[null, null, {"document_url": "https://justiceforwomenindia.wordpress.com/category/jfw-events/", "unformatted_src": "https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSazavQxL7o/UKipD1fY30I/AAAAAAAABLA/R0YLanGN8Ns/s1600/jfw.jpg", "src": "https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSazavQxL7o/UKipD1fY30I/AAAAAAAABLA/R0YLanGN8Ns/s1600/jfw.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jfw", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 240}, null, null]
Archive for the ‘JFW Events’ Category 




Need for Self Defense – An Interview

Posted: November 6, 2012 by sakshikumarindia in Helpful Links, JFW Events
Tags: bangalore, combatting for women, eveteasing, fight, fist fight, Franklin joseph, gender equality, human rights, importance of self defense, independence, india, interview, JFW event, justice for women, krava maga, martial artists, martial arts for women, martial arts trainer, molestation, need for learning self defense, protecting yourself, rape, respect, self defense classes, self defense for women, self help help yourself, self independent women, sexual harassment, upcoming event, women rights, women security Franklin Joseph, women safety empowerment specialist and Krav Maga trainer.

There is a lack of awareness about self-defense among women in India. We asked some questions to Franklin Joseph, our workshop organizer in Bangalore, and this is what we learnt out of it.

1. What is self-defense?

Franklin: Self Defense: Concept is Still Stuck in Stone Era. To most people, Self Defense still means Martial Arts or tricks taught in Martial Arts. Some crime against women is reported and few women join free self-defense classes. After a while everyone forgets and life is back to ‘normal’. Sadly, everyone actually believes that by ignoring this issue, it would never happen to me.

2. Why is Self Defense important?

FJ: National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, India has reported around 24,206 rape cases in past year and it itself has increased 826% percent since 1971. But nobody worries about 99,135 reported crime, ‘Cruelty by husbands and relatives’, 42,968 molestation cases, 35,565 Kidnapping and Abductions cases etc. 92% of time these crimes against women are committed by men they already know.

Can a 6 years girl raped by her step-father punch and kick her way out of the her nightmares?

Can a wife being raped by her husband do a round kick to escape her marriage?

Can an 85 years old lady wearing a sari throw his young more powerful rapist off her fragile body?

Can a 16-year-old college girl do a fist-fight with a group of men eve-teasing her without the fear of being a acid-victim tomorrow?

Punches and Kicks DO NOT solve real life problems. We are so in-tuned to movie magic that we think the good guy would walk away with the girl after having a fist fight with the bad guys, that we start believing it to be real.

3. What is your opinion on women being known as the “weaker sex?”

FJ: Most of the men I have talked to are amazed that some or most women do not, could not or would not fist-fight with the bad guy if there is a threat. Naturally, they said they associated lack of violence in women directly to the lack of physical strength and so-called them the ‘weaker sex’.

Sadly, most women also considered themselves as weaker than men especially when it comes to size, strength, fitness, flexibility etc.

We men planted these thoughts in women’s mind the day we as fathers tell them they have to be good daughters and take care of the family’s ‘shobha.’ We taught them to doubt their size and strength when we as brothers we were allowed to do anything while our vulnerable sisters were told to stay protected inside the house. We as parents never encouraged physical training in girls as it would make them less feminine or turn their skin dark making them un-eligible for marriage and so forth.

So interesting in one area, we as men tell them you cannot, you should not or you would not do it due to the limitations of your age, size, strength, fitness and flexibility. We as a society plant these insecurities in them and on other hand, we expect women to fight back the attacker who might be bigger and stronger than them.

And if she does not, oh means she gave consent. Let’s blame the victim! Easy!

4. Is physical fitness important to learn self-defense? If so, why?

FJ: Now, understand fist-fighting with someone means you need strength, size, fitness, stamina, flexibility & skill-set to emerge a winner every-time. That is why Tony Jaa, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan do not have pot belly or weight issues. They have invested more than a decade training in their respective martial arts.

What will a 6 years old girl do against a grown up man?

Or a 20 years old against a group of men?

Does a 40-year-old mother survive against a robber?

Or an 85-year-old lady against a younger attacker?

I have met so many women in my ‘Power to Women Workshops’ who said they have slapped the eve-teaser and that solution worked for them and they would slap again as they want to teach them a lesson because they do not want these guys to repeat the same with other women. I fully agree. You must retaliate, but my worry is that retaliation must not turn into violent provocation. Most of these Eve-Teasers, molesters and rapists are Juvenile delinquents / Criminals who have no respect for the system, law or women and they won’t hesitate to get violent. So the question comes, what will you do if the situation goes out of control where he turns violent? If you can handle that, then by all means do what you do best.

I know I am not giving too much to hope till now, but trust me, if women self-defense was just few tricks of martial arts, the crime rate against women should have decreased by now. Sadly, like other things in life – love, marriage, jobs etc, crime is also a complicated living entity that is ever-evolving.

5. How can you ensure safety of women?

FJ: That is why I created Franklin Joseph’s Power to Women Workshops, to help educate the real side of life regarding Women Safety Awareness, Women Self Defence and Women Psychological Empowerment against Crime, Violence and Sexual Abuse. Before explaining on this, let’s handle one more issue when it comes to self-defense.

6. How can your workshops help women?

FJ: Power to Women.in : Women Safety Awareness, Israeli Krav Maga Women Self Defence and Women Psychological Empowerment against Crime, Violence and Sexual Abuse

I am not just a martial artist who has a diploma authorising me to teach Self Defense. Because by just being a trainer, I am basically teaching women how to do what a man should do under threat – use his strength, size, fitness, age, flexibility and skill-set to teach the bad guy a lesson without worrying about the consequence.

In one of the videos I watched on the net, the tactic shown was the victim must search the attacker for weapons pretending to faint or having a epilepsy attack and while the victim is held by the attacker, he/she should use his/her hands to search his pockets or waist for hidden knives and use his/her legs to search for knives hidden under his socks. Then the victim should grab him by his clothes and do a judo throw over-coming his/her threat. Brilliant, Search for weapons and over-throw your threat.

Only issue is if the attacker is a man and the victim is a women and the threat is molestation… imagine the women fainting into his arms while she is groping his waist and pockets rubbing her legs against his legs. God, what a slut, molesting the molester! Oops! I am sure someone would take a fatwa against me now!

7. Tell us something about your history with self-defense.

FJ: Jokes apart, its time to re-evaluate the problem of crime, violence and sexual abuse against women and how Self Defense is taught and understood by women in India. My history with self defense is briefly listed below:

8. Could you give us a brief on your workshops?

FJ: Main highlight of Power to Women Workshops are:

9. Which forms of Self Defense are useful for women and where to learn it from?

FJ: Women must force the So-called women self-defense experts to think like women: They should advise women what to do, only if they have understood the root-cause from women’s point of view and the solution would treat her like a living breathing person who has to live with her choice and the consequence of her choice rather than a client who will just pays the fees.

Women who wish to get trained by just anyone who claims and throws some names around, remember he is just teaching you a male dominant view-point forced on women trauma. So you should….

10. What has been your experience training with women so far?

FJ: I have conducted many Power to Women Workshops and I have always been amazed by the inner strength of the women – her size, her determination, her level of fitness, her will to protect her loved ones, her wisdom and her flexibility to be a confident professional, housewife and a family member. My aim in my workshops is just to show her that she does not need any tricks to realise that she is a tigress instead of a rabbit and never-not even by the remotest degree – a weaker sex.


P.S. Justice For Women has organized free-of-cost self-defense workshop in collaboration with Franklin Joseph in Bangalore on 17-18 November, 2012. For more information, contact us on email@example.com




Chandigarh: Self Defense Workshop

Posted: October 8, 2012 by Ankita in JFW Events
Tags: chandigarh, Chd Kings academy, chennai, Events, Free Workshop, JFW, justice for women, King's Academy, self defense, Self defense techniques, Workshop

Justice for Women started with an aim to bring about awareness about the issues against women & to make them self sufficient to defend themselves. In an attempt to fulfil our short-term goals, we started with the “ Free Self Defense Workshops” across the country. Our 1st workshop was held in Chennai & now is the time for our 2nd workshop, in Chandigarh.

The workshop is being conducted in collaboration with “Chd Kings Academy” on October 13th & 14th i.e Saturday & Sunday. The details of the workshop are as follows :-

This is a free of cost self-defense workshop wherein basic techniques shall be taught. It will teach you how to use your presence of mind. Age groups from 16 to 70 can come for the workshop.

Please help us spread the word about it.

Requirements Comfortable clothes, Water bottle, Hand towel.

Days– October 13th & October 14th

Timings– 3:00-4:15pm / 4:15-5:00pm (both days)

Venue– King’s Academy of Martial Arts, Sector- 33 D, Chandigarh

For bookings, please drop a message here : https://www.facebook.com/events/417701864959521/

Or contact Master KING (9780055644) or Sakshi Mittal (7508135602) or Harkanwal (9501546065)

Alternate Contact – Drop me a mention @bubbly_ank / @JusticeForWomen

This is an attempt to save you as ourselves from the inner fright we feel while walking on the road alone at night or the fear of stepping into a bus full of men. These basic self-defense techniques will help you at every point of life and will make you self-sufficient.

Please do join the workshop & help us spread the word. This one workshop can help you, your friends , your mothers , your sisters or a stranger 🙂

If you have any questions, please write to us on firstname.lastname@example.org

Thanks a lot !




Chennai: Self Defense Workshop for Women

Posted: September 5, 2012 by sakshikumarindia in JFW Events
Tags: chennai, crime, dignity, eveteasing, fight for your right, girls, india, injustice, israeli art form, justice, justice for women, krav maga, martial arts, molestation, public places, self defence, self defense, sexual assault, street fight, women

An account by @itsFreelancer of the First self defense workshop organized by @JusticeForWomen in Chennai:

The first self defence workshop for women was organised by JusticeforWomen in Chennai on Sept 1 and 2.

It was the first step towards a greater good, towards creating awareness that you, yourself are responsible for your well being. In a country like India where we are taught to respect women from an early age, the contrary to it is much more rampant. Women are molested in public, in houses by their husbands or family relatives, raped, killed, teased everytime a girl walks down a street. And this will continue. No matter how many laws the government sets up, its not going to be completely eradicated. Today you’re safe, tomorrow you won’t be able to look at yourself in the mirror.

Its time to be prepared for such an eventuality.

Justice For Women’s first ever self defence workshop was held at 17th Avenue, Salzburg Square, Chennai. And 3 courageous women stepped up to take matters in their own hands. I salute them for their bravery, I applaud them for their determination.

Uday Dhanda, was the anointed instructor in the discipline of Krav Maga. For those who do not know what Krav Maga is, it is the only non-competitive martial art in the world. That means, there is no world tournaments held for this discipline. Its deadly and it gets the job done.

What was taught in the two days was just the beginning of what you can achieve. It’s time women realised they are not just a shadow in the world of men anymore.

Day 1 consisted of learning what to do with the situations every girl faces daily. What to do when a man advances on you, what to do when you know you’re about to be in danger. When you’re in such a situation, the first thing that comes is shock. Overcome that. Take control. And we’re here to show you how.

Weeping and crying out for help will not help you enough. These workshops teach you how to fight back. You do not need to be martial arts champion to save yourself. A clear mind and a good reflex is all you need. Plus the determination to not be used by others. What do you do when someone grabs your hands? No matter how much you try to break yourself free, you’re powerless when the attacker is a man with a better body strength. They teach you how to use your assailant’s body force to break free. You learn where to hit, what to do. One action may be the difference between life and death.

The girls who showed up were more than eager to learn. They listened and practised with such an intensity knowing that yes, this will actually help them from preventing an unpleasant scenario. Most of you, one way or another has been in such a place. The next time you find yourself in one, you can actually get the better of it. Uday taught how to hit the assailant and where to hit. You do not need to be a superwoman to make his ribs crack and break free. Remember, they’re not going to play nice. So hit back with as much as you can with a clear mind. The harder they fall, the better control you’re in.

The girls who took part in this workshop heard about it from Twitter and Facebook. I just wished others were brave and concerned enough to take part. Girls seem to have this mentality that nothing bad would happen to them until it actually does. Only then do they wake up.

What do you do when you’re being forced upon? Do you simply weep and hope that its over soon? Once you gave it, you can be pretty sure it will happen again. Uday taught the girls what to do in such a situation. How to use your body and prevent this scene. Its simple and its effective. And you do not lose your dignity. Sadly, Uday chose me as the puppet to be trained on and I can tell you, it hurts. Imagine how much the assailant would be hurt when you take control with force.

Day 2 involved about what to do when you’re choked or when someone comes at you with a weapon. Practice, practice, practice. A simple 1-2 day workshop will just give you an idea. I urge you to learn it properly.

Its sad to know that it took a girl being molested in Assam to wake up. Nevertheless, you’ve realised that its time to be stronger. If you want to be equal, you need to get a move on. I am a guy. And I’m sad to say that I’m more concerned about this than most girls for whom this workshop was meant for.

It is your life, do not give up so easily. Today you’re safe with your brothers, your father, your boyfriend. But they cannot be with you 24*7. I ask you to ask yourself, Are you really safe or are you still in your dream world thinking nothing bad would ever happen to you.

Remember, you’re not alone as long as you carry your strength with you.


PS: Uday Dhanda is in talks to set-up bi-weekly self defense workshops. Those interested in joining, kindly call him at: +919884342334 or drop a mention @themadcurator




Self-Defense Tweetshops

Posted: July 15, 2012 by sakshikumarindia in JFW Events
Tags: india, justice, justice for women, women

Hey people,

How would you react to the idea of Tweetshops? Basically it’s a tweet-up cum workshop.

Most of us enjoy socialising and attending tweet-ups in our cities. What if we could have 2-3 days long self defence workshops to introduce/educate women about basics of various self defense forms? Of course it shall not be exclusive to women on Twitter, you can ask your friends, neighbours, colleagues, family to join in as well.

Have talked to some trainers/teachers on Twitter and trying to get in touch with some more both online as well as offline.

What do you think about it? Do you have any teachers interested in sparing their time for this innovative event? Are you a trainer yourself?

Please leave comments below or mail at email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.org

Awaiting your response.

