SITUATION 1

You are walking on the road and suddenly a car stops, few men grab you and try to pull you in….

If they grab your hands

• Do not get into a push-pull situation as they would be stronger than you and could overpower you.
• Bend down a bit and stand on your side with your legs little wider apart so that they would take more time to pull you in. Do not face them or away from them where you are most likely to lose balance.
• Use your other hand to grab your own fist and push your elbow towards him, twisting your hand.
• After you are free, you can hit him on his face with a closed fist.

If they hold your clothes or purse

• Use your knuckles (like you are knocking on the door) to hit the palm of the person.
• Do not try to hold on to your duppata or purse if they grab it, let go of them and run away.

If they hold you close

• Hit the groin if your arms are caught up.
• Stomp his feet.

SITUATION 2

If the men have managed to bundle you into the car and pin you down…

• Always try rolling to your side so that you will be in a position to kick the culprits.
• Keep kicking and try to crawl out of the other side of the door.
• Use the seat inside the car as the tool to lie down and kick hard repeatedly while look for things like pen, rolled-up magazines or anything hard inside the car that can be used as a jabbing tool.
• Aim for the driver’s eyes or try twisting his head or pressing his nose so that he could stop/slow down the vehicle.

SITUATION 3
When you are walking on a busy street and two men try to grope you.

• Always keep your purse or bag closer to your chest while walking through a crowded street.
• If you manage to catch the person, always shout and scream, but do not hurl abuses at him or slap him else it would just create a scene and you might end up in a worst situation.
• If he is in front of you and you can see a hand approaching, you can immediately use your palm to push against his neck’s cervical esophagus area, which is very soft, which can choke up the person.

SITUATION 4
You are traveling in an auto rickshaw in a secluded stretch and suddenly the auto-rickshaw stops and two men barge in.

• If two men are trying to get in, immediately start kicking one of the person’s knees or groin. Use your hands to jab the other person’s eyes or throat. Use your palm to hit his chin.
• If the auto-driver grabs you from his seat then roll to the side and use your legs to kick his face.
• If they have a weapon, and are asking for money, give them what they want. Do not abuse them and do not plead, beg or cry. Put up a confident front, but don’t try to threaten them.
• Try to isolate these guys and then plan your escape by attacking one of them.

SITUATION 5
You are the last passenger traveling in your call center cab. The driver suddenly stops and pounces on you.

• If the driver grabs you from his seat, then use your legs to kick his face. There is enough space in the backseat of the car for you to lie down and kick with much force. Scream loudly as you are hitting him.
• Lie down on the side which will prevent him from jumping on you.
• If he grabs you, use your legs to kick his groin or knees
• If he’s managed to get on top of you, use your hands to jab his eyes or throat.
• Avoid sleeping in the car. A driver would notice that and would use it one day against you. Avoid calling or talking too much about your personal life — first you are giving away too much information about your life and he might assume few things about you which might not be true and secondly, while talking on phone you are not aware of your surroundings.

SITUATION 6
You are working late in the office and there isn’t a soul around. Suddenly somebody creeps up on you…

• Scream as loud as possible. If he clamps your mouth shut, use your strength to pull the hand down by leaning onto his hand with your body weight.
• Bite hard.
• Bend down slightly so that you can stamp on his feet with the heels of your shoes and then run.
• If he tries to grab you by the waist then or smother you from behind, bend down slightly so that he cannot lift you easily.
• Stomp hard on this feet and then hit him on the groin. When folds up in pain, use your elbows to hit hard on his chin.
• Use any tools you might have like pen, keys or umbrella to hit him in his eyes, throat or ribs. Scream and shout seeking attention from others.

SITUATION 7
You see your friend being dragged into the car by three men…

• Do not try to grab your friend’s hand which would only prevent her from fighting back. Instead attack the guy. Go for his eyes, throat, thumb and groin areas. Do not hurl abuses or try to slap.
• Try to concentrate on the facial features of the attacker like scar, the shape of his moustache and eyes brows. Write down the car number. Avoid crying or panicking as that would erase or cloud your memory. Call the cops.

Remember this…
Dr B L Gangadhar, HOD, Psychiatry, NIMHAMS and krav-maga instructor Frank J ‘Wolf’ say:

• When you are being attacked, scream and create a scene to attract attention.
• Instead of screaming ‘help, help’ scream, ‘rape, rape’. The latter invokes more sympathy of the bystanders.
• If someone grabs you, you can’t (possibly) beat them with strength, but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker between the elbow and armpit or the upper inner thigh.
• After the initial hit, always go for the groin.
• When the guy puts his hands on you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure.
• Take a crash course in self-defence, martial arts or boxing. Carry pepper spray.

Profile of a rapist
When women are attacked they face moderate or high levels of involuntary paralysis during the assault, as it happens suddenly. It is violent and very stressful to her, thus shutting her mind down. “To some of the assailants, this action acts as an acknowledgment of consent from the woman,” says Ottilie Anban Kumar, Psychological Counsellor, Life Coach and Motivational Speaker. Assailants can generally be grouped into following categories:

POWER ASSERTIVE
Around 44 per cent of all accused are in this category, where they will use a weapon to ensure the victim’s co-operation.

ANGER/REVENGE
Here perpetrator is actually out to punish women as they hate women in general. Around 30 per cent of them belong to this category.

CRIME-RELATED
This is done in conjunction with another crime such as burglary, robbery or kidnapping. Around 10 per cent.

DANGEROUS MOTIVE
The most vicious type, this type of culprits want the victim to be hurt or killed after rape. Fortunately, only five per cent fall into this category.

Bangalore : Women have been pulled, punched and abused in front of a paralysed public in the heart of town over the last 10 days. It
didn’t matter what you wore: salwar kameez or a spaghetti top. Random violence had made Bangalore ask urgently: `How do we combat this menace?’

The most practical and effective is a community-oriented response. Human rights organizations, women’s organizations, student unions, teacher bodies, social organizations, lawyers’ collectives like Alternative Law Forum should band with the police to offer a solution.

It can take the form of a common helpline which victims can call and quick response teams consisting of members of these outfits who arrive at the spot immediately to help. The helpline, activists suggest, can be linked to a police line who will also get the call simultaneously and rush to the spot.

Role of public:

Most critical is the public response during and after the attack. A distressing aspect about the recent incidents has been the apathy of bystanders. Forget helping, they quickly quit the scene to avoid trouble. If the public were to help, the accused could be quickly caught and punished making women feel safer. Public can contact the police if the victim isn’t in a position to do so. If the offender escapes, details like the clothes worn, physical description and car or bike numbers can be noted down. According to advocate B N Jagdeesh, bystanders can also file FIRs. Recording the incident or the picture of the attacker on a camera phone can help with investigations.

The role of police:

For starters, if they treat the victims with dignity and register their complaint promptly, it would be a big help. There have been instances when the cops have told women, “If you were dressed like this, no doubt you got into trouble.” Preventive measures would also help. “Just as some people are questioned to get to others in a robbery, the same strategy can be tried here to find out who the attackers are,” some activists suggest.

Self-defence/seeking help:

While self-defence tools like pepper spray, Swiss knives or even basic skills of Karate and Taekwondo can make women feel safer, the larger issue is to make women feel safe even without them in the city. Jasmeen Patheja who started the `blank noise’ movement believes that the first thing women should realize is that `they did not ask for it’; the way women dress or carry themselves cannot justify the act of men harassing them. “Not being embarrassed to call for help is the first self-defence move that a woman can take. There is usually a sense of fear and embarrassment. No one wants to talk about it openly,” she says.

Israeli self-defence advice:

“Be alert. Women’s gut instincts are very strong. Use it effectively. Use simple reflex actions, like putting up your hand when someone’s trying to slap. Kick his vulnerable areas like groin, knees, poke his eyes. Use your body weapons like legs and hands. Don’t slap as it can be stopped easily. Use handy weapons like mobiles, keys and pens. Be confident to fight and escape quickly,” says Krav Maga expert, Frank J.

Mentally alert:

Sociologist and human rights activist, Sudha Sitaram says women should “be prepared on the mental plane, confident to make a move, talk to people around. The police have failed completely in these cases.” DG, home guards, Jija Madhavan Hari Singh says, “It will definitely help if women know techniques like karate and taekwondo but we have been hearing this for the past five years. It is time for the police or some civil organizations to take the lead and stop this.”

Legal options:

FIR is the first step. It helps to go with a group of people to the police station. The victim or witnesses can file FIR with all the details they have. A copy of the FIR should be given to the complainant or informant by the police officer free of cost. Jagdeesh stresses that if the victim undergoes a medical examination after the attack, then the medical officer should be told in detail about the incident so that he can explain the wounds. This will help in the investigation.

If police don’t help:

Take the compliant to the higher authorities. If even that doesn’t work, a writ of mandamus can be sought asking the court to direct the police. Under section 154 of CRPC any witness with information about the case can submit it to police. Women who are alone and not getting any help after the attack can call ‘Fearless Karnataka’ on 9448043941.

‘DRESS DEBATE IS RUBBISH’: IF DRESS IS AN ISSUE WHY ARE SARI-CLAD WOMEN RAPED?

In most incidents assaulter’s have made an issue of ‘jeans or sleeveless dresses’. Sociologists dismiss dress as a debatable point. Women across the world are assaulted and raped irrespective of how they dress. “It’s rubbish, just an excuse to assault women. Why are rural and Dalit women raped in large numbers? Is it because they wear jeans?” says sociologist, Sudha Sitaram. According to Professor of sociology, Asha Bajpai, even three-year-old children are raped. “I don’t think dress can ever be a reason. Women in saris and burqas are assaulted. We shouldn’t be getting into such debates,” she added.

You are walking on a crowded street, window shopping with pals, when all of a sudden someone gropes you from behind. Before you know the offender has slipped away, leaving your ashamed and furious. What you do in retaliation? Stay quite or make a hue and cry?

Simran Prabhu (name changed) a software engineer encounters a similar incident a few months ago. “I was walking on MG road in broad daylight when a guy on a bike passed me by and reached out and lunged at my chest. I was shocked and couldn’t even shout back at him. My friends ran after him and caught him, but he was too strong so he escaped. After the shock settled down, all I felt was shame and sense of regret. If only I could have overcome my shock and had the presence of mind to react and give him a good kick where it hurts,” she says.

, who teaches the Israeli art of Krav Maga says that they offer short term capsules which last for six hours where women can learn basic reflex techniques to defend themselves. It is divided into three modules – Street, Home & Car. From defending yourself on the street to when someone tries to push you into a moving vehicle, they use real life scenarios, replete with real car to enact the scene. “All it takes is two hours in a week to learn and practise Krav Maga. You surely can spare two hours a week if you wish to safeguard yourself. ” says .

, Bengaluru’s Krav Maga instructor says, “Follow old wives tales. Don’t go on a lonely road and trust your instincts. If attacked, use your purse itself or the contents inside it to fight back. Use your pen or phone to poke him in the eye or other vulnerable places”.

Pepper Spray or physical assualt

The debate between using pepper spray or physically attacking your attacker is long standing one. says, “You cannot use it in closed places or windy areas as you might inhale some of it yourself. A pen is a better tool than pepper spray at such instances.”

The best defense is offense.

MYCATPRESS

June 14, 2008

At a Krav Maga class, Nandini Nairlearns that the best defence is attack

Beware! I might not be armed, but I’m dangerous. I’m just back from a Krav Maga class.

It is the official self-defence system of the Israeli Defence Forces. It emphasises instinctive movements, practical techniques, and realistic training scenarios. It might be the domain of bodyguards and elite military units, but it’s relevant for every person on the street. Vicky Kapoor, CEO, Ultimate Tactical and Combat Ltd and the pioneer of Krav Maga in India, looks me in the eye and asks, “Are you safe when you are walking, talking, sleeping, sitting?” I hear myself mumble “No”. “That’s why you need to know this form of self defence,” he retorts, removing the rings on his finger, with his teeth.

There can’t be a policeman for every person. So, it’s important to be one’s own leader, as Kapoor says. While Krav Maga is practised in groups, I get the honour of a personal class with him.

It starts with a warm-up session, “to lubricate the joints,” he explains. The exercises are not the usual sit-ups and push-ups as, “This training is not to be body builders. But to be fighters.”

USP

After some basic warm-up exercises like rotations and squats, Kapoor asks me, “What would you do if you suddenly realised that your auto driver was going the wrong way on purpose.” I reply proudly and almost smugly, “I’ve a pepper spray in my handbag.” Kapoor tries to suppress a giggle of scorn. “By the time you get your pepper spray out, he would’ve done what he wanted,” he tells me. I feel chastened. And stupid. “Krav Maga is about making smart fighters, not stupid fighters,” he asserts. He then elaborates that the first thing to do is to pull back the hair of the driver. This will force him to apply the brakes. And you run for your life. He tells me to supplement my pepper spray with a fistful of coins. Throw the coins in the attacker’s face and it will be like a canon of pebbles. Sizing me up, he adds, “Small and big is immaterial. It’s important what you project. Even if you are fus inside – you should walk with confidence.”

The USP of Krav Maga is how to deal with stress under pressure. “It doesn’t teach what’s not real,” says Kapoor. The benefits of it are both mental and physical. While physically it increases flexibility, coordination and speed, it also makes one mentally stronger. In a situation of threat it’s crucial not to freeze and to maintain eye contact. Engaging in a verbal dialogue helps to disengage the attacker from his intentions.

Believing that the best defence is attack, Krav Maga teaches how to adapt the situation to one’s advantage. Keys can slash and pens can jab. The chin, neck and groin are the most vulnerable points. The torso itself can take punches but an attack on the sensitive parts can debilitate an assailant. Kapoor demonstrates how to elbow the chin and to knee the groin.

After one class, I’m inspired to be my own leader.

(To know more – www.kravmagaindia.in. Or call Vicky Kapoor at 9810412442) ( nandini@thehindu.co.in)

Source: The Hindu

They Are Taking Self-Defence Lessons To Fight Attackers

Sinchana B A

Bangalore: The number of aggressive crimes against women in the city is on the rise, a case in point being the spate of home-alone murders. Along with strict policing and home security, self defence has also become necessary.

With this view, several institutes in the city have begun self-defence classes specially tailored to suit the safety needs of women. These programmes focus on making women more alert and aware of their surroundings and impending danger.

According to victims of attacks and self-defence trainers, the most common mistake that women make is to think, ‘it cannot happen to me’.

“These programmes change this attitude and make women more aware of possible dangers. The focus is not on complicated, acrobatic moves, but on teaching women simple, easy-to-execute techniques that help them save themselves,’’ says Manasi Mohan, of a leading self-defence training institute in the city.

These sessions, which are more like workshops, have found favour with a number of companies, who are getting women employees to enrol in these classes. Asthithva, a 5-year-old institute, holds workshops called ‘Give It To Them’ (GIIT). These 4-hour classes are conducted by Ashwin Mohan, a city-based kickboxing and martial arts expert.

“We’ve conducted 950 classes this year, and in each class we train 30-35 women.” said Manasi Mohan.

, an instructor in Krav Maga Institute, which conducts a special 3-hour programme for women in the corporate sector, said: “Our programme focuses on knowing who the attacker is, why he is attacking and what his gameplan is.’’ Many corporate giants, including Cisco, are his clients.

Jagruti, a trainee at this institute, says while the regular weekend classes involve intense training, the workshops teach students basic self-defence techniques.

Some institutes also give special training to defend oneself in a constricted environment, like a car, or in restrictive garments like sarees. Though these institutes teach the students how to defend themselves from an aggressor, a part of their training also comprises how to tactfully avoid potentially dangerous situations.

SAFETY FIRST

• If you are being followed, do not guide the person to your house unless there is someone at home who can handle the situation
• Women living alone are seen as soft targets, so do not advertise the fact that you stay alone
• A fist-fight with a man is strength-onstrength, and the odds are heavily against you as men are stronger. Strength-to-weakness would mean your fingers in his eyes or throat, or your foot in his groin
• Carry chilli powder, pepper spray or penknives. Even deodorants can work as a distraction
  Think of every object as a weapon. If you cannot use the object to hit the attacker, throw it on him and use the split-second gained to attack
• Wear restrictive clothing only when you have no reason to expect danger. Otherwise, wear clothes that maximize freedom of movement
• There’s no such thing as fighting fair. Use every method you can to protect yourself

MYCATPRESS

Pepper spray or OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), is a chemical compound that aggravates the sensitive membranes of the nose, throat and the eyes – where it could result in temporary blindness.

Pepper Spray is widely used by security personnel for riot / crowd control and by individuals for personal protection. Pepper Spray has also seen success as a mode of defense against attacking dogs and wild bears.

In “An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control” published by The European Parliament Scientific and Technological Options Assessment, it is said that : “The effects of pepper spray are far more severe, including temporary blindness which last from 15-30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which last from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes.”

For people with an history of respiratory ailments, asthma, or those on prescribed medication, there exists a real risk of death.

Since 1990, The Los Angeles Times has reported over sixty fatalities associated with the LAPD’s use of pepper spray.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also acknowledged 27 deaths in custody of people sprayed with Pepper Spray – this is in the State of California alone.

So far Pepper Spray comes across as a very potent deterrent when dealing with danger.

How would KRAV MAGA rate against this seemingly simpler alternative of self-defense ?

Let’s consider the following situational examples :

The Parking Lot :

A woman, about to enter her car in a semi-deserted parking lot, is suddenly attacked.

There is NO TIME and NO CHANCE for her to unzip her hand-bag, rummage through its contents (purse, Driver’s License, money, make-up, Pepper-Spray. . .). She is repeatedly kicked, punched and finally pushed to the ground. Her assailant grabs her car keys – drives away with her car and her belongings including her bag with the Pepper Spray inside – unused.

She is fortunate. The assault could easily have escalated to carjacking / abduction, sexual assault and ultimately homicide. The total time duration for the assault ? About as long as it took you to read this !

As KRAV MAGA practitioner, the lady would have had multiple choices of counter-strikes available to her. She could have also used her bag as a weapon and if it had a long enough shoulder-strap, utilized the same as an effective form of restraint around the assailant’s throat or wrists.

The Side Walk :

A man walking home after a long day’s work, is oblivious of a threat in the shadows.

His assailant springs out, hooks his elbow around the back of the man’s neck – a perfect head lock – and wrests him to the ground. The man is kicked, punched and knifed. The attacker frisks his victim’s pockets. Among the articles he finds Pepper Spray. He hoses the man down with a full 7 second blast emptying its contents on its owner and scoots with the loot – into the shadows.

The victim, barely alive is left bruised, battered, bloodied – his senses of smell, sight and taste are ablaze.

The total time for this attack ? About as long as it took you to read this.

Beginners at KRAV MAGA classes are taught effective defend and destroy tactics for precisely such an attack.

Let’s consider instances where the alleged victim has enough time to spray an intended target.

The Night Club :

At a Bangalore night club recently, there was the instance of a woman having to deal with the unwanted attention of a local lout.

She Pepper Sprayed him good. However, the spray, picked up by the interior air-conditioning was circulated to a different part of the place resulting in several innocent patrons screaming their way out nursing burning eyes, noses and throats.

At The Movies:

In the midst of an interesting film, you are suddenly acutely aware of a groping hand.

In this instance you have more than enough time to inconspicuously slip your Pepper Spray out, aim and fire !

However, considering the close proximity of seats in cinemas, you run the risk of Pepper Spray dissipating rapidly to other innocent viewers around you – including you! There is nothing worse than being shot by your own bullet – figuratively speaking.

As the opening lines of this article read, Pepper Spray can be lethal. There is therefore a high possibility that your intended target, by virtue of being too close, could be in for a deadly dose of Pepper Spray. Did you want to warn him or waste him ?

Sometimes all it takes is a discreet, well executed wrist-lock to stall any groper in his tracks, and KRAV MAGA will teach you plenty.

In An Airplane :

We’re not even talking 9/11 style misadventurism here.

In view of the strict security measures at airports across the planet today, the chances are you’re going to find yourself seated next to a drunk and disorderly fellow passenger instead.

First of all, airport security standards and flight safety regulations prohibit the carrying onboard of certain liquids and aerosols – your Pepper Spray would never make the flight with you as carry-on cabin baggage.

Dealing with an intoxicated and unruly passenger in the seat next to yours, on a long-haul flight can be nothing short of hell. Calling for the assistance of an attractive flight-attendant could sometimes aggravate the situation with the intoxicated individual now spoilt for choice.

Once again, a discreet, simple yet excruciatingly painful wrist-lock can prove to be an superb sobering agent.

Unlike Pepper Spray, your KRAV MAGA hand-to-hand combat skills cannot be taken away from you by airport security.

When walking down a street, a stranger asks you for

• The time,
• Directions,
• Loose change.

In the seconds that you are initially distracted, he or an accomplice strikes. There is almost always NO TIME to reach into a bag or pocket to remove and effectively aim and use Pepper Spray (or another defensive weapon) against your assailant(s).

Remember, your Pepper Spray works best against your attacker’s eyes, nose and throat. But his knife or gun will be put to equally effective use against any part of your body.

• What if he is wearing a mask and protective eyewear ?
• What if you do pull out the Pepper Spray, but in the heat of the moment, spray in the wrong direction – possibly at yourself ?
• What if the attacker knocks your can of Pepper Spray out of your hand ?
• What if your can of Pepper Spray does not work ?

These are far too many “what ifs” for anyone’s comfort.

All our lives we have depended on our limbs – our legs and arms, hands and feet to walk, climb, carry, grip, hold. . . KRAV MAGA enables us to sharpen these basic skills to accurately and effectively punch, kick, jab, grapple, grip, throw . . .

Krav Maga is a simple, efficient self defense system which underlines one’s natural movements and practical skills under realistic exercise situations. This is why KRAV MAGA is the choice of 25 international armed forces and multiple security agencies across the globe.

When confronted with the business end of an attacker’s knife or gun, when faced with the true threat of a blade between the ribs or a bullet in the brain, will you depend on a little can of spray to save your life and see you home safe ?

KRAV MAGA will give you that chance – that fighting chance !

MYCATQUOTE

Ashwin Mohan, dynamic instructor of the GITT (Give It To Them) movement, emphasises that you have to be alert, everywhere. All the time. A date rape drug doesn’t have to be slipped into your drink at a nightclub, he says, adding flatly that it can just as easily be dropped into your filter coffee at a local dosa joint.

Under the women’s development forum, Asthtva, (A unit of Paradigm Shift, ph: 98848 19816, 98848 19818), Ashwin has held a series of workshops with GITT, teaching about 10,000 women around India self defence over the past five years. The programme is about common sense, self-awareness and staying alert: minor details that might just end up saving your life.

Today, being fit, able to kick-box or neatly knee an over-enthusiastic Lothario has become an essential life-skill for every woman. Rapes, acid attacks, kidnapping, mugging and sexual harassment happen regularly. And in the big cities, people have even started carrying weapons, ranging from guns to knives, making your nervously brandished pepper spray as effective as threatening a burglar with a kitten.

“Not all criminals look like criminals. Some look like Harry Potter,” says Ashwin, emphasising on how important it is to not be too trusting or naïve. “It’s a drawback in our educational system,” says Delhi-based Vicky Kapoor, Head of Krav Maga India (098104 12442), which teaches the aggressive martial art originally developed by the Israeli military. Discussing how girls are taught to behave like ladies, he says, “They are not allowed to play with boys and told they’re weak. We should teach school girls soccer to build the stamina and aggression they need in crowds, markets, buses…”

Tabrez, who teaches Aikido at Fitness One feels women should learn how to manipulate their attacker’s force rather than try and overcome it with traditional martial art moves. “Rowdies also know the kicks and punches,” he says, adding, “Aikido has no punches, no kicks.

Krav Maga, based on natural human reflexes and instincts, on the other hand, requires aggression. “Well, definitely if someone slaps me he or she is not my friend. The idea is to eliminate this behaviour,” says Kapoor, stating that the bottom line is “Fight. Save yourself and family. Then run. While traditional martial arts work with defined rules, Krav Maga has no restrictions. “You can hit anyone anywhere.”

Their defence classes consist of groups separated into ‘Attackers’ and ‘Defenders.’ After basic training, the Defenders walk through a building in which the Attackers hide, and pounce. “We need to keep as close to reality as possible, or women will freeze outside,” states Kapoor.

Ashwin’s answer is a set of moves — falls, kicks, ducks and free running — which he insists his students practise everyday for 21 days. “It then becomes a habit,” he says, adding it makes women more aware, alert and fit. He, however, opposes challenging your attacker. “Nobody’s going to say sorry. Don’t look for moral victories,” he says. “Hurt his body, but don’t mess with his ego, or he’ll be waiting for you the next day with acid.”

Women, he concludes, should use their mental strength. “If someone picks you up, pretend you’re having a heart attack,” he says, adding, “Men only know how to bash people. Girls can mess with a man’s mind.”

SHONALI MUTHALALY

MYCATPRESS

Fitness training gives way to martial arts

Posted online: Sunday, December 05, 2004 at 0000 hours IST

Sometime back, 80 women employees at the Oberoi underwent training in Krav-Maga, an Israeli martial art form. Says Nidhi Chauhan, director, HR, The Oberoi,” This technique highlights the aspect of self-defence and also stresses on physical fitness and personality development.” Ms Chauhan also underwent the training. “After undergoing the course, I am able to cope with work pressure much better.”

Krav-Maga forms an important component of the armed forces training in Israel. Says Commander Avi Moyal, director and senior instructor, International Krav-Maga Federation, Israel, “This technique focuses more on confrontation rather than shooting. For example, women are faced with adverse situations every day. They get pushed around, jostled and eve-teased when they board a bus or train. Krav-Maga helps women get out of such situations. It helps them to remain calm and be self-confident.”Mr Moyal has protected Michael Jackson and Madonna. He has also developed a special pepper spray for situations where weapons can’t be used! Mr Moyal has also taught self-defence courses to the prime minister’s office staff in Israel.

Martial arts expert Vicky Kapoor recently opened one such fitness centre in Saket, New Delhi. Mr Kapoor is an official representative of the International Krav-Maga Federation in India. Over the last one year, Mr Kapoor has conducted several Krav-Maga training sessions for women from all walks of life.

“Delhi is becoming the crime capital of the country. It is necessary for women to know some form of self-defence techniques,” he remarks. Krav-Maga can also be a stress buster for harried corporate executives. “This form of exercise helps take out aggression and frustration that one experiences during work hours. Apart from physical well being, Krav-Maga also helps in building self confidence,” he adds.

The fitness centre in New Delhi will focus on workouts minus gym equipment. The studio will offer workouts and exercise programmes on Krav-Maga, kick boxing and karate among others. The charges for Krav-Maga are Rs 1,400 per month (12 classes).

Advocates claim martial arts as a therapeutic form of exercise. It lays emphasis on strength and performance. Music, dance and acrobat techniques combined with martial arts occupy an important place in Chinese theatre. Thanks to Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, martial arts is finding a lot of takers across the world.

Martial arts can be useful in real fight situations as intense mental control is a key requirement. Tai chi or shadow boxing is very popular with the elderly in Hong Kong. Shadow boxing is also popular with tourists who find it an excellent means of relaxation. Tai chi is usually performed at dawn in parks or gardens. In Hong Kong, Victoria Park is a popular venue for Tai chi workouts.

Martial arts unveiled

The Oriental way of life revolves around balance and harmony. There are more than a 100 styles in martial arts. Traditional Chinese theories of natural science and religion along with symbols have been incorporated into Chinese martial arts, extending its scope beyond military and self-defence purposes.

• Self-defence/professional: This category is limited in focus. There is a use of force to resolve a violent situation and this includes styles like Krav-Maga. The training may range from a weekend combat course for the general public to a close quarter combat.

• Tournament/sports: Martial art styles like taekwondo are demanding and challenging and require great dedication and intensive practice.

Kick boxing on the other hand, combines elements of boxing, martial arts and aerobics which help in physical conditioning and toning. It is a safe and injury free workout and comes in very handy during emergencies.

• Spiritual/health: These are gentler forms of martial art forms that focus on developing inner peace and harmony. Tai chi, Ba-qua and Hsing-i are some of the more popular ones. Perfection is of utmost importance here. At times, it may take years to perfect this art form.

Tai chi is an ancient form of exercise in slow motion. Twenty minutes of Tai chi every morning will leave your refreshed. It helps balance the yin and the yang.

—Reported by Aparna Ramalingam

Source: Financial Express