The fight club: Women are taking matters in their own hands, literally by learning self-defence

By Aamirah Thayibah

“I never walk alone, I never walk in the dark and I never walk with both my headphones in,” says Shefali, who like all women, is always acutely aware of her surroundings. To be safe. Every day, there is at least one story in the newspapers about a violent crime against a woman. From the horror stories we read about to the minor incidents we face - fear is unconsciously being reinforced.

We need to change our relationship with the world.
Many women, plagued by fear, are channelling their anxieties into self-defence. The primary goal is to feel safe against any inappropriate behaviour. “Everyone says violence is not the answer, but when negotiations and education aren’t playing in my favour, I do think it’s time to answer fire with fire,” says Stuti, who recently took up the practice of self-defence.

While educating and reprimanding offenders is key in the fight against sexual or violent assault, help often comes late. At that moment you are what you have. An angry women who knows some self-defence moves is better than a scared woman. Also, many offenders are insecure men lurking in corners. An agrreive woman scares them. The confidence of knowing how to fight is half the battle won. That is not saying that this can counter weapons.

“Prevention is always better. with my lifestyle I can’t always control the places I have to go and the people I meet so learning how to defend myself if something untoward happens is my safest bet,” says Shefali, whose work takes her to male-dominated spaces. To her, knowing self-defence is grounding. She claims to feel less fidgety and more disciplined in her work when she’s not focusing on how to get home at night.

To teachers of self-defence, there’s an air of responsibility they feel towards their students. “My classes are full of college-going girls and young professionals. Self-defence has become a skill parallel to leaving the house,” says Radha, a school sports teacher who also teaches selfdefence part-time. She says that despite the sombre air of fear in her classes, most of the sessions are riddled with laughter and applause.

Many of the women gather a sense of community over their shared skill. “When I stand with a group of women all with the same fierceness in their eyes I’m reminded that I’m not alone. We are scared. Terrified even, but we are standing our ground and there’s power in that proclamation.” says Neha, a college student who routinely participates in self-defence workshops.

Self-defence doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated martial arts that can take months to practise and master. As simple as the name suggests, it’s the ability to defend oneself from the threat of attack.

“I focus on helping women better their strengths, which include not only physical strengths like running away or fighting but also the mental preparedness and awareness that one needs in a dangerous situations. Using simple objects such as keys and handbags to defend yourself is the first base covered in my classes,” says Radha.

To most women, self-defence is a tool of independence. There is nothing more empowering than having the confidence to analyse a dangerous situation and take action to overcome it effectively. Self-defence empowers women to assess and handle situations independently. “As women, we are always told to stay timid and mind our own business. But when you learn to be steady and strong, the awareness of your fears and your surroundings weirdly enough empowers you,” says Stuti. Additionally, the practising and the socialising that comes along with these classes are a bonus of bettering both physical and mental health.

Learning self-defence is imperative for women. It is unfortunate but true that a woman out and about is a target for unsolicited behaviour. The fault always lies with the offender, yet knowing how to defend yourself will give you power. If someone tries to grab a woman who is trained in self-defence, or tries to take advantage of her, she will know how to at least respond with aggression and strategy.

Ultimately the biggest benefit of self-defence for anyone is the fact that there are potentially life-saving techniques involved in learning. You never know what could happen to you, knowing the bare minimum of self-defence allows you to feel confident and feel if nothing else you can always put up a good fight. You’re not helpless.