Israeli self-defence

The setting is somewhat similar at Ultimate Tactical and Combat studio in Saket. It offers Krav Maga – an Israeli form of self-defence and combat tactics – training, engaging young women, clad in black, in hand-to-hand combats.

In Saket, portraits of the famed Israeli Krav Maga trainers and a poster that reads ‘personal protection is not an option, it’s a responsibility’, serve as sources of inspiration.

Another poster, of Jennifer Lopez in Enough – a film in which Lopez learns Krav Maga to take on her abusive husband – is also another motivator.

“Recently, we trained a woman who was struggling to tackle her abusive live-in partner,” says Vicky Kapoor, director, Ultimate Tactical, and the best known trainer of Krav Maga in the country.

“She finally managed to drive him out with the help of Krav Maga. We have trained 200 women as per their requirements in the last two years.”

Unsafe city

Not surprising, considering the level of danger a woman faces in the national capital. Among 35 major cities in India, Delhi accounted for 31.2 per cent of total rape cases and 34.7 per cent cases of kidnapping and abduction of women in 2007.

Numbers don’t lie. Most women who practice at these studios have stories to share.

“Last year at a bus-stand near Gargi College, I was groped by a middle-aged man,” says Minakshi Bhardwaj, 22, a student of St Stephen’s College. “I cried for help, but no one came to my rescue. Today, I feel more confident on the streets.”

Mary Kurkalang, 31, who works in a publishing firm said, “Men have grabbed me from behind so many times on the streets. The training has really helped,” she says.

Street fights

The studio lessons are also practiced on the streets. “The idea is to give practical lessons in dealing with various situations that they might face in real life,” says Kapoor, who normally receives 10 inquiries in a day from women who want to know how Krav Maga can help them defend themselves.

Women also get tips on how to use things like mobile phones, hand bags, pens, and even duppttas as weapons.

“Physical drill teaches women to use quick reflexes to attack assailants’ soft spots like throat, groin and nose,” says Shihan Nawal Datta, a martial arts trainer. This new breed of laptop-wielding trainers say many parents are encouraging daughters to join classes.

“My daughters are learning martial arts. One is even building muscles. Martial arts training has instilled discipline and confidence in them,” says Manjari Sharma, a teacher.

Posted on 23 Apr 2006 # IANS

New Delhi: An Israeli martial arts system, Krav-Maga, which includes special anti-rape and anti-assault techniques for women, was demonstrated in the capital in an effort to pass the self-protection tools to civilians.

The system used by Israeli forces is practised in 45 countries all over the world, including the US, Britain, France, Japan and Thailand.

“The basic instinct is to survive, be it on a battlefield or street, and that is what Krav-Maga is dedicated to,” said chief of Israel-based International Krav-Maga Federation (IKMF) Eyal Yanilov at a seminar here Saturday.

Based on human reflexes and mental alertness, the art can be learnt quickly by people of all age groups, he said.

An IKMF instructor in Delhi, Vicky Kapoor, said: “What prompted me to bring the system to India was its simplicity and sophistication.”

“While oriental arts like karate, judo and kickboxing follow rigid rules, this one is more sophisticated and in tune with modern times,” he added.

Apart from tailor-made techniques for women, it also has anti-carjacking tactics in any area be it a car parking lot or a staircase. Women are trained in jabs, kicks, floor exercises, ground wrestling and games.

Women are also trained to sharpen natural reflexes and use purse, pen, comb or even shoes as weapons.

“Our biggest weapons are the punches and kicks,” said Avi Moyal, a former law-enforcement commander and director at IKMF, Israel.

At higher levels, the training of military-based fitness is given, including cardio kickboxing and heavy bag work, which can burn up to 800 calories in one session.

Krav-Maga was developed by a Czech, Imi Lichtenfield, who learnt the fighting tricks to survive street fights with gangsters in 1930s. Later he became a self-defence instructor in the Israeli army.

Krav-Maga is also taught to sky marshals and commercial airline crew to combat plane hijacking. In India it is being taught to Tihar jail’s police force, Tamil Nadu Special Police and NGOs like Nari Niketan and Ritanjali.

Source: Only Punjab.com
http://onlypunjab.com/fullstory2k5-insight-news-status-5-newsID-97148.html