Bengaluru Mirror

Crash course shows citizens how to stay safe on the streets

There was just one rule at the Krav Maga session organised by Bengaluru Mirror on Saturday: Don’t hesitate to kick butt if you want to be safe.

Krav Maga is the fighting technique developed by the Israeli armed forces. The Hebrew  phrase means ‘contact combat’.

As the city’s streets are becoming increasingly unsafe, the Krav Maga session was just what the doctor ordered. Even the torrential rains could not dampen spirits as people of all ages and sizes  turned up for the crash course in self-defence.

During the two sessions of two hours each, Franklin Joseph, a member of the International Krav Maga Federation, taught participants techniques to deal with situations ranging from chain-snatching to a headlock.

Joseph explained, “We are not training you to be vigilantes or attack machines whose first reaction is to beat somebody up. We are training you to be able to defend yourself in a situation and also get away without getting hurt. You can be thin, tall, fat, anything and still manage to defend yourself.”

He explained the psychological theory behind Krav Maga before moving on to the practical demonstration with 20 of his volunteers. Groin kicks, nose punches, thumb twisting, arm twisting – everything that was effective without being technically challenging – can be used in Krav Maga.

The ladies lapped it up. From school girls to middle-aged housewives, everybody wanted to know how to be safe. Fourteen-year-olds Sanjana Khinvasra and Tanisha Harsha wanted to be prepared for all the horror stories they had heard from college-going seniors about eve-teasing. Saroj Kunda, a 46-year-old home maker, wanted help to defend herself from road rage. She said, “I have had many instances, where people have walked up to my window and threatened me. I need to be able to defend myself.” Even Jalpa Joshi, a 6’ 1″ tall techie, said she needed help on the streets.

“It is not about how tough you look. These guys just won’t stop,” she said as she practised getting away from a choke hold. For Tracy Yach and her daughter Gabriella,  this was an essential skill. The South African family, living in Bengaluru for a year now, doesn’t have complaints about the safety of women on Bengaluru’s streets. “But you can never be too careful,” Tracy said.

Surprisingly, a majority of the audience were men. Anil Naidu, a 52-year-old stock broker in the city, said he wanted to learn Krav Maga as he was being followed for the last year by different characters. Gorde Ganesh was equipping himself against a repeat of a previous incident. The techie said, “I was attacked on Bannerghatta Road about five years ago and robbed. I don’t want that happening again.”

Whatever the story of each participant, the unifying thought was that they wanted to feel safe.

You can be thin, tall, fat, anything and still manage to defend yourself

Source: BengaluruMirror.com

Mumbai Mirror Newspaper

Women are getting increasingly vulnerable to assault and molestation in Mumbai. Here are some ways to protect yourself from the culprits.

Being a girl who is living and traveling alone in Mumbai can be exhilarating, frightening and enraging all at the same time.

While the freedom the city gives you is refreshing, with the number of rape and molestation cases on the rise, Mumbai is quickly catching up with Delhi as the rape capital of the country. Everyday we are subjected to being grabbed or leered at, at the least.

In such cases, it is important to always be on your guard and be prepared for any attacker. We give you some tips on how to train your mind and body and use some simple household items to ward off any unwanted attention.

Presence of mind

It is imperative to always be alert of your surroundings when you’re travelling alone, be it day or night. Sadashiv Mogaveera of Krav Maga India, an academy that trains in Japanese and Israeli forms of self defence and martial arts, says that awareness is your strongest weapon. “Most girls listen to music on IPods or MP3 players while travelling, making them oblivious to what’s happening around them.

This makes them a potential target as they can be caught unaware. Attackers usually look for weak, defenceless women who are unlikely to fight back; the surprise element is what they’re banking on.”

He explains that your body language must be confident so that the attacker realises that you won’t give up without a fight. Walk purposefully and never let your observation skills slip. Mogaveera adds, “You have to train your mind to be calm even if you know you have to put up a fight. Never get agitated as that betrays your nervousness and fear.

Yatish Bangera of the Bombay Judo Club insists that self confidence and fitness are the basic attributes a girl must possess. “Today’s girls are much more self confident, but implementing this in the required circumstances is what finally matters.” He further says that you must look the attacker in the eyes, which will surely throw him off.

Mogaveera exemplifies the need to be alert with an instance of walking down the street. “Never walk on the side of the road where vehicles are coming from behind you, as this puts you at risk of being pulled into one.

Also, when you’re crossing a dark alley, remember to always peer into it before you cross. If there is an attacker in there, you will have seen his face and could then pick him out of a line-up. This will deter the attacker from approaching you.”

Finally, both instructors emphasise on the fact that a certain level of fitness is required to be able to take on a surprise attacker. Unfortunately, women cannot match up to a man in physical strength but she should be fit enough to at least tackle him, throw him off and run, if necessary.

Practical tips

First and foremost, it is important to know the vulnerable parts of your body. This will not only help you protect yourself, but also know where to inflict pain in case you are attacked. You may not match up to your attacker in terms of physical strength but every human being has the same weak areas.

Mogaveera explains, “The joints of your body bend only in one direction. If you try to bend them in any other, it will cause pain. Other such body parts are the groin, the eyes, the shin and the tissue on the side of the neck.

Suresh Kanojia of the Academy of Judo and Martial Arts has been teaching self defence for 25 years. He gives us some basic tips on how to tackle common attacks.

• If someone comes and grabs you from the back, spread your legs apart a little and bend forward till at least one of your opponent’s legs in between yours. Then with your palms, grab him in the shin, right below the calf, and pull it hard towards you. No matter how strong the man is, he will lose balance and fall.
• If someone comes and grabs your neck or collar from the front, aim at his fingers. Dig your nails into skin of his finger where the nail starts. This skin is thin and when pricked, hurts a lot.
• If someone comes and grabs you by the neck or collar from the back, grab both his little fingers with your palms and pry them apart as far and as hard as you can. This will cause him enough pain to let you go so that you can sprint off.

First time in South & Mid India in 2011, we are conducting  IKMF Krav Maga Israeli Self Defence Workshop & Test in Hyderabad. We invite all people to join us in this unique opportunity.

Ultimate Krav Maga India is proud to announce that we will be hosting a Krav Maga workshop conducted by Mr. Vicky Kapoor, an Indian legend, Chief Instructor of Military, VIP Protection, Police and Civilian Israeli Self Defense training in India in the city of Hyderabad invited by Mr. Ajit, local instructor of Krav Maga in Hyderabad

Krav Maga is a hand-to-hand self-defence system developed by the Israeli Defence Force and is widely considered to be one of the most advanced and effective forms of self-defence in the world today.

The workshops will include a basic introduction to Krav Maga and an introduction to Defense against Knife attack.

Space is limited so please book early!

Date: July 30th 2011 : Krav Maga Israeli Self Defence Workshop & Test in Hyderabad

Venue: Hotel Amogh, MLA colony, Hyderabad

Contact: Mr. Ajit Nathaniel 7702-897910 or email ajit(@)nathaniel.in

Time: 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Knife Defense
Cost: Rs 550.00 per person
Open Walk In: Anybody can walk in, any shape, any size, any strength. Especially good for small, big, young and old women.

Time: 1 PM – 3 PM
Knife Defense
Cost: Rs 550.00 per person
Open Walk In: Anybody can walk in, any shape, any size, any strength. Especially good for small, big, young and old men and women.

Time: 3 PM – 5 PM
Grading Test
Private: Only IKMF Hyderabad Students allowed

Workshop will include an introduction to Krav maga hand-to-hand self-defence and will cover topics such as:

• Why Krav Maga is different from martial arts & introduction to Mr. Vicky Kapoor
• Using your body correctly without using strength
• Hand-to-hand attack defence
• Knife attack defence
• Krav Maga strikes
• Simulations under stress

This hand-to-hand combat style packs in a lot of punches, literally. But more than that, it is an exercise that teaches one how to be on the guard in dark alleys. It started as a lethal combat training for the Israeli Army and is now a craze the world over in its fitness, aka boot camp avatar.

Move over karate as Krav Maga is the new ‘get fit-cum-self-defence’ fad in the town. And the list of takers is only going up, mainly, thanks to the chain-snatching and other incidents on the rise in different localities in the city.

Builds confidence

“I decided to join the classes after my bag was snatched outside a multiplex. My self-confidence levels plummeted and I wanted to get mentally strong. I came across Krav Maga in Delhi. It was a boon when the classes started in Hyderabad. A friend of mine had his laptop snatched in Gachibowli in broad daylight and he is learning Krav Maga too,” says Dhara, a lecturer.

A visit to Krav Maga instructor Ajit Nathaniel’s class in Jubilee Hills on weekends showcases a cross section of people – students, IT professionals, businessmen and home makers – taking keen interest in the boxing regimen, sprints and the works which leaves them tired and confident the same time.

Burn 800 calories

“Self defence is an attitude. Krav Maga is been taken up largely by people who want to learn self-defence or threat response. One also burns 800 calories in one session of the high intensity class. It is a down-to-earth, no-frills regimen for people focussed on self-defence and fitness,” says Ajit. While all military professionals in Israel are given combat training with hand-guns and special tactics, Krav Maga bare hands training is chosen for civilians, he says. In India, his organisation Krav Maga India headquartered in New Delhi, founded by Vicky Kapoor, trains the Prime Minister’s SPG, various law enforcement and special tactic groups such as Punjab Police SWAT team and more.

The significance of the combat training in present scenario is proven by the fact that Krav Maga found its way in the training programme for IPS probationers at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy here.

“One should be able to defend oneself. I did have an orientation towards Judo and Karate and joined Krav Maga one month ago. I find myself more alert and in a better shape to tackle any situation. Krav Maga is helpful for civilians to know self defence. My work takes me abroad and such training is useful,” says Nayan Choudhary, a software professional working with an IT firm in the city.

Training under safety guidelines such as usage of shin guards and gloves makes Krav Maga stand apart. “We are accountable to an international organisation in Israel where we also undergo constant training as instructors and have our knowledge updated,” says Ajit as he is contemplating on opening a centre in Secunderabad as well soon.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/

It is always better to be safe than sorry. There is heightened awareness among people about self defence mechanisms, and the rise in the different institutes teaching such martial arts just proves the point.

However, apart from defence and fitness, people choose to learn martial arts for other reasons too.

Says Muthappa, a taekwondo trainer, “A lot of people come here for physical fitness. We have many people who prefer this to a regular gym session. Learning any martial art helps not only in building muscles and toning your body, but also improves your entire system and flexibility.”

But it is not only the fitness factor that counts. What is important is the fact that martial arts help calm the mind. Says Asha, who has been learning Kalari, a martial art form from Kerala, “Initially, it was I started learning it because of the fitness regime. But throughout the learning process, I have noticed is that it helps you emotionally as well.”

Muthappa agrees, “It improves one’s confidence levels too and helps in concentration. We have many school children who come here and they themselves have said how it has helped improve their concentration.”

For many, it is a way to acquaint themselves with different cultures too. Asha adds, “I always had an interest for this art form when I was in Kerala. So when I got to know about the classes here in Bengaluru, everything just fell in place.”

Another person Kripa, who learns Aikido, a Japanese art form says, “I know karate so self defence was not the reason why I started taking this course. It was mainly because I love learning new things and this is a good way to know about the culture of other countries.” But one needs to know everything there is about the different martial art forms.

Says Frank, who teaches Krav Maga in Bengaluru, which is an Israeli form of self defence, “In all types of martial art, the basic requirement is that you should have good fitness level, strength and flexibility. And learning any art will require a minimum of six to seven months. So this is not practical if you confront a tough situation during that time. And there other constraints too. You cannot perform some tactics in confined spaces or if you are on the heavier side. So one should know what martial art suits them and how effective it is in reality.”

Gaurav Pawar, student of Bhavan’s college Andheri, never ended up going to the gym. “Working out in the gym is synthetic, monotonous and individual,” he complains.
Pawar is one of many college students that have taken to newly introduced fitness techniques in Mumbai that have travelled from different parts of the world. Disguised as self-defence techniques, dance forms and sports, these systems present exciting group cardio workouts that have various health benefits.

“These alternative fitness techniques are picking up among college students for two major reasons,” says Shweta Iyengar, nutritionist and healthcare expert. “One is that a gym workout is mindless and monotonous and young people tend to get bored with the lack of variety. Alternative forms offer many variants and levels, which makes the workout more exciting. Secondly, the body stops responding to a type of exercise once it gets used to it, which happens with several gym-goers. For a college student, the alternative forms are highly evolved, and teach them much more than fitness. They work to strengthen the mind, endurance capacity, stamina and concentration as well, while helping to battle depression and frustration.”

Krav Maga
Originally a self-defense and combat system created by the Jews to combat the Nazis, Krav Maga developed in Israel. Hebrew for ‘contact combat’, the martial art is less rigid than karate in terms of the form. “Krav Maga builds on your reflexes, not on a set of rules,” says Sadashiv Mogaveera, Krav Maga instructor. “It’s recently evolved from a combat system to a modern fitness regime, with an emphasis on the cardiovascular system.”

Krav Maga uses hand-to-hand contact with kicking-punching combinations, and teaches you basic disarming techniques. “In our classes, we take on modern day issues and teach students how to disarm knives, sticks as well as guns,” says Padmaj. “In this day, you never know when you may have to encounter a terrorist.”

Gain: Weight-loss, sharpened reflexes, cardio workout, self-defense. Especially recommended for people with obesity, blood sugar and blood pressure problems.
Contact: Sensei Sadashiv – 9892121542
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Re-Posted on [cref get-defensive VickyKapoor.com]

Learning self defence tops any girl’s to-do list. And it needn’t be the hardest thing in the world. In fact, being the victim may not be such a bad thing…Baisakhi Roy attended a Krav session and came out learning more than how to get out of a choke hold

Not a martial art
Be it the Brazilian Jujitsu or the Filipino Kali, there are a set of rules and traditional moves that you need to remember and practice. Krav, on the other hand, teaches you to hone your instincts and be fearless. “There are no limitations in Krav. Whatever be the mode of attack, whatever be the size of the attacker, and whether he is armed or otherwise, Krav teaches you simple and effective split-second responses,” says renowned Krav Maga instructor, Rob Ferreira, who learnt to fight under Darren Levine, one of the highest ranked instructors in the United States.

Better than the gym
Krav teaches you how to strengthen muscles that you actually use and not just the functional muscles that are worked upon at the gym. The arms and shoulders need to be strong if one is up against a much stronger adversary. Thighs and legs have to be strong enough to put the two-headed approach to practice. This approach is about being able to cause damage to the face-eyes area and the groin area simultaneously, causing serious hurt.

Ideal for women
So why is being the victim good? The element of surprise! Women are perceived to not hit back, be afraid, and either give in or try to escape. The last thing they are expected to do is fight. When they attack the attacker, it comes as a surprise! Women have to capitalise on that one moment of shock to attempt to release themselves, counterattack, and flee.

Feeds aggression
Krav pumps up the primal gene in you to thundering heights. But anger is good if channelled and better still if used to defend oneself. “Everyone, man, woman, child, should have a fighting chance. Krav teaches you deadly moves that are very easy to learn. We feed the killer instinct in you by putting you through harrowing sessions of physical endurance,” says Ferreira. Krav is the official self defence system of Israel. This form of combat was developed for use in the street, the body being the only deadly weapon.

Don’t focus on weight loss
“A lot of women read about assault against women and other crimes happening in our society/environment. They realise that it is very important to learn some form of self defence for their own safety. However, once they join self defence classes, their attention shifts from self defence to either weight loss or fitness,” says Kapoor.

Krav is a full body workout, thanks to the endurance exercises that are taught before combat training. The focus is on constant practice and repetition, the most effective defences against surprise attacks and instinctive use of force under stress.

A history of Krav
Krav Maga is Hebrew for “contact combat”. In this system, a person is encouraged to adapt techniques and their special abilities. The system was originally developed by Imi Lichtenfeld during Israel’s War of Independence. It is taught in various Military and Law enforcement facilities all over the world.

Principles
To avoid injury
Devise drills that take advantage of natural reflexes
Defend and attack in minimum time required
Use of the body’s vulnerable spots Krav Maga teaches defence against punches and kicks, bear hugs and chokes, knives and clubs, guns, and multiple attackers
The only rule: no rules

Source: http://spotlight.femina.in/full-story/go-on-get-defensive

After a relative lull, the city was shaken once again with the gang rape of a 24-year-old Jharkhand girl, before she was mugged, kidnapped and kept captive (for 14 hours). The MBA graduate was returning home near the swish Electronic City. The incident once again raises serious questions about women’s safety, especially at night.

It was only in 2005, a BPO employee Prathibha was raped and killed in Bengaluru.

As the city grows, the risks are increasing, too. What if tomorrow you find yourself face-to-face with some scum of the earth? Can you save yourself? “Yes you can,” says Frank J ‘Wolf’ an instructor of krav-maga, “by using simple objects which women usually carry with them.” But no matter what you do, scream as loudly as possible, say experts.

The first of a two-part series.

Umbrella

• Use the umbrella to jab it on his venerable points like eyes, throat or groin. Keep poking it till you get some distance between you two.
• Avoid hitting him with the umbrella like you would with a club, which he can easily block with his hands, so jab him.
• Seek weak spots like groin. Jab or swing the umbrella in a straight line, hitting the testicles.
• Flip open the umbrella as the last option, when you are ready to escape.
• Avoid hitting chest, head or arms (because that way it becomes easy for the attacker to grab you). Do not try to grapple or push him as you will get tired very soon.

Mobile phone

• This is a very effective tool as most women carry it in their hands. But avoid talking on the phone or texting while walking on the road or towards your car as you are distracted and can become easy targets.
• Jab the phone into his eyes and throat. Avoid hitting the attackers head or upper body, since this will put you in close proximity to the attacker making it easier for him to grab you.
• The bridge of the nose is a very sensitive spot. So, hit that area with your phone.
• If the hand is caught up near his groin, jab at his groin.
• Always call for help once you flee the spot.

Spectacles/ Glares

• They are a soft tool that might break on contact. But it can still be used as a weapon.
• If its sharp edge is open, then use it to jab into the eyes.
• If it is closed, it still can be used as a jabbing tool. Aim for the eyes, throat, ribs or groin. Anywhere else it would not be effective enough for him to let go.

Watch

• Not an effective tool as women usually wear small and thin watches. Even a bigger one is not very effective. Nevertheless, one can combine it with one’s fist.
• Use the hard surface of the watch and hit the temples or the nose.
• Constantly use the free hand to poke his eyes or throat and keep hitting him till he hides his face with his hands.

Stilettos

• Heels hamper you from running. But if you are wearing it, use it to jab the person. But make sure you are stomping his foot or knee and not the ground, which might lead to ankle sprain or fracture adding to your woes.
• If he grabs you from behind, use your pointed heels to jab his feet. Avoid trying to hit his groin or shin because you might lose your balance, leaving you at a vulnerable position.
• If he grabs you from the front, kick his groin with your knee and then use that split second to jab the groin with the sharp heels.
• Use a straight line directly to his groin

Keys

• It is the most effective sharp object that can be used as a jabbing tool. Aim for the eyes, throat and ribs.
• It is very important that you jab the attacker multiple times and do not stop until he lets go.

Hair Clip

• Slippery, it is not a very effective tool. But anyway one can use it for poking at throat, eyes and ribs.

Water bottle

• Can work as a distraction tool along with other items like umbrella or keys.
• If there is time, open it and spray water on his face.

Hand bag

• Swing it into his face instantly in a vertical straight path.
• Swing it in a horizontal path only to create some distance.
• You can also slash it into his groin in a vertical straight path.
• If caught, leave the bag aside and run away. Do not struggle, trying to grab it back.

Pen

• Pen is a great weapon for self-defence. It’s small and strong and can be used for its sharp edge also. Again go for his eyes, throat, groin and nose.

This is a presentation created by Krav Maga India team to explain how Krav Maga system of Self Defence is effective tactics on giving you the best option from easy & fun learning to short and to the point effective tactics under stress of real life combat.

“Krav Maga is a form of self-defence that deals with realistic scenarios where there are no rules. It deals with prevention from threat, psychological buildup to empowerment, verbal self-defence, soft and hard tactical defence against eve-teasing, groping, molestation and rape. It is an instant realisation and reaction to an action or attack,” says Frank J Wolf, instructor, Israeli Krav Maga Self-Defence in Richmond Town. Wolf is the only Krav Maga instructor in Bengaluru.

According to Wolf, this art of close combat was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, a trained boxer and wrestler in Bratislava in order to help protect the local Jewish community during the German military invasion.

Krav Maga trains one to be ready for any lethal situation regardless of age, size, strength and fitness. “The common attack targets in Krav Maga are chin, groin, throat, eyes jaw and knee. If you are attacked from the back and choked, you will not waste time resisting, instead when pushed back you’ll raise your foot to attack his groin,” he continues.

Krav Maga is popular because there are no esoteric martial art techniques that are put to use. Instinctive punches and kicks used in natural self-defence are polished. Krav Maga is an excellent fitness routine and helps in building stamina, confidence and helps to burn those extra calories. Many law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies like the FBI have adopted it.

The Bengaluru chapter of Krav Maga has trained around 300 people —among them men, women and children. For Kunga Uuangyal, 28, who is a student at the Krav Maga Academy of Self Defence, this art of close combat has pushed him beyond his limits, both physical and psychological.

“Learning this art form for more than two and a half years has been a huge help in building confidence. I now know how to react to situations that need quick thinking and action,” says Kunga.

“The fitness routine followed in Krav Maga is very intense. The workouts and exercises could be strenuous for a girl but constant resistant practice has equipped me with techniques to defend myself and I’m not scared of walking alone on the roads,” says Urvashi Raizada, 18, another student.

Stephanie Steiger, mother of a five-year-old is amazed to see drastic changes in her daughter Sanara’s attitude. “She is confident, she enjoys it and is ready to startle all the big boys with her defence moves,” says Steiger.