The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Empowering girls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Empowering girls

G. Krishnakumar

IN SELF-DEFENCE: Girls displaying Taekwondo skills at the passing-out parade held at Government U.P. School, Edappally on Tuesday. - Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: Resmy might find it difficult to pronounce Taekwondo (free fighting combat sport), but she has got the flying kick right. "I also know how to punch," she said, when asked to display her skills at the Government U.P. School, Edappally.

Resmy, a sixth standard student, was part of the 75-member group of girl students that passed out with flying colours after undergoing a month-long course in Taekwondo.

Envisaged as part of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan project, the course aims at imparting Taekwondo training to select students from upper primary classes in Ernakulam district.

Braving the scorching sun, the girls presented some memorable moments when they displayed the basic lessons of self-defence techniques before their parents and teachers on Tuesday.

"We had given training to students selected from schools in five educational sub-districts in the district," Ramachandran Karangat, Technical Committee member of the Taekwondo Association of Kerala (TAKE), said. For the last three years, the association has been actively involved in providing training to school students.

"Students who are interested in learning the basics of the sport are given training by instructors from the association. Nearly 30 hours of training have been given to the girl students," Mr. Karangat said.

Girls are given practical lessons on the use of fists, elbow, knee and legs for self-defence. Experts in the sport train students on how to defend themselves during any attack.

The girls received the yellow belt on the 20th day of the course. Based on their performance, they were awarded the green belt on the last day of the programme.

"The course will empower girl students and equip them with basic self-defence techniques," said V. Sanu, Deputy Director of Education, Ernakulam.

With students showing a keen interest to learn the combat sport, representatives of the

Taekwondo Association of Kerala has urged the authorities to launch the training programme in more schools in the State.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail