While the need of self-defence programmes for women in the country has been stressed upon on various occasions, the horrific December gang-rape in the capital has once again turned the spotlight on various options to help safeguard the security of women. According to experts, while physical fitness programmes and combat techniques have been stressed upon, mental and psychological conditioning too need to be seen in playing a key role in how one reacts in a moment of emergency. Scores of women are flocking to such combat training centres according to the various such institutes. Vikram Kapoor, director of Krav Maga India, says there has been at least a “20-30% rise in enrolments” since the brutal gang-rape of the 23-year-old in Delhi.

Sports Karate which has three such centres across Delhi has seen more than 2,000 female enrolments in the last two months. A HT-MaRS survey published early last month found that 78% of Delhi women have been sexually harassed in 2012. 23-year-old IT professional Ishita Matharu sees such self-defence training as a precautionary step, which also boosts her confident while walking on the road. “Self-defence training has taught me how to turn anything from a handbag to coins into weapons,” says Matharu.