The day of Raksha Bandhan is upon us. The annual festival
which is meant to commemorate the abiding ties between siblings of opposite
gender is on August 29 this year. The day is marked by a beautiful ceremony in
which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet,
or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother(s). The word ‘raksha’
signifies protection and ‘bandhan’ is an association signifying an enduring
bond; and so, when a woman ties a rakhi around the wrist of her brother, she
signifies her loving attachment to him. He, likewise, recognises the special
bond between them, and by extending his wrist forward, he in fact extends the
hand of protection over her.
While the underlying concept of the festival is absolutely
pure, with changing times and with cases of violence against women having
increased manifold, the brother may not be around at all times to protect the
sister. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the sister be self
dependant and be able to defend herself.
Former journalist, Sharin Butani’s passion for the sport of
kickboxing saw her train as a kickboxing instructor in Mumbai. Butani now
conducts cardio kickboxing classes in Goa, which she describes as ‘a fun way to
lose weight, boost confidence, get into great shape and arm yourself with self
defence techniques’. Butani says, “It is important for every woman in today’s
world to be able to defend herself. If not karate or any other form of martial
arts, I think every woman should at least be able to put up a fight, if not win
it. Show the guy that you aren’t a weak person. Every girl has been touched
inappropriately some time in their lives. While growing up, I experienced that
as a woman you get pushed and touched inappropriately and all sorts of wrong
things happen to you. Especially in crowded places, people think that they can
take undue advantage of you. When I was learning kickboxing in Mumbai, I
remember this one time, when I was making my way through a crowded Malad
station, one guy brushed up against me inappropriately and deliberately. I just
elbowed him and he fell down, after which I went all out to hit him. If not for
my training in kickboxing, I would have let it be and felt bad about it later.
I wouldn’t have known that I could actually use my hands and my legs to defend
myself. I teach Cardio Kickboxing and not Professional Kickboxing that is
practised in the ring. But I tell my students that they should have the
attitude of a fighter. My students say that now since they know how to kick and
punch, they can defend themselves. I think brothers should encourage their
sisters to fight for themselves.”
Sensei Joseph Rodrigues, 6th degree Black Belt and a veteran
Karate instructor has been training students for the past 30 years in Goa.
Commenting on the need for women to know how to protect themselves, Rodrigues
says, “Personally I feel that it is absolutely necessary for all the girls to
enroll themselves in self defence courses – be it a short self defence course
or regular martial arts. The streets have become dangerous. With the amount of
rape cases and eve-teasing happening, it is necessary that women arm themselves
with the technique of defending themselves. Self defence in itself is not very
difficult; it incorporates very easy techniques. It is just that the common man
does not know about these techniques and they need to be advised about it.
Almost 45-50% of my students are girls. It is pleasant to see that more and
more parents are encouraging their kids into martial arts because they know the
importance of it.”
