Age is just a number and that what some elderly ladies of Kanpur are proving. In the age of 60s and 70s, when most of the women prefer leading a relaxed life and give a miss to outdoor activities, these grannies and mums from Kanpur are learning the art of self-defense. The idea of learning karate at this age is not just to maintain their physical strength and fitness, they in fact feel that learning martial art will also help them in their safety.
65-year-old homemaker Rajshree Shah is a more confident woman now as she has joined a karate class at the Green Park Stadium, recently. “I was really surprised when I saw many women older than me learning karate in the stadium. Seeing them I also decided to join the classes so that I could also learn the martial art. Though I have joined the karate classes recently, after attending the classes I feel that my confidence level has improved in comparison to earlier. What’s interesting is that the karate classes are not only improving my fitness level but it is also helping me gain my confidence level, which I lost because of growing age.”
Rajshree Shah is not the only elderly woman who is learning karate in Green Park Stadium, in fact 72-year-old Asha Singh is also doing the same. She feels that learning karate will surely provide her with the strength to safeguard herself from any crime. “The biggest lesson this karate class has given me is that now I have firmly started believing in theory of apni suraksha apne haanth. Many times I come across news article where criminals have targeted elderly people. Kai baar old age log chain snatching jaise crime ka bhi shikar ho jaate hain. But after learning some smart karate techniques in the classes I feel that I can save myself against such crimes. I have noticed that the routine practice of karate has improved my response timing. Also, earlier I used to panic in emergencies but now I stay cool and respond as per the need of the moment,” says Asha.
Women learning karate at Green Park Stadium (BCCL/ AS Rathor)
Manju Srivastava, a 55-year-old homemaker is also attending the karate classes regularly, because she feels that with help of the martial art, skills and proper training she can easily handle predators who target the elderly. “If you are properly trained and know the correct technique then you can easily handle a young person who is attacking you. The best thing about these karate classes is that the trainers train you with proper combat skill. The trainers tell you how can easily get out of the grip of the attacker. They also tell us about the vital spots of the human body.”
With constant training 63-year-old Tara Singh has turned a pro when it comes to disarming or overpowering an attackers. She says, “Though I am learning karate quite late in life but after starting to learn it I realised that it was very much required. After attending the classes for few days, I have noticed that my physical strength has improved and what’s impressive about the karate classes is that the instructors not only train us about martial art skills in fact they also share the information about various safety mobile applications. They tell us that how in an emergency situation with a single click on the app we can get in touch with the police and how they can monitor our location. I feel that the training in totality is good enough to deal with any emergency situation.”
Women learning karate at Green Park Stadium (BCCL/ AS Rathor)
And training these grandmoms is Vijay Kumar who has represented India nationally and internationally in various karate championships and is now an international referee. Vijay feels that these martial art classes will surely benefit the elderly women of Kanpur. “While travelling abroad I noticed that a lot of elderly women learn martial art. It not just keeps them fit in fact it also adds to their confidence level. Initially, I designed this karate class for women from 6 to 90 years of age. But what surprised me that a lot of women from the age group of 55 years to 90 years joined the classes. Till now there are a hundred plus women who have joined the classes and more will be joining us soon,” says Vijay Kumar.
65-year-old homemaker Rajshree Shah is a more confident woman now as she has joined a karate class at the Green Park Stadium, recently. “I was really surprised when I saw many women older than me learning karate in the stadium. Seeing them I also decided to join the classes so that I could also learn the martial art. Though I have joined the karate classes recently, after attending the classes I feel that my confidence level has improved in comparison to earlier. What’s interesting is that the karate classes are not only improving my fitness level but it is also helping me gain my confidence level, which I lost because of growing age.”
Rajshree Shah is not the only elderly woman who is learning karate in Green Park Stadium, in fact 72-year-old Asha Singh is also doing the same. She feels that learning karate will surely provide her with the strength to safeguard herself from any crime. “The biggest lesson this karate class has given me is that now I have firmly started believing in theory of apni suraksha apne haanth. Many times I come across news article where criminals have targeted elderly people. Kai baar old age log chain snatching jaise crime ka bhi shikar ho jaate hain. But after learning some smart karate techniques in the classes I feel that I can save myself against such crimes. I have noticed that the routine practice of karate has improved my response timing. Also, earlier I used to panic in emergencies but now I stay cool and respond as per the need of the moment,” says Asha.
Women learning karate at Green Park Stadium (BCCL/ AS Rathor)
Manju Srivastava, a 55-year-old homemaker is also attending the karate classes regularly, because she feels that with help of the martial art, skills and proper training she can easily handle predators who target the elderly. “If you are properly trained and know the correct technique then you can easily handle a young person who is attacking you. The best thing about these karate classes is that the trainers train you with proper combat skill. The trainers tell you how can easily get out of the grip of the attacker. They also tell us about the vital spots of the human body.”
With constant training 63-year-old Tara Singh has turned a pro when it comes to disarming or overpowering an attackers. She says, “Though I am learning karate quite late in life but after starting to learn it I realised that it was very much required. After attending the classes for few days, I have noticed that my physical strength has improved and what’s impressive about the karate classes is that the instructors not only train us about martial art skills in fact they also share the information about various safety mobile applications. They tell us that how in an emergency situation with a single click on the app we can get in touch with the police and how they can monitor our location. I feel that the training in totality is good enough to deal with any emergency situation.”
Women learning karate at Green Park Stadium (BCCL/ AS Rathor)
And training these grandmoms is Vijay Kumar who has represented India nationally and internationally in various karate championships and is now an international referee. Vijay feels that these martial art classes will surely benefit the elderly women of Kanpur. “While travelling abroad I noticed that a lot of elderly women learn martial art. It not just keeps them fit in fact it also adds to their confidence level. Initially, I designed this karate class for women from 6 to 90 years of age. But what surprised me that a lot of women from the age group of 55 years to 90 years joined the classes. Till now there are a hundred plus women who have joined the classes and more will be joining us soon,” says Vijay Kumar.
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app