- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 1 with Class 9 & 10Strength in Motion, One Step at a Time!! Today marked an exciting beginning — the first Dfend session for the students of Class 9 and 10 at Shree Bal Vinay Mandir School. The energy on the ground was palpable. Unlike older students who might approach with hesitation, these young learners welcomed the session with a …
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- The Power of ReplicationThe Power of Replication Sunday lunch – after a long time we went for lunch together to our favorite South Indian place – Banana Leaf. It’s placed in a mall – primarily to serve the malls footfalls. We’re probably one of the rare visitors who go through all the trouble of parking and walking up …
- The ‘Black Belt’ Day19 Sep 2024. This was the day when I appeared for my Black Belt exam.I was a bit nervous, because for some reason I felt less prepared than I like to be.The last 2 years have had too many changes, too many ups-and-downs, and I barely got a chance to learn and practice my katas …
- Independence Day and DfendIndependence Day, and what it means for Dfend (“Insert the image of Tagore and the poem”Where the mind is without fear, and the head is held high.“But girls have a constant fear, whether they say it aloud or not. They are always fearful about what may happen to them. True independence means true freedom from …
- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 6 with Class 11 & 12From Hesitation to Fearless Action 🌟 The final session with the girls of Classes 11 and 12 was alive with energy and determination. Unlike previous days, we practiced on the ground, giving everyone space to move freely, experiment with techniques, and truly build confidence. The wide open space allowed each girl to test her skills …
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- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 5 with Class 11 & 12Protect Yourself 💪 As the session began, I asked the girls a simple yet important question:“If someone suddenly tries to grab you from behind, do you know how to respond?” Some answers came quickly —“I will scream,” said one.“I will push and run,” added another.A few stayed silent, unsure of what to do. That silence …
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- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 4 with Class 11 & 12Embrace Your Strength: A Journey of Courage 🔥 The fourth day at Shree Bal Vinay Mandir began with excitement and readiness. The girls of Grades 11 and 12 arrived with determined eyes, ready to put their learning into action. Curiosity had now transformed into confidence and purpose. We started with movement and stretching exercises to …
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- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 3 with Class 11 & 12Empowerment Through Action, Confidence Through Awareness!! Day 3 began with a palpable energy on the ground, where students gathered with a mix of curiosity and determination. Some faces reflected the confidence gained from previous sessions, while others carried a quiet eagerness to challenge themselves. Today, they were introduced to the Palm Strike, a simple yet …
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- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir– Day 2 with Class 11 & 12Confidence in Every Step, Power in Every Move The second session with the girls of Class 11 and 12 at Shree Bal Vinay Mandir was filled with energy and determination. The nervousness from Day 1 had vanished, replaced by curiosity and eagerness to learn. From the moment we gathered on the ground, their excitement was …
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- Govt HSS Excellence Bal Vinay Mandir – Day 1 with Class 11 & 12“A New Chapter of Courage Begins “ The atmosphere at Shree Bal Vinay Mandir School carried a special kind of energy today. It was the very first step of our self-defence journey with the spirited girls of Class 11 and Class 12. Some faces glowed with eagerness, while others carried traces of doubt — yet …
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- A Promise of StrengthThis day marked the end of training for another batch of girls. And working with them made me realize once again that confidence doesn’t just appear in a single day; it grows slowly – with every small win, every cheer from a friend, and every moment they discover their own strength. Honestly, I learnt just …
- Turning Training into ReadinessToday the momentum only grew stronger. The girls came in full of energy and were more than ready for the new footwork and handwork drills we had planned. We had them work in pairs, taking turns as the “victim” and the “perpetrator.” These kinds of practical scenarios are so important because they help build real …
- Full Circle MomentsI had missed the last few sessions, so I made up my mind that today I would definitely attend. As I wore my karate uniform, it brought back a flood of memories – the countless hours I spent as a little girl in karate classes, learning discipline, focus, and resilience. But today, I stood on …
- Dfend Grows beyond MeI wrote my exam and came back, but had other classes to attend. Still, the DFEND sessions must go on, irrespective of my presence. As much as I love attending the sessions and practicing with the girls, right now my studies take precedence over my passion. I was told that today’s session was even better …
- I got the domain – hurrah!It may sound silly, but I’m really happy that we got the domain registered for Dfend. More than anything else, this is the first tangible money I’ve spent to start embarking on my journey to build Dfend. I can now get the WordPress site setup so I can start moving all my little notes, diary …
- ReflectionsToday, I wasn’t able to attend the training myself, as my exams are on and the pressure of studies is mounting. But one thing that gives me immense confidence is the planning we had done earlier – our detailed day-by-day, minute-by-minute curriculum ensures that the program runs seamlessly, even in my absence. My trainers, who …
- New Batch, New BeginningWhen one girl stands tall, she inspires many to rise. I have realised that every small effort we make at DFEND is like planting a seed of strength – a seed that will keep growing inside the girls, even after the workshop ends. Carrying learning from the last batch, we began Day 1 with a …
- The End That Felt Like a BeginningToday was our last session of the 6-day power-packed self-defence training workshop. And yes, we were a house full. There was excitement, pride, and also a hint of sadness, because we all knew this journey was coming to an end. We began by reflecting on all that we had learnt in the past week, and …
- From Shy Whispers to Loud KiaisToday we started with the 5th day of our training program for this batch of 170 girls.Each of our sessions is broken down into four parts – Karate Training, Practical Application, an Activity for Home, and Awareness Talks. During training, I could also see a new kind of energy in the group. Girls who were …
- The Day She Felt StrongI came home from school, changed quickly, and rushed out for the self-defence training. It had been a long day – with classes, assignments, and so much left to do – but somehow the thought of my friends waiting gave me the energy to keep going. We began with our usual warm-ups, blocks, and punches. …
- Black Belt – the Conclusion, or the Beginning(Diary note, rewritten here) 23rd Sep, 2024. Today I formally heard that I had cleared my Black Belt exam (though, from the expressions of the examiner on 19th, I had made out that I will get through 🙂 I feel elated beyond measure. This was the conclusion of 7 years of effort, or remaining committed, …
- The ShiftBy the third day, something had changed. The air itself felt different. The girls no longer walked to the ground hesitantly, they rushed in, eyes bright, eager to know what we would be learning next. And today the batch was full of 170 girls. Some of them giggled as they showed me their sore arms …
- A Ripple BeginsToday was the second day of our session. A small knot of nervousness sat in my stomach. I kept wondering – would the girls return after yesterday’s class? If they showed up again, it would mean they were not only enjoying the sessions but also wanted to learn more. The bell rang. For a moment, …
- The Beginning of a New ChapterToday was a big day for me. The first time I truly felt what it means to impact the lives of others. I reached 10 minutes before time and soon the Principal welcomed us warmly and we were escorted to the open ground where our first training session would begin. The ground was in the …
- The MeetingToday we had a meeting with the Principal to discuss the dates for starting the self-defence training for the girls of Sharda Kanya Government Higher Secondary School. My team and I reached the school about twenty minutes early. The sun was still high, casting long shadows of the tall gates onto the road. As we …