The rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have raised concern about security of women, once again shifting the focus to self-defence.

Recently, Hanshi (meaning ‘expert karateka’ in Japanese) Premjit Sen organised a free karate session for women on the terrace of his house in BD Block where the 20-odd participants were taught various techniques to defend themselves.

They were taught to counter an attacker who might suddenly grab her from the front or behind, how to block an attempt to forcefully hug her, how to free her hands from a strong grip, what to do if someone pushes her, and the like.

“Just like food, self-defence is a necessity now-a-days. One must know how to protect oneself as one can’t always rely on others being around us. Karate is a martial art based on unarmed combat and can be a powerful tool to ensure women’s safety,” said Sen, who teaches karate at his BD Block house.

He spoke of how karate emphasises technique and tactical skill rather than physical strength, making it the ideal form of self-defence for women, enabling them to defend themselves against physically stronger opponents. “Women can gain the confidence if they know how to protect themselves. This is the thought behind our initiative “Sahoshi nari, pratyek bari’ (Courageous women in every home),” Sen said.

Rishita Karmakar had decided to join the free class when her parents, concerned about the current situation, agreed. “Earlier, my parents weren’t interested in karate, partly because I have breathing problems, but after the RG Kar incident, they felt I needed to learn self-defence,” said the 15-year-old who had come from Jadavpur.

Ginia Tarafdar also expressed concern for her safety. “The current situation is so scary! My parents and I are worried as I often travel alone. So my mother enrolled me here after I heard about the session from a friend. The techniques taught today were useful and not too difficult,” said the 12-year-old from Mahisbathan.

Some mothers turned to karate too. “We travel long distances, sometimes at night, with our children, and so my friend and I thought it would be wise to learn how to defend ourselves,” said 45-year-old Dipanweeta Ray, a purple belt-holder who trains with Sen regularly. “Karate has helped me gain confidence and I’m fitter than others my age. I can walk the streets with more confidence.”

Sen asked women to stay alert at all times. “Do not show your reaction; keep yourself calm so you can strike at the right moment. Anyone at any age can do karate. If a person can do yoga at 80, they can also do karate. And with the increase in incidents of violence against women now-a-days, self-defence has become a must,” added Sen.