Save yourself from that molester

Women are getting increasingly vulnerable to assault and molestation. Here are some ways to protect yourself from the culprits Being a girl who is living and travelling alone in Mumbai can be exhilarating, frightening and enraging all at the same time. While the freedom the city gives you is refreshing, with the number of rape and molestation cases on the rise, Mumbai is quickly catching up with Delhi as the rape capital of the country. Everyday we are subjected to being grabbed or leered at, at the least. In such cases, it is important to always be on your guard and be prepared for any attacker. We give you some tips on how to train your mind and body and use some simple household items to ward off any unwanted attention. Presence of mind It is imperative to always be alert of your surroundings when you're travelling alone, be it day or night. Sadashiv Mogaveera of Krav Maga India, an academy that trains in Japanese and Israeli forms of self defence and martial arts, says that awareness is your strongest weapon. "Most girls listen to music on IPods or MP3 players while travelling, making them oblivious to what's happening around them. This makes them a potential target as they can be caught unaware. Attackers usually look for weak, defenceless women who are unlikely to fight back; the surprise element is what they're banking on." He explains that your body language must be confident so that the attacker realises that you won't give up without a fight. Walk purposefully and never let your observation skills slip. Mogaveera adds, "You have to train your mind to be calm even if you know you have to put up a fight. Never get agitated as that betrays your nervousness and fear. Yatish Bangera of the Bombay Judo Club insists that self confidence and fitness are the basic attributes a girl must possess. "Today's girls are much more self confident, but implementing this in the required circumstances is what finally matters." He further says that you must look the attacker in the eyes, which will surely throw him off. Mogaveera exemplifies the need to be alert with an instance of walking down the street. "Never walk on the side of the road where vehicles are coming from behind you, as this puts you at risk of being pulled into one. Also, when you're crossing a dark alley, remember to always peer into it before you cross. If there is an attacker in there, you will have seen his face and could then pick him out of a line-up. This will deter the attacker from approaching you." Finally, both instructors emphasise on the fact that a certain level of fitness is required to be able to take on a surprise attacker. Unfortunately, women cannot match up to a man in physical strength but she should be fit enough to at least tackle him, throw him off and run, if necessary. Practical tips First and foremost, it is important to know the vulnerable parts of your body. This will not only help you protect yourself, but also know where to inflict pain in case you are attacked. You may not match up to your attacker in terms of physical strength but every human being has the same weak areas. Mogaveera explains, "The joints of your body bend only in one direction. If you try to bend them in any other, it will cause pain. Other such body parts are the groin, the eyes, the shin and the tissue on the side of the neck. Suresh Kanojia of the Academy of Judo and Martial Arts has been teaching self defence for 25 years. He gives us some basic tips on how to tackle common attacks. 1. If someone comes and grabs you from the back, spread your legs apart a little and bend forward till at least one of your opponent's legs in between yours. Then with your palms, grab him in the shin, right below the calf, and pull it hard towards you. No matter how strong the man is, he will lose balance and fall. 2. If someone comes and grabs your neck or collar from the front, aim at his fingers. Dig your nails into skin of his finger where the nail starts. This skin is thin and when pricked, hurts a lot. 3. If someone comes and grabs you by the neck or collar from the back, grab both his little fingers with your palms and pry them apart as far and as hard as you can. This will cause him enough pain to let you go so that you can sprint off.