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.

Are you lonesome tonight in a big city? Well then, you may just have yourself to blame, for being lonely in a big city is matter of personal choice. Social scientists believe that urbanism makes people less lonely.

Urbanism doesn’t allow us to be alone, yet we’re connecting differently. There’s an increasing insecurity in newer forms of urban living. Sociologist Sujata Patel, expert in urbanism in India agrees, “We’re shopping in groups, eating in groups, we’re more of a cafeteria society, where everything is given to us. But the bonding isn’t intense. We feel we’re under surveillance. Hence, the lack of warmth and trust.”

In fact, according to John Cacioppo, director of Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, “People in big cities may be different but there’s an emotional synchronisation.” In his book Loneliness, Cacioppo writes, “Our species wouldn’t have survived without a cooperative social instinct. Loneliness is an alarm signal, it’s nature’s way of telling us to rejoin as a group.”

The new culture emerging in modern cities isn’t of loneliness but reflects how we can work together and trust one another. Says author Ahmed Faiyaz, “Cities are the ultimate expression of our humanity. At times, we are alone together. I recently took the metro back home from work. There were over 40 people in the compartment, each either listening to their iPods, reading or staring into the distance. But everyone was together. People do make friends at work, some of these friendships extend to after work hours and some don’t. We all have an option of not being lonely.”

What’s really the deficit is that we have less ‘meaningful’ connections and more ‘cordial’ friends in the community. Says Dr Kamal Khurana, psychiatrist, “In the urban world of today, people indulge in superficial relationships. If it’s professional life, the superficial relationship is called networking, which is aimed at professional gains only. There is no emotional warmth.”

Sociologists argue that it’s the weak ties in a city that make us more lonely. Says Jeroninio Almeida, CEO Letz-Dream Foundation, “In urban India, one may feel surrounded by people all the time and yet feel lonely. You may be sitting in a crowded lounge bar and yet have no one to relate with. With the stress of daily 9 to 5 jobs, people are becoming more lonely and stressed. Even though they may socialise in a gathering, deep inside, they may feel lonely. And yet, surrounded with people who are making small talk, we escape loneliness for some moments — that’s the urban phenomenon.”

Next time, you’re lonely, just follow your mother’s advice and get out of the house! According to authors of Loneliness, for most people, being in the simple presence of a friendly person helps us if we’re feeling depressed. Says author Kishwar Desai, “If there’s a chirpy person around, they can help you snap out immediately from your bad mood. We are all social creatures, but as I grow older I think I am increasingly particular about who I spend time with.” Beat loneliness, whether it means learning to enjoy your own company or getting out there and building meaningful relationships!

Actor Diana Hayden: “If I’m feeling lonely, I just hit the gym. And I connect with people there. Or I just pack my bags and go for an adventure holiday with my close friends for some happy times.”

Actor Archana Puran Singh: “I beat loneliness by being in a group, which naturally makes me happy, like my family. Kids bring positivity in my life. I also practice breathing and tell myself that the feeling of loneliness is momentary. The best mood uplifter is being with happy, upbeat people. And even watching television makes you feel your life is so much better.”

Designer Rakesh Aggarval: “The best way to beat loneliness is to always work with a frenzy. There’s something about going to work everyday, which doesn’t make me so lonely. Or I just have a dedicated fitness regimen, it gives me lot of energy and I feel happy.”

Model Anchal Kumar: “When you live alone in big cities, you need to have a good support system to pad you from the jerks in life. I spend time with friends.”

Singer Abhijit: “I hum a nice tune. I can never feel lonely in India as there’s so much to do. I’m always surrounded by friends and family. When I’m travelling abroad, I have intense pangs of loneliness, but I just grab the phone and talk to my friends for hours.”

Actor Kangana Ranaut : “Our world is lonely. There are days, when you feel like a loser. But you’ve got to be strong.”

Original Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Suddenly, men with bellies are as acceptable as they were in the days when Sanjeev Kumar and Shammi Kapoor were sexy. Jackie Shroff and Govinda are currently seen happily sporting their bellies!

The ‘Bouncing Belly’ it would seem, indicates an ennui with the metrosexual man, who was chiselled to perfection. Even the New York Times reports on how men with shredded abdominals are getting rarer in 2009. We’ve got headlines screaming: ‘It’s Hip to be Round Again’ and ‘Pot-bellies are the new six-pack for men’.

In India, until recently, a man with a belly was regarded as a symbol of prosperity. Then came the super six-pack generation, thanks to Shah Rukh Khan, who altered the body definition of Indian men. Well, that was so last year!

Blame it on the fitness fatigue; the belly has changed its shape again. Now, it’s hip to be round at the belly. Meet India’s first male belly dancer, Queen Harish. He’s done his bit: going to the gym, working out for hours and being on a rigid diet. But, now he has given it all up. He says, “I don’t mind having a round belly. Flat stomachs are so artificial. The six-pack obsession got to me. I just wanted a normal body.

I have a round belly. When I move while dancing, I think it’s sexy. A lot of people look at my round belly when I dance. It’s sensual. When I’m not dancing, I’m happy being myself. Having a belly is sexy again.” 
Perhaps manscaping has been hit by the recession, which has made men go easy on their body image. Crushing and challenging fitness rituals have taken a backseat as laziness creeps in. Fitness experts blame it on the six-pack, flat-abs obsession.

Leena Mogre, Mumbai’s leading fitness guru says, “It’s abnormal to have eight-pack abs. I’ve seen celebrities go without water and food for days before a photo-shoot. It’s extremely unhealthy. Such body definition is difficult to maintain. The minimum workout is three hours. Nobody can continue this fitness regimen for too long. That’s when you let go, after which, you’re okay with the round belly. The moment you stop working out, your body definition changes. Maybe, we’re witnessing a fitness fatigue, which makes it quite okay to have a paunch.”

Actor Rahul Dev, who also owns a gym says, “Most men, after they’ve achieved their six-pack abs target, guzzle down bottles of beer. After a point, men don’t care too much about their bouncing bellies. Especially after years of deprivation.” He adds, “You need endurance, patience and concentration for a perfect body. It’s a punishing regimen. Most men lack the endurance to continue tough schedules to get washboard abs. We’re not saying pot-bellies are acceptable.

But there’s no running away from them either. So, after a strict fitness craze, you’ll have a letting go phase and pot-bellies will be okay.”

So, thin is not so in and belly bumps on men are fine. The look is overall thin, with some extra flab in the middle. In Hollywood, Mathew Perry lost his slim physique for a rather portly shape; singer Robbie Williams has become robust; John Travolta has a bit of a belly and Kurt Russell looks good with a belly. While in Bollywood, Sanjay Dutt has an expanded belly. In fact, websites are flooded with reports of how Salman’s six-pack abs are now replaced by a paunch. Ditto for Emraan Hashmi.

Says Vicky Kapoor, fitness expert and owner of Ultimate gym in Delhi, “The psychology isn’t about being paunchy and slouchy. Till recently, men with pot-bellies looked so middle-aged. They had a complex about their growing bellies. Now, we’re just saying looking good shouldn’t be a stress. Neither should having a pot-belly give you anxiety.” That’s something stylist Sylvie agrees with, “Men are much more conscious about their bodies. But there’s a lack of consistency. Men get bored with fitness regimes, like they do with everything else in life. Especially, after marriage, men develop a paunch. Until recently, it triggered off a fierce reaction. This year, I guess I am seeing men who’ve been working out, have let go. But they don’t look ugly with pot-bellies. That’s the new body definition. A fit body is taking a holiday, that’s how I would interpret it.”

We’re witnessing the rise of real, super macho men, not metro sexualised, starved men with washboard abs. So, the “burgeoning potbelly,” as Guy Trebay writes in the New York Times, may be here to stay with men not trying too hard to battle the bulge. Says Gurpreet Kaull, of Clubxcell in Delhi, “We’ve reached a burnout stage. The hurrah of six-abs has whimpered away. Men don’t want to try too hard. They seem to be at ease with their belly bulge.”

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.”

Leena Mudbidri | TNN

Fighting Back

First introduced in New Delhi five years ago, Krav Maga teaches Israeli self-defence skills against armed street attacks and muggings, home assaults, car thefts and attacks.

It was introduced in Bangalore last year and over 75 citizens have enrolled for the course.

Anti-terror training capsule, designed by New Delhi-based Vicky Kapoor, director and chief instructor of International Krav Maga Federation, India, is the first of its kind in India.

Bangalore: “Grenade!” shouted Frank, and the bunch of techies, a restaurateur and a homemaker jumped to the ground for cover and rolled over, shielding their bodies away from the impending blast. Thankfully, it was a mock drill and the grenade was only a tennis ball during a session on anti-terror training and hostage takeover survival skills introduced in city last week.

These Bangaloreans learning the techniques of Krav Maga, an Israeli military form of self-defence, in Richmond Town, prepare to cope with real crises. “As civilians, we cannot get into a hand-to-hand combat with armed terrorists. The least we can do is learn to survive with presence of mind, and use some formal training to save our skin,” says Frank, instructor and in-charge of the Bangalore chapter, International Krav Maga Federation.

“For example, if you are in a restaurant and an armed terrorist walks in and starts shooting randomly, your chances of survival are more if you throw yourself to the ground and roll away from the centre of the incident, instead of running and exposing your body to the gunman,” he says. The hostage-takeover survival module teaches you how to avoid confrontation with the captor if you are taken hostage, and how to behave and, yes, even talk to them.

“If I’m ever in such a situation, I know how to come out of it because my reflexes are faster, my level of alertness is higher and the techniques I’ve learnt are practical,” says Ashish Puri, product manager, Cisco Systems. Omer Basith, a restaurateur, & a Krav Maga trainee for the past one year believes in being prepared. “Who thought terrorist could come right to our doorsteps? Now, its up to us to learn to handle the situation as civilians.”

But Frank cautions, “But better leave the real fighting to the experts!” This group has its own mascot, a crow which has a bird’s eye view of the training on the rooftop. They call him ‘Crow Maga’.

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

This Israeli self defence technique is the latest buzz word in fitness in the city. Started a month ago and instructor Himanshu Sharman is teaching a full class Already at planet fitness.” it helps builds awareness, confidence, self control, movement and physical fitness since it is integral to the system. The work out includes cardio and strength building exercise which increase flexibility too.” Krav Maga, developed by Czechoslovakian-born Imi Lichtenfledm, is a system of fighting and self defence for the Israeli Defence force .Faced with the task for preparing both fit and out -of shape soldiers, Imi developed a comprehensive system that relied on simple and instinctive moves rather than rigid techniques requiring years of training. A modern method characterized by a logical and practical approach, it is easy to perform, natural and to effective featuring simple movement and reflexive behavior and is one of the few fighting styles which adapts to the student rather than expecting the student to adapt to it.