A typical Indian girl from a middle-class or affluent family is raised chaperoned and over-protected. Rarely does she learn how to protect herself or react in a situation where she is attacked.
Crimes against women were never about sex but about power.
Franklin Joseph, a Bangalore based social entrepreneur and self-defence trainer who runs Power To Women, agrees. “Even independent women may still follow only age old safety advice such as ‘do not walk alone in dark streets’ and remain unaware of the modern methodology of crimes. So they end up as victims.”
Both Ashwin and Franklin are quite vocal about how important it is for women to take ownership of their own safety.
Myths about women’s self-defence:
Several myths abound about women’s safety and self-defence. It is necessary to recognize these myths to take the next step and to empower yourself with the necessary skills for your own protection.
Myth 1: I am too weak/fragile/old/out-of-shape to learn martial arts.
You are not training to be the next Karate Kid. You are merely learning how to protect yourself, should the need arise. “Self defence is more about superior deception and manipulation, this requires thinking capacity rather than brawn,” states Ashwin. Martial art forms like Taijiquan can be learned even at 70. A woman who is aware of the possibility of attack and confident in her ability to fight abuse can fight back both mentally and physically. Self-defence techniques teach you how.
Myth 2: It will never happen to me because I do not step outside the house after dark.
Most sexual assault crimes happen within homes, and are perpetrated by those who are known to the victims. Walking alone in the dark is not the only dangerous thing you can do.
Myth 3: I move only among well-educated people; they are not rapists.
We have been culturally conditioned that people with a high status in society such as doctors, teachers or religious people will never attack anyone. But the truth is that assault cuts across all socio-economic classes. A person’s economic status or educational background does not guarantee non-violence.
Myth 4: I do not dress provocatively; so I do not attract unwanted attention.
Sadly, at least some women still think that the victim is to blame. Most rapes happen because an attacker happens to be in the vicinity of a person whom he thinks he can overpower easily, not because she was in a bikini.
Myth 5: Men are physically stronger, it is impossible to subdue them.
Self-defence is primarily about being aware of warning signs, recognizing dangerous situations so you can avoid them and understanding that you are physically as capable as any man to fight back. Stressful situations evoke a fight, flight or freeze response. Self-defence skills prepare you to fight rather than freeze.
Myth 6: I have a pepper spray in my bag, so I’m safe.
“Pepper sprays burn a lot but they make the attacker really mad. On Indian skin it is virtually useless unless it goes to the eyes. The eyes are a small target, movable and easily defended by a person habituated to violence,”reminds Ashwin. He trains people to recognize bad vibes or the ‘scent of violence’ so that they can get out of the danger zone immediately.
“The usefulness of pepper spray is limited. One cannot use it effectively in a closed or air-conditioned room where there is a high chance that you may get affected too,” adds Franklin, who is also not a fan of pepper sprays. He suggests that stun guns, which give a mild electric shock to the attacker, may be a better option.
Stressful situations evoke a fight, flight or freeze response. Self-defence skills prepare you to fight rather than freeze.
Self-defence for women: Tips & tricks
– Pretend to be submissive and fight back when the attacker is off-guard, while faking an epileptic fit, asthmatic attack, nervous breakdown or a heart attack.
– Stay fit enough to run fast.
– Always walk on the right side of the road to avoid groping or chain snatching from behind.
– Always walk paying full attention to your surroundings, keeping your purse to your front.
– Avoid wearing high heeled shoes when you have to walk back to your home. Avoid too much jewellery while using public transportation.
– It is not rude to say STOP. Say it in a loud voice, but avoid using swear words or threats which may further enrage the attacker.
– You may trust and love a man, but your intuition is most likely to be right, so listen to your inner voice.
– If you have to fight a man, assume the role of a woman possessed. Keep kicking him repeatedly, attacking only the knees, groin or eyes or chin.
Remember that there is no substitute for self-defence training. You may not learn everything about taking care of yourself just by reading a few tips or attending a few weekend classes, but they will help you rethink what you have been taught so far.
Here are a few reasons why you should learn self-defense:
1. To keep yourself safe and protect all the time – We generally hear different stories about rape, murder, kidnapping, homicide, burglary as well as others in the news every day. In fact, it is scary to go outside alone at night. However, it is also true that there are times that you need to. Therefore, it would be wise if you know how to defend yourself against bad people. There are a large number of people out there who can cause you harm and hurt you, but if you know some self-defense techniques like punching, blocking a punch and kicking, then you have better chances of keeping yourself safe all the time.
1. To keep yourself safe and protect all the time – We generally hear different stories about rape, murder, kidnapping, homicide, burglary as well as others in the news every day. In fact, it is scary to go outside alone at night. However, it is also true that there are times that you need to. Therefore, it would be wise if you know how to defend yourself against bad people. There are a large number of people out there who can cause you harm and hurt you, but if you know some self-defense techniques like punching, blocking a punch and kicking, then you have better chances of keeping yourself safe all the time.
2. Boost your self-confidence - knowing that you learn self-defense techniques or moves will definitely give you some kind of boost in your morale. You will definitely gain self-confidence that you never knew you had. The fact is that it feels great to know that you can defend yourself from anyone, anytime of the day.
3. To improve your physical and mental strength - Undergoing training in martial arts will definitely improve your physical and mental strength. It is something that will keep your muscles healthy and strong. You could develop balance, speed and overall body coordination. Learning martial arts is something that will definitely teach you how to be fierce. But most important of all, it will surely teach you how to be strong to face the opponent or assailant.
No comments:
Post a Comment