KUALA LUMPUR, THU.: With crime against women on
the rise, many have resorted to taking personal safety courses.
But instead of conventional martial arts classes,
they are opting for "streetwise self-defence", which is quick,
practical and simple to learn.
According to Malaysian
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Associate (MVFRA) safety activist K.
Balasupramaniam, or Bala as he is known, the demand for such courses
had been escalating over the past few years.
"I used to hold
only three sessions every month but now I have 10."
Bala is
the founder of the City Survival Programme, which is specifically
designed for women. The four-hour training programme aims to equip
women with precautionary measures to reduce the risk of an
attack.
Bala said "many girls were usually not aware that
potential attackers or rapists could be someone they
knew".
"Many girls were raped during dates with their
boyfriends."
Meanwhile, the Kickstart Academy offers a
"streetwise self-defence" course, which could take between half a
day or up to four months to master, depending on the
individual.
"People do not have much time these days, so we
made the course a short one, unlike other traditional martial arts
which may take years to learn," said director-cum-instructor Azalea
Abd Wahab, 31.
The approach focuses on personal safety,
prevention and the "executions" needed when facing dangerous
circumstances.
The course uses a learning-by-experience
methodology to develop awareness and create a greater confidence
level.
"We teach people how to face attackers and we also
educate them on how to survive," said Kickstart Academy chief
instructor Saiful Hamiruzzaman Mohd Hazir.
Snatch-theft
victim Syazwani Mohd Zaki, 23, said the course had taught her to be
more alert.
"I believe I’m more prepared now unlike the last
time. If something were to happen to me, I would not be too
traumatised because I have learned how to overcome fear and brace
myself."
Another participant, Farah Liyana Rashdi, 24, said
"streetwise self-defence" was different from the martial arts she
had learned before.
"This is a quick and practical way of
defending yourself. It is easier to learn compared to other forms of
martial arts."
Another participant Shahrul Bariah Maisam, 23,
said she had no regrets signing up for the course as she had learnt
that she could avoid placing herself in danger.
Azalea said
the demand for the "streetwise self-defence" course had increased by
20 per cent over the past year.
She said 40 per cent of the
participants were victims of snatch theft and rape cases.
"It
is sad because these people learn self-defence only after they have
been attacked.
"People need to change their mentality and
think how to prevent these crimes, rather than wait for something
bad to happen before seeking help," she added.
