In a land where women were once considered sacred, where they were even worshiped in the form of Goddesses Durga, Kali, Saraswati etc. the times have changed drastically. India has come a long way from ancient times but not all of it has been in the right direction. Women today in India, have been objectified and looked at as mere ways of satisfaction without taking into account their own needs or thoughts. Women that dress the way they feel like or wear short clothes are termed as ‘whores’ and publicly humiliated in numerous incidents across the country. We all know about the infamous Nirbhaya case that occurred in Delhi a few years ago, where the rape counts are so high that it has been labeled as the’Rape Capital’ of our country!
Every 24 minutes a girl is molested and every 32 minutes a girl is raped in our country. Crimes against women are on an all-time rise and they range from throwing acid on girls face because she doesn’t respond to men in the desired way, dowry-related crimes, and sexual violence. In today’s dark age, self-defense is a must for women in our country, just in case a situation like this arises. You’ve probably heard the famous saying, ‘Always hope for the best but prepare for the worst’. If you’re traveling to even Goa alone with your girlfriends or all by yourself, keeping a small penknife with you and a bottle of pepper spray can’t hurt. Besides this, we have a list of the following forms of self-defense that have come down since ancient times and are taught in cities across the country. Take your pick and start off with the classes, if nothing else at least you’ll be in good shape and mentally satisfied that you have something in your arsenal in case an unwanted situation comes knocking! Here is the list –
Krav Maga: Developed by Hungarian-Israeli Martial boxer/ wrestler Imirich Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga is a combination of self-defense and ingenious street boxing and is especially for female self-defense.
Karate: Come from Japan, this ancient technique of self-defence is taught to kids across the country. Easiest to find.
Muay Thay: Rugged form of close combat that involves offense and defense and ensures you get the best of shape.
Kalaripayattu: Ancient form of defense from Kerala where women are taught to use whatever they have in their hands as weapons against the opposition.
MMA: Mixed martial arts, which is growing in popularity in our country and involves wrestling, kicking and punching. Youtube ‘UFC’ for a demo on what MMA is!