Beauty, brains and...a black belt? If it sounds like a lethal combination, it is meant to be so. Girls are kicking down the barriers placed in front of them and giving everyone a run for their money — literally.
Martial arts and self-defence, always a favourite with youngsters and teenagers, is seeing an increased interest among women, especially in light of the recent events that rocked the social conscience of the country.
Deepa Sangeeth stresses on the fact that the ancient art of 'Kalaripayattu' is very beneficial for everyone, especially ladies. Deepa has been learning the martial art form since her childhood and has kept at it, even after marrying and having a child.
"It has made me stronger, both mentally and physically. I used to be a nervous and oversensitive person, ready to break down on the slightest of pretexts. Learning this most ancient of all martial arts has improved my self-confidence and helped me understand my body too," she says.
Rajan Mullaratt, an instructor at Kalari Academy of Performing Arts for the past 17 years, agrees with the notion that while many youngsters join his classes because of the fitness factor involved, the girls especially stress on the increased safety factor that these classes provide them. "About 40% of the students are girls now and some of them are as young as six years old," he says.
"They tell me the changes that they experience after a few months of training. These girls become stronger in mind and body and also develop the capacity to react to adverse situations. For example, one of my students came up to me one day and told me how some guys tried to snatch away her mobile phone while she was walking on the road. Not only was she able to hold on to her phone, she even managed to scare the men away with a few blows," Rajan explains with a smile.
"Learning martial arts and self-defence definitely makes one more alert and increases their sense of awareness about their surroundings," chips in Deepa. "The breathing exercises involved also help with mental relaxation," she says.
While it has become a necessity of sorts for girls to take up such courses, they should be prepared for a lot of hard work and not get swayed by the swashbuckling acts being shown on television, says Suresh Kenichira from OSSKAIKarate Training Centre.
"One has to work out and take care of their fitness levels. And girls are definitely proving their mettle in this field. When I started in 1992, I had only two women in my class. Today, I teach over 150 black belt girl students, some of whom are planning to take this up professionally," he adds. Professional they can be and how! Madhuri Raju is one such example of how women are holding aloft the beacon in this mostly male-dominated field.
Madhuri won a double gold at the 2015 Nationals organised by the Ju-Jitsu Association of India and got a silver for India at the Central and South Asia Championship held last year.
"I took to self-defence classes mainly for protection purposes but then I became really passionate about it. It helps one in so many ways. Fitness quotient apart, it inculcates a feeling of discipline in you and makes you aware of how strong you really are; how powerful you can be. But it also keeps your ego in check as learning such arts is a very humbling experience," she says.
Jitesh Banjan, who teaches mixed martial arts at Indian Combat Sports Academy, agrees. "Your self-conceit will be bruised; because if you are not good, you get beaten. As simple as that," he says.
Talking about how women are somewhat hesitant to get into mixed martial arts, which includes kickboxing and grappling, he adds, "But the ones we have, though numbering less than eight, are so good that they can dominate over the men any day. And anyway, we don't treat them like girls. For us, they are just fighters," he says.
Maybe what they say is true- not everyone dreams of being a princess; some like to be their own knights.
![]( "disciplined approach Learning martial arts makes one more alert and increases their sense of awareness. (Above) Sudarshan and Roopa at a practice session at Kalari Academy of Performing Arts.")
Beauty, brains and...a black belt? If it sounds like a lethal combination, it is meant to be so. Girls are kicking down the barriers placed in front of them and giving everyone a run for their money — literally.
Martial arts and self-defence, always a favourite with youngsters and teenagers, is seeing an increased interest among women, especially in light of the recent events that rocked the social conscience of the country.
Deepa Sangeeth stresses on the fact that the ancient art of 'Kalaripayattu’ is very beneficial for everyone, especially ladies. Deepa has been learning the martial art form since her childhood and has kept at it, even after marrying and having a child.
"It has made me stronger, both mentally and physically. I used to be a nervous and oversensitive person, ready to break down on the slightest of pretexts. Learning this most ancient of all martial arts has improved my self-confidence and helped me understand my body too,” she says.
Rajan Mullaratt, an instructor at Kalari Academy of Performing Arts for the past 17 years, agrees with the notion that while many youngsters join his classes because of the fitness factor involved, the girls especially stress on the increased safety factor that these classes provide them. "About 40% of the students are girls now and some of them are as young as six years old,” he says.
"They tell me the changes that they experience after a few months of training. These girls become stronger in mind and body and also develop the capacity to react to adverse situations. For example, one of my students came up to me one day and told me how some guys tried to snatch away her mobile phone while she was walking on the road. Not only was she able to hold on to her phone, she even managed to scare the men away with a few blows,” Rajan explains with a smile.
"Learning martial arts and self-defence definitely makes one more alert and increases their sense of awareness about their surroundings,” chips in Deepa. "The breathing exercises involved also help with mental relaxation,” she says.
While it has become a necessity of sorts for girls to take up such courses, they should be prepared for a lot of hard work and not get swayed by the swashbuckling acts being shown on television, says Suresh Kenichira from OSSKAI Karate Training Centre.
"One has to work out and take care of their fitness levels. And girls are definitely proving their mettle in this field. When I started in 1992, I had only two women in my class. Today, I teach over 150 black belt girl students, some of whom are planning to take this up professionally,” he adds. Professional they can be and how! Madhuri Raju is one such example of how women are holding aloft the beacon in this mostly male-dominated field.
Madhuri won a double gold at the 2015 Nationals organised by the Ju-Jitsu Association of India and got a silver for India at the Central and South Asia Championship held last year.
"I took to self-defence classes mainly for protection purposes but then I became really passionate about it. It helps one in so many ways. Fitness quotient apart, it inculcates a feeling of discipline in you and makes you aware of how strong you really are; how powerful you can be. But it also keeps your ego in check as learning such arts is a very humbling experience,” she says.
Jitesh Banjan, who teaches mixed martial arts at Indian Combat Sports Academy, agrees. "Your self-conceit will be bruised; because if you are not good, you get beaten. As simple as that,” he says.
Talking about how women are somewhat hesitant to get into mixed martial arts, which includes kickboxing and grappling, he adds, "But the ones we have, though numbering less than eight, are so good that they can dominate over the men any day. And anyway, we don’t treat them like girls. For us, they are just fighters,” he says.
Maybe what they say is true- not everyone dreams of being a princess; some like to be their own knights.
Martial arts and self-defence, always a favourite with youngsters and teenagers, is seeing an increased interest among women, especially in light of the recent events that rocked the social conscience of the country.
Deepa Sangeeth stresses on the fact that the ancient art of 'Kalaripayattu' is very beneficial for everyone, especially ladies. Deepa has been learning the martial art form since her childhood and has kept at it, even after marrying and having a child.
"It has made me stronger, both mentally and physically. I used to be a nervous and oversensitive person, ready to break down on the slightest of pretexts. Learning this most ancient of all martial arts has improved my self-confidence and helped me understand my body too," she says.
Rajan Mullaratt, an instructor at Kalari Academy of Performing Arts for the past 17 years, agrees with the notion that while many youngsters join his classes because of the fitness factor involved, the girls especially stress on the increased safety factor that these classes provide them. "About 40% of the students are girls now and some of them are as young as six years old," he says.
"They tell me the changes that they experience after a few months of training. These girls become stronger in mind and body and also develop the capacity to react to adverse situations. For example, one of my students came up to me one day and told me how some guys tried to snatch away her mobile phone while she was walking on the road. Not only was she able to hold on to her phone, she even managed to scare the men away with a few blows," Rajan explains with a smile.
"Learning martial arts and self-defence definitely makes one more alert and increases their sense of awareness about their surroundings," chips in Deepa. "The breathing exercises involved also help with mental relaxation," she says.
While it has become a necessity of sorts for girls to take up such courses, they should be prepared for a lot of hard work and not get swayed by the swashbuckling acts being shown on television, says Suresh Kenichira from OSSKAIKarate Training Centre.
"One has to work out and take care of their fitness levels. And girls are definitely proving their mettle in this field. When I started in 1992, I had only two women in my class. Today, I teach over 150 black belt girl students, some of whom are planning to take this up professionally," he adds. Professional they can be and how! Madhuri Raju is one such example of how women are holding aloft the beacon in this mostly male-dominated field.
Madhuri won a double gold at the 2015 Nationals organised by the Ju-Jitsu Association of India and got a silver for India at the Central and South Asia Championship held last year.
"I took to self-defence classes mainly for protection purposes but then I became really passionate about it. It helps one in so many ways. Fitness quotient apart, it inculcates a feeling of discipline in you and makes you aware of how strong you really are; how powerful you can be. But it also keeps your ego in check as learning such arts is a very humbling experience," she says.
Jitesh Banjan, who teaches mixed martial arts at Indian Combat Sports Academy, agrees. "Your self-conceit will be bruised; because if you are not good, you get beaten. As simple as that," he says.
Talking about how women are somewhat hesitant to get into mixed martial arts, which includes kickboxing and grappling, he adds, "But the ones we have, though numbering less than eight, are so good that they can dominate over the men any day. And anyway, we don't treat them like girls. For us, they are just fighters," he says.
Maybe what they say is true- not everyone dreams of being a princess; some like to be their own knights.
Beauty, brains and...a black belt? If it sounds like a lethal combination, it is meant to be so. Girls are kicking down the barriers placed in front of them and giving everyone a run for their money — literally. Martial arts and self-defence, always a favourite with youngsters and teenagers, is seeing an increased interest among women, especially in light of the recent events that rocked the social conscience of the country.
Deepa Sangeeth stresses on the fact that the ancient art of 'Kalaripayattu’ is very beneficial for everyone, especially ladies. Deepa has been learning the martial art form since her childhood and has kept at it, even after marrying and having a child.
"It has made me stronger, both mentally and physically. I used to be a nervous and oversensitive person, ready to break down on the slightest of pretexts. Learning this most ancient of all martial arts has improved my self-confidence and helped me understand my body too,” she says.
Rajan Mullaratt, an instructor at Kalari Academy of Performing Arts for the past 17 years, agrees with the notion that while many youngsters join his classes because of the fitness factor involved, the girls especially stress on the increased safety factor that these classes provide them. "About 40% of the students are girls now and some of them are as young as six years old,” he says.
"They tell me the changes that they experience after a few months of training. These girls become stronger in mind and body and also develop the capacity to react to adverse situations. For example, one of my students came up to me one day and told me how some guys tried to snatch away her mobile phone while she was walking on the road. Not only was she able to hold on to her phone, she even managed to scare the men away with a few blows,” Rajan explains with a smile.
"Learning martial arts and self-defence definitely makes one more alert and increases their sense of awareness about their surroundings,” chips in Deepa. "The breathing exercises involved also help with mental relaxation,” she says.
While it has become a necessity of sorts for girls to take up such courses, they should be prepared for a lot of hard work and not get swayed by the swashbuckling acts being shown on television, says Suresh Kenichira from OSSKAI Karate Training Centre.
"One has to work out and take care of their fitness levels. And girls are definitely proving their mettle in this field. When I started in 1992, I had only two women in my class. Today, I teach over 150 black belt girl students, some of whom are planning to take this up professionally,” he adds. Professional they can be and how! Madhuri Raju is one such example of how women are holding aloft the beacon in this mostly male-dominated field.
Madhuri won a double gold at the 2015 Nationals organised by the Ju-Jitsu Association of India and got a silver for India at the Central and South Asia Championship held last year.
"I took to self-defence classes mainly for protection purposes but then I became really passionate about it. It helps one in so many ways. Fitness quotient apart, it inculcates a feeling of discipline in you and makes you aware of how strong you really are; how powerful you can be. But it also keeps your ego in check as learning such arts is a very humbling experience,” she says.
Jitesh Banjan, who teaches mixed martial arts at Indian Combat Sports Academy, agrees. "Your self-conceit will be bruised; because if you are not good, you get beaten. As simple as that,” he says.
Talking about how women are somewhat hesitant to get into mixed martial arts, which includes kickboxing and grappling, he adds, "But the ones we have, though numbering less than eight, are so good that they can dominate over the men any day. And anyway, we don’t treat them like girls. For us, they are just fighters,” he says.
Maybe what they say is true- not everyone dreams of being a princess; some like to be their own knights.