav Maga, an unarmed street fight perfected by Israeli soldiers, to scuba diving for steadier nerves, to guerrilla warfare in the jungles of Tamil Nadu, would-be officers are undergoing rigorous combat and survival techniques that were till now the forte of special forces. Special emphasis is being laid on improving intelligence gathering skills. The  will introduce Krav Maga when training for the 62nd batch of IPS regular batch starts. A module was introduced on experimental basis to the 61st batch that completed the course last week, but it turned out to be too intensive for the probationers as the training was given at one go. So the NPA would be assimilating it into capsules spread over the training period for the current batch.

“Krav Maga does not involve martial arts or taking postures. It is a street fight, very practical and drawing on the good elements of various forms of fights and self defense techniques. We are mixing Krav Maga with the traditional unarmed combat training. It makes them a lot more tough physically and mentally,” says NPA Director K Vijay Kumar.

Gajarao Bhupal, IPS from Kakinada, who completed training at the NPA in November, says Krav Maga training boosted his confidence to a different level. “I am confident that I can now take on somebody with my bare hands. Scuba diving and rock climbing were also introduced for the first time. We were able to do things that we never imagined were possible,” Gajarao says.

Tafseer Iqbal from Dhanbad, who, too, completed his training in November, says that unlike judo or karate where you need time to take positions, Krav Maga is based on street-smart reflexes and is vital for close combat situations and much more suitable for urban law and order situations.

With the threat of Left-wing extremism and terrorism, guerrilla, jungle warfare and counter-terrorism has also become essential for the IPS officers. The probationers now undergo training with Tamil Nadu’s Special Task Force in the jungles near Coimbatore. “This is over and above the existing attachment with Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh where they learn guerrilla and jungle warfare tactics,” says Vijay Kumar.

A tougher regimen awaited the probationers who were introduced to rock climbing and mountaineering at Mussoorie cliffs which is a test of physical strength, nerves and will power. For steadier nerves and to prepare them for operations in water and improving survival skills, scuba diving has been brought in. The training was given at the academy itself this time as circumstances did not allow it to be conducted at Goa. The NPA has reintroduced river rafting at Rishikesh under the watchful eye of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. “We revived adventure sports to build team spirit and cooperation,” says Vijay Kumar.

One important component is restructuring of the 10-month training period. After undergoing nine months of training, probationers can choose one area of specialisation which can be as varied as Krav Maga to rock climbing to yoga.

“Twist and turn …straight punch” — an instructor barks out these orders in a room full of women learning to kick and punch their way out of trouble.

It’s a place where young female professionals are undergoing training in Krav Maga, the lethal Israeli martial art. With an alarming rise in crime against women professionals, many firms have started offering self-defence training courses to their female employees.

The trend is more pronounced in the BPO industry where women often have to work on the graveyard shift. As more and more women swipe into offices, harassment is one of the issues they encounter as they step out of their homes.

Manisha Bedi (name changed), a 24-year-old executive, is thrilled about a session organised by her employer where she discovered the technique of how to kick, strike a blow and get out of an attacker’s grip.

Crimes against women, including sexual harassment and rape, have gone up 93% and 40%, respectively, in 2007 compared to 1996, according to National Crime Records Bureau and Home Ministry. A significant number of women are employed in the services sector — IT-BPO, airlines, hospitality, hospitals and retail.

Over 35% women comprise the workforce of the $60 billion IT BPO sector. A few years ago, the rape and murder of a call centre executive had rocked the industry, underscoring the lapses and loopholes in corporate security practices. To safeguard women’s interests, companies are conducting self-defence workshops on the campus.

A power-to-telecom corporate has arranged a post-lunch 90-minute session for its women employees to practise fist-to-face moves. Such initiatives help in promoting women empowerment and gender inclusiveness, said industry observers. At these  workshops, women are not only given training in the physical aspects of warding off an attack but are also taught to be mentally alert.

Hindustan Times Newspaper

Let’s face it — it is easy to tire of workouts. Running on the treadmill every day or following the same weight-training routine for a few months can become boring. It also ceases being challenging when your body gets used to it.

To mix things up a bit, take up a martial art. It’s a great workout that tones your body, jogs your mind, and also sharpens your reflexes, keeping you safe on the streets. Not only are there plenty of options to choose from, but you’ll also never have a dull moment in your workout.

Whether you pick a “soft” martial art like t’ai chi chuan, which focuses less on combat and more on holistic health, or a “harder” martial art like karate that teaches you how to protect yourself in everyday situations, you are certain to reap health benefits.

Krav maga

Less a martial art and more a system of hand-to-hand combat devised by the Israeli defence forces, Krav Maga isn’t for the weak-willed. The system combines grappling and wrestling techniques with street-fighting skills. You learn how to break the stranglehold of an attacker by going for his groin, face or knee. Unlike in martial arts where certain moves are not permissible, the focus of Krav Maga is crystal clear: be aware of threats and deal with them as effectively as possible.

Trust us, this ends up giving you as good a workout as any. “Krav Maga improves your cardiovascular strength to the highest level,” says Vicky Kapoor, chief instructor of Krav Maga India. “It also increases your muscular strength.” Apart from improving your coordination and flexibility, Krav Maga also helps you burn calories. “Each workout is an hour-long and can help you burn nearly 800 calories,” he says. A stress-busting workout that makes you think on your feet? Now that’s what we’d call a win-win situation.

Interested in learning? 
Delhi: Krav Maga India, 011-41764207

New Delhi, December 14, 2009

Abay Deol learning Krav Maga

Interestingly, Akshaye Khanna was to play the lead in the film initially, when director Navdeep Singh was to direct it for Nikhil Advani’s production company. But the two parted ways due to differences and Deol stepped in to back his director ofManorama Six Feet Under.

Deol is so fascinated by Krav Maga that whenever he got time off  between shots while filming Aisha with Sonam Kapoor, he’d practise it with his trainer. Basra, which sees Deol in the role of a RAW officer, has extensive action sequences. And Deol wants to ensure that he does his stunts perfectly. Singh is planning to start the film early next year with a schedule in Iraq.

Indiainfo.com

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:48 [IST]

Mumbai: The different Deol boy, Abhay, is going all out to prepare himself for his home production Basra that will see him do action for the first time in his career. After Hrs has learnt that the actor has started training in the Israeli hand-to-hand deadly combat tactics Krav Maga. By doing this he joins Akshay Kumar, the only hero in India who can perform the art and international faces like Angelina Jolie, Michelle Yeoh and Keanu Reeves.

This deadly skill will see Abhay hit a variety of fast crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts of his enemies. He has to go through a mixed aerobic and anaerobic workout and has to also use heavy pads to protect his body from damage while training.

“The film will see me fight like a street fighter and I’m learning really fast. It is fun and I have to learn many things if I have to convincingly play an action hero. Plus, it’s my home production, I cannot take any shortcuts,” Abhay told DNA.

Sources close to the film reveal that the young actor has also set up a training area where he would look to challenge his body reactions and defense skills through simulated attacks. This will make him faster and agile at offense and defense. Abhay has been called a perfectionist by many critics and this clearly shows his diligent approach to cinema.

“I always believe that you have to know something to perform it with ease and convince people. Nobody buys a fake and if you are not good at something you are doing, it always shows. I know I have to perfect myself in action because that’s never been my USP,” he says.

When not fighting in the arena, Abhay is traveling the world visiting film festivals in Venice, Toronto, Cannes, Tribeca where he has also lectured on cinema. The actor is ecstatic that even though he has not done the so-called Bollywood masala movies, he has managed to rub shoulders with Hollywood icons like Martin Scorsese, Robert de Niro, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon among others.

“Hollywood is very excited and appreciative of Indian cinema. Whenever I have met people who are greats in their own rights, they have been very inquisitive about our industry. This just shows that Indian cinema has a global presence and it is a huge achievement. There is scope for everyone to get the spotlight even if you are not a traditional Bollywood movie star. That’s a healthy change for our industry,” he ends.

Shruti Badyal

With crime against women continuing unabated in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, recently appealed to women to join self-defence training courses offered by the government and private agencies. While safety has been a major concern of the Delhi Government, women have started equipping themselves with self-defence training lessons. Experts conducting such training sessions at various places in the city say that the number of women seeking self-defence classes has rapidly increased in the last few months.

[stextbox id="info"]Vicky Kapoor, chief instructor, Krav Maga India, says, “There has been a drastic increase in the number of women wanting to be able to protect themselves. A major reason triggering this attitude of self-safety among women is that they don’t really rely on any security system. They want to be equipped to deal with challenging situations on their own.”[/stextbox]

Jaipreet Joshi of FITCOMB feels that self-defence training includes 90 per cent psychological defence, and 10 per cent physical training. According to Jaipreet, corporate hubs in Delhi and the NCR are encouraging their employees to take up self-defence training sessions. “There is a great demand for these classes among corporate officials. A major reason for this is that the girls don’t think guards and cabbies can really protect them from an unpleasant situation. So they want to be self-sufficient when it comes to protecting themselves. Also, more than the physical training, we focus on the philosophy of psychological safety,” says Jaipreet.

So what is the most common fear that grips girls who seek training on self-defence? “Many girls have gone through some kind of trauma which haunts them time and again. So, when we enroll students, we always ask them to narrate their story and suggest that they share it with others in the group,” says Jaideep.

Some feel, that instead of complicated measures, and encouraging the use of mere gadgets, women should be taught simple techniques to save themselves. “Simple and easy techniques are always taught rather than asking them to depend on fancy gadgets during an attack. We focus on the fitness aspect and building a positive attitude with some simple and workable techniques, which one can use in various circumstances no matter which situation you are in or how you are dressed. For instance, you should be able to defend yourself even when you are wearing a sari or a short skirt,” says Dr Rajnish Jawas, chief instructor with Martial Arts Academy of India.

For others, awareness about physical training sessions is still lacking. “The frequency of these classes should be increased and they should be made available in all schools and colleges. NGOs and the government need to push the need for these classes in educational institutions,” says Rajat Mahajan, a gym instructor.

HYDERABAD: Terrorism has made life unimaginably tough for the latest batch of IPS probationers what with new combat techniques being introduced into the training schedule. The latest addition for budding police officers at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) is “Krav Maga” an Israeli hand-to-hand combat technique that gives the fighter more aggressive endurance.

But it is not just with “Krav Maga” that the 61st batch of IPS probationers who pass out on November 6, 2009 have an edge over the alumni of the prestigious institution. The 91 probationers, including 23 women, for the first time also had to develop their skills in scuba diving. Certainly fun was simply out of question. “It was all about learning to not only explore the unknown waters and surviving hazards but also acquiring the skill to rescue,” said an officer engaged in training the probationers.

With a thorough revamp of the basic course syllabus for IPS probationers on the cards, the introduction of “Krav Maga” and scuba diving is only an indication of how the nearly one-year training will become more demanding.

Being cut off from civilization for a few days and getting lost in the deep and dangerous jungles of Tamil Nadu was probably not what the probationers, had bargained for when they got into the IPS but they slugged it all. Leading the change in training is director K. Vijay Kumar who in an earlier avatar as chief of TN Special task force had tracked down sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. “The jungle experience need not necessarily make the trainees physically tough. But it certainly makes them mentally tough,” Vijay Kumar told TOI.

Not everyone could master the “Krav Maga” during the two-month training module but it certainly raised the standards of training for IPS probationers. “Krav Maga” is basically a tactical defence skill which stresses on threat neutralisation, simultaneous defensive and offensive manoeuvres, and aggressive endurance in a “him-or-me” context, according to NPA officials.

Source: Times of India

Krav Maga
Push-ups, squats, kicks and stretching, after an intense 30 minutes of cardio and fitness training, the students are already grunting in pain and lying listlessly on the ground. Welcome to the world of Krav Maga, the Israeli system of self-defence and fighting, which teaches you the art of street survival. The system which means “contact combat” in Hebrew has devout followers who want that added confidence in their stride. Sadashiv M, a Krav Maga senior instructor, Mumbai says, “What is unique about this system is that it uses the body’s own reflexes. It works on instinct and natural movements. The body’s centre line — the imaginary line running though the centre of the body is the focus for defence and attack.” Ajit Verma, an instructor says, “Krav maga is a total fitness solution in itself. You burn about 800 calories in an hour.”

Capoeira
Brazilians have become famous for more than just their football skills and samba. Capoeira, the national sport, a mixture of dance and martial arts, is quietly catching up with children and adults alike. The class resonates with thumps, loud singing and the sound of a pandeiro (tambourine) and a berimbau (percussion instrument). Capoeirists of all age groups learn the fast and tricky movements in these classes. Trainer Reza Massah says, “This is the only sport which combines the co-ordination of a dancer, the strength of a martial artist, the flexibility of a gymnast, the endurance of a marathon runner and the beat of a drummer in a friendly, non-violent manner.” With its origins in African slavery in Brazil, the deceptive defence moves are light, but precision based. They build strength and balance, evident in the fluid cartwheels, kicks and twirls. Model Rosa Catalano has been practising Capoeira for a while now. “While living in Switzerland, I saw Capoeirists perform acrobats on streets and ever since I have wanted to learn. Capoeira is about rhythm and hardcore exercise. It is not about hurting somebody,” she says.

Jeet Kune Do
Bruce Lee may have died but his legacy lives on. Jeet kune do or the way of the intercepting fist is a street fighting concept and works on evolving according to the needs of the individual. Dr Komal, an exponent of this art says, “JKD helps in physical fitness, stress management and dealing with life’s problems.” It has no set fighting technique. It builds speed, power and co-ordination and involves kicking, punching, knee-elbow or trapping and grappling. Anjali Bhimrajka, a student, says, “In one-and-a-half years, I have lost 15 kgs. I had a ruptured ligament in my knee so any type of weight loss was not possible. But this was the answer to my problem.” Ritesh Reddy, who has been practising for the past six years adds, “I lead a sedentary lifestyle and started these classes to manage stress. I wanted to do tai-chi but found JKD more to my liking.”

Kalaripayattu
“There are 18 secrets in kalaripayattu, of which the highest is hitting your opponent and moving away. At this level, you are assured of your skill and do not need to show off,” reveals Pradeesh Raj, who has been teaching since the past 20 years. Originating in Kerala, the 3,000-year old martial art has three styles to it — one which focuses on weapons training apart from empty hand combat; another which teaches empty hand combat; and the last, which is a mixture of both. The master in this art also needs to understand the pressure points in the body and healing. One learns to wield the mind as adeptly as the sword, as you begin with training your body, then move on to weaponry, and ultimately spiritual training. Actress Upasana Shukla says, “The level of discipline kalari inculcates in you is great. This has helped me in theatre as well and I really look forward to these sessions.”