Self defense training is a life skill that is very important for all to learn irrespective of age, gender or fitness levels. It is the training to be ready and prevent being a victim of a violent assault or crime. Self defense is about how we respond in the first 10 to 15 seconds after being physically attacked and also about the few minutes prior to that.
Very often the attitude of most people is - Why do I need to learn all this, we have the law to protect us and it won't happen to me.
Yes we do have a wonderful law enforcement departments like the police and the judiciary to protect us and give justice etc. But we are our own first responders. There is no police patrol vehicle following each of us to protect us as soon as something happens. Self defense training is exactly for this time zone between being attacked and the police coming to the scene to protect you. We need to train for this exact moment on how to respond when attacked violently and prevent ourselves from becoming a gullible victim.
The next most common reason for not training is - Why is all this needed at my age, this is good for kids, at this age I don't wish to break my bones.
There is no age for learning anything new. Our chances of being physically assaulted increases many times as we age. We do not break bones but with training one gets fitter, healthier, stronger and much more. Women are more prone to osteoporosis and regular training in martial arts will actually increase their bone density, there by protecting them from osteoporosis and other joint issues too. Women often think they are weaker, but it is not so. We have seen women become tough and many times even get tougher than the men training with them.
The third most common reason to not train in martial arts is - It is very expensive plus I don't have the time also for it.
Martial arts training is an investment into our safety, our mental, emotional and physical health, it is the best stress buster and lots more. We don't think twice before buying an iPhone or get a hair straightening done or some other beauty procedures regularly but want something that is a vital necessity to be free. We will happily pay premium for health insurance, which in today's age of expensive medical care is a necessity but why won't we invest our time and some money to ensure that we don't fall sick in the first place. Yes today we are all stretched for time between work and house responsibilities but just like we make time to meet friends or go out on a date with our significant other or make time to get a regular health check up done etc. We need to make time for something that keeps us healthy and fit, something that teaches us to defend and protect our loved ones and ourselves, something that heals us by destressing us and bringing a sense of inner peace and lots more.
Sadly in our country people are not wired and taught the importance of self defense and all that goes with it. This is why most people don't even have a thought that it is something that we require to train in. We provided 1 month free training in self defense to women at our class for over 6 years. We started this effort to train women 2 years prior to the Nirbhaya incident. As soon as Nirbhaya happened colleges in the city and other organizations shared our free program with their students, employees etc and in just one day we suddenly had over 4000 women that said going to our event on Facebook. We were thinking how we will accommodate so many at one time. But sadly the fad that develops during such barbaric acts fizzles out within a week and after a few candle protests etc. Nobody from those 4000 women actually came to train. We even posted on the event that women need to come to train in person and not just click going on the event. We got few thousand likes from women for that post too and still no one came. This just shows what really matters. Because if it is a priority then we will find a way to do it. After over 6 years we stopped this program because even though it was free and so many women knew of it, they were not being proactive and coming forward to learn to defend themselves.
This happens every time a barbaric sexual assault takes place against women in our country. Everybody is enraged and people conduct candle marches/ protests then it fizzles out within a week. We get lots of calls from HRs of corporates etc during this time and then again on woman's day. All this looks like an effort just to white wash the real issue. Yes men need to learn to be men and not barbarians, yes we need to bring up small boys to be good men, but till that happens why should women be victims. Why not train and learn how to deal with a violent attacker. Yes people should not rob or cheat too, but people do and we take precautions don't we to prevent ourselves from being cheated by scams etc then why not train to protect ourselves physically too.
There are many aspects to effective self defense. It is not just about beating your attacker in to pulp. One needs to learn situational awareness, ability to scan ones surroundings to remember exits etc and also things that seem out of place, verbal deescalation, where one learns how to first try to verbally deescalate a situation, safe distancing, maintaining safe distance and not walking in to a corner etc where one gets cornered easily, the legal provisions of law on how to react and when to react and finally how to fight when one is being attacked physically.
It is a process of learning just like life is a journey, so is martial arts training a journey that will transform one physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
If you are ready to embark on this beautiful journey, then Jukaado is here to guide you along the way.
Train like a warrior to be a warrior!!!!
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