By Miss. Prajakta Prakash Ankolekar | 5th Dan Black Belt, Taekwondo Champion & Self-Defence Coach
Let Me Be Honest With You
I want to start this blog differently. Not with statistics. Not with scary headlines. But with a simple truth that I have seen change lives over and over again in my 31 years of training — self defence for girls is not about fear. It is about freedom.
I am Miss. Prajakta Prakash Ankolekar. I began practising Taekwondo at the age of four. I have competed at the district, state, national, and international level. I have stood on the podium twice at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship and earned a Silver Medal at the 13th South Asian Games 2019. And today, through the Raigad Taekwondo Association, I have personally trained more than 4,000 women across schools, colleges, and corporate organisations in Maharashtra.
But none of those achievements matter as much as this — watching a girl walk into a workshop nervous, uncertain, and small, and walk out standing tall, breathing easy, and feeling like she belongs to herself.
That is what self defence for girls truly does.
1. Why Self Defence for Girls Is the Most Powerful Gift You Can Give Yourself
There is something that happens when a girl learns to protect herself. She does not just become stronger physically — she becomes calmer, clearer, and more confident in every area of her life. Self defence for girls is not a reaction to danger. It is a declaration of self-respect.
2. Self Defence for Girls Starts With One Simple Decision
That decision is this: I matter enough to protect myself. Everything else follows from there. You do not need to be an athlete. You do not need prior experience. You simply need to decide that your safety is worth investing in.
2a. Self Defence for Girls Begins in the Mind, Not the Gym
The most common mistake people make is thinking that self defence for girls is purely physical. It is not. It begins with mindset — the belief that you have the right to say no, to create boundaries, and to act when something feels wrong. A girl who trusts herself is already halfway protected.
3. The Real Truth About Self Defence for Girls Nobody Tells You
Most attacks are not random. They are opportunistic. Attackers look for someone who is distracted, uncertain, or unaware. Self defence for girls works because it changes how you carry yourself — and that alone makes you a far less likely target before anything physical ever happens.
3a. Self Defence for Girls Means Trusting Your Instincts First
Your body knows before your brain does. That uncomfortable feeling in a quiet parking lot, the unease when someone stands too close, the instinct to cross the street — these are not overreactions. In every workshop I run at Raigad Taekwondo Association, the first lesson is always: trust your gut. It will never mislead you.
4. Essential Techniques in Self Defence for Girls That Actually Work
Now let us talk about the physical tools. These are the moves I teach beginners on day one — simple, effective, and designed for real situations, not movie fights.
4a. Self Defence for Girls: The Wrist Release Every Woman Must Know
If someone grabs your wrist, rotate your arm sharply toward their thumb — the weakest point of any grip — and pull away firmly. Practise this ten times today. By the hundredth repetition, your body will do it without a single conscious thought.
4b. Self Defence for Girls: Palm Strike — Simple but Powerful
You do not need a closed fist. Drive the heel of your open palm upward into the attacker’s nose or chin with force and intention. It is one of the most accessible techniques in self defence for girls training, and one of the most effective.
4c. Self Defence for Girls: The Elbow Strike You Can Use Anywhere
Your elbow is the hardest bony surface on your arm. In a close-range situation, swing it sharply into the attacker’s ribs or solar plexus. It needs almost no space to generate real impact, which is exactly why it matters most when you are grabbed from behind.
4d. Self Defence for Girls: Stomp, Shout, and Sprint to Safety
If your arms are pinned, bring the heel of your foot down hard on the top of the attacker’s foot. Simultaneously shout as loud as you can. Then run — toward light, toward people, toward noise. The goal of self defence for girls is always escape, never to linger and fight.
5. How Taekwondo Transforms Self Defence for Girls Into a Lifestyle
Learning five techniques is a strong start. But committing to a martial art like Taekwondo turns self defence for girls from a one-day workshop into a lifelong advantage.
I hold a Diploma in Sports Coaching (Taekwondo) from the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Sports Authority of India, Bangalore. I have watched girls walk into class timid and uncertain, and walk out six months later with a posture, a presence, and a peace of mind that no single workshop could have given them.
If you are ready to begin, explore training programmes at www.raigadtaekwondo.com — designed for all ages and all starting points.
6. Self Defence for Girls in the Digital World in 2026
Safety in 2026 is not only physical. Cyberstalking, location tracking, and online harassment are real threats that often lead to offline danger. Self defence for girls today must include your digital life.
Share your live location with a trusted contact when travelling alone. Audit which apps have access to your location. Avoid posting real-time check-ins publicly. Your online awareness is as important as your physical awareness — treat it that way.
7. Why Workshops Are the Fastest Way to Learn Self Defence for Girls
For many women, a structured workshop is the single best entry point. It is safe, supervised, and immediately practical. Self defence for girls workshops do not require any fitness level or prior experience — just the willingness to show up.
7a. Self Defence for Girls in Schools and Colleges — It Starts Early
I teach Taekwondo across multiple schools in Navi Mumbai, and I have seen first-hand what happens when young girls learn these skills early. They speak up more in class. They handle peer pressure differently. They set boundaries without guilt. Self defence for girls at a young age does not just prepare them for emergencies — it shapes who they become.
Through the Raigad Taekwondo Association, we have delivered workshops to schools, colleges, and corporate organisations across Maharashtra — training 4,000+ women who walked in uncertain and walked out empowered.
If you are an educator, principal, HR manager, or community leader, contact us. Bringing self defence for girls into your institution is one of the most meaningful decisions you will make this year.
8. Start Your Self Defence for Girls Journey Today
You do not need to wait for something to happen. You do not need to wait until you feel ready. The best time to learn self defence for girls was years ago. The second best time is right now.
I started at four years old — not because anyone was afraid for me, but because my training gave me the freedom to live without fear. That same freedom belongs to every girl reading this.
Visit Raigad Taekwondo Association and take your first step today. Because a girl who knows how to protect herself does not just survive the world — she moves through it on her own terms.
Miss. Prajakta Prakash Ankolekar is a 5th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, a two-time World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship participant, Silver Medallist at the 13th South Asian Games 2019, BCom Graduate, and a Diploma holder in Sports Coaching from NSNIS, SAI Bangalore. She has trained 4,000+ women in self-defence across Maharashtra.