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Photo: V. Ganesan

kicks and punches Ashwin Mohan demonstrating a self defence technique

Ashwin Mohan, dynamic instructor of the GITT (Give It To Them) movement, emphasises that you have to be alert, everywhere. All the time. A date rape drug doesn’t have to be slipped into your drink at a nightclub, he says, adding flatly that it can just as easily be dropped into your filter coffee at a local dosa joint.

Under the women’s development forum, Asthtva, (A unit of Paradigm Shift, ph: 98848 19816, 98848 19818), Ashwin has held a series of workshops with GITT, teaching about 10,000 women around India self defence over the past five years. The programme is about common sense, self-awareness and staying alert: minor details that might just end up saving your life.

Today, being fit, able to kick-box or neatly knee an over-enthusiastic Lothario has become an essential life-skill for every woman. Rapes, acid attacks, kidnapping, mugging and sexual harassment happen regularly. And in the big cities, people have even started carrying weapons, ranging from guns to knives, making your nervously brandished pepper spray as effective as threatening a burglar with a kitten.

“Not all criminals look like criminals. Some look like Harry Potter,” says Ashwin, emphasising on how important it is to not be too trusting or naïve. “It’s a drawback in our educational system,” says Delhi-based Vicky Kapoor, Head of Krav Maga India (098104 12442), which teaches the aggressive martial art originally developed by the Israeli military. Discussing how girls are taught to behave like ladies, he says, “They are not allowed to play with boys and told they’re weak. It’s just a mindset. We should teach school girls soccer to build the stamina and aggression they need in crowds, markets, buses...”

Tabrez, who teaches Aikido at Fitness One (24671222), feels women should learn how to manipulate their attacker’s force rather than try and overcome it with traditional martial art moves. “Rowdies also know the kicks and punches,” he says, adding, “Aikido has no punches, no kicks.

It looks like you’re shaking hands.” It works on block and lock techniques and since you use your attacker’s force, with practice you can eventually take on even three people.

Krav Maga, based on natural human reflexes and instincts, on the other hand, requires aggression. “Well, definitely if someone slaps me he or she is not my friend. The idea is to eliminate this behaviour,” says Kapoor, stating that the bottomline is “Fight. Save yourself and family. Then run.” While traditional martial arts work with defined rules, Krav Maga has no restrictions. “You can hit anyone anywhere. So your mind is open... You need that confidence to fight.”

Their defence classes, designed for everyone from call centre employees in Gurgaon to housekeeping departments in Bangalore hotels, consist of groups separated into ‘Attackers’ and ‘Defenders.’ After basic training, the Defenders walk through a building in which the Attackers hide, and pounce from. “We need to keep as close to reality as possible, or women will freeze outside,” states Kapoor.

Ashwin’s answer is a set of moves — falls, kicks, ducks and free running — which he insists his students practise everyday for 21 days. “It then becomes a habit,” he says, adding it makes women more aware, alert and fit. He, however, vehemently opposes challenging your attacker. “Nobody’s going to say sorry.

Don’t look for moral victories,” he tells his rapt audience at a session, instructing them to hit back, then pretend it was a mistake. “Hurt his body, but don’t mess with his ego, or he’ll be waiting for you the next day with acid.”

Women, he concludes, should use their mental strength. “If someone picks you up, pretend you’re having a heart attack and confuse them,” he says, adding, “Men only know how to bash people. Girls can mess with a man’s mind.”

Some tips

Don’t carry a weapon unless you know how to and intend to use it. Otherwise it can be grabbed and used against you.

Don’t make plans in buses, taxis or autos. You assume the driver can’t understand you. He’s listening. And he does.

Always mentally make note of all exits in new surroundings and watch people carefully for suspicious behaviour.

In taxis, make a phone call, loudly stating the driver’s name and car number to intimidate him. Don’t ever fall asleep.

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