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This 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 as much from watching them as they did from me.

for the session the girls came prepared with their dupattas, ready to use them as tools of self-defense. After perfecting their earlier moves, they were curious and eager to learn more. In pairs, they practiced four different techniques, and this time their confidence was on a whole new level. Their movements were sharper, their reactions quicker, and they weren’t afraid of falling or getting hurt.

It struck me how much of a difference just six days of training had made. And I couldn’t help but wonder- if such progress is possible in less than a week, what would happen if this became a regular part of their lives? Imagine how much stronger these girls, and the generations after them, could be.
After the session, many girls came up to thank our entire team for teaching them something they never imagined they could do. But all I asked in return was just one promise – that they never give up, especially not mentally, when it comes to standing up for themselves and fighting for their rights.

Because at the end of the day, self-defense isn’t just about the body – it’s about the mind, the belief that they are worth defending, always.

Today 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 muscle memory. This is something that only comes when you actually apply the techniques in action. It’s one thing to know how to throw a punch or block in theory, but in a real-life situation, your body has to react instantly. By practicing in pairs, the girls not only sharpened their targeting and timing but also learned what it feels like to face resistance.

For example, when one girl grabbed another’s wrist tightly, the “victim” had to remember to twist her arm out using the right angle, something that’s easy to forget if you only practice in the air.
Another exercise involved the “perpetrator” pretending to push or corner the other, and the “victim” had to step back with strong footwork and use her palm strike to create space. In those moments, you could see the shift where the girls realized that these weren’t just moves, they were tools they could actually use.

These drills made the training real. They helped the girls see that self-defense isn’t about fighting harder, but about reacting smarter. And with each round, their confidence grew – not just in their bodies, but in the belief that they can handle themselves if the time ever comes.
By the end of the session, the girls weren’t just practicing – they were owning the techniques.

For me, today’s session was all about giving the girls space to try, mess up, and try again.

I 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 the other side. Not as the student, but as someone guiding, teaching, and shaping these young girls.

The reason I even began karate in the first place goes back to a moment from my childhood. I once saw a girl being bullied and I felt completely helpless – I didn’t know how to step in or protect her. That feeling stayed with me, and I promised myself I would never feel that powerless again. Karate became my way of finding strength, and over time, it turned into my passion to ensure that no girl has to go through what I felt that day.

After today’s session, I shared my story with the girls. I wanted them to know that self-defense isn’t just about punches, kicks, or blocks – it’s about standing tall, about knowing you have the power to protect yourself and others.

And yes, today’s training was exhausting! We practiced a tough combination of punches, blocks, and kicks all rolled into one. But the energy in the room, the determination in their eyes, and the way they pushed themselves through the drills made every drop of sweat worth it.

Walking out today, I didn’t just see tired faces – I saw stronger ones. Faces that looked confined and happy. And yes, we chatted a lot after the class, about everything from favorite foods to studies and ended up clicking tons of pictures together.

I 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 than yesterday, with the number of girls increasing to 220. Usually, I only attend other classes when they’re engaging and offer something new to learn – so that must have been the case with the way my team executed yesterday’s training. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

For the longest time, I believed that DFEND could only move forward if I was personally present at every session. But today showed me something beautiful, my team is not only capable, they are confident and independent because of the training and preparation we’ve done together. Their passion and commitment reassure me that DFEND can grow beyond me, reaching multiple schools and impacting thousands of girls, with or without me in the room.

There was also a heartfelt discussion during the session about how strength is not just physical, but also mental – about knowing when to walk away, when to stand firm, and when to fight back if needed.
My trainers also told me that the girls opened up, shared their thoughts, and they could see them connecting self-defense not just to the body, but also to the mind and spirit.

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 entries and logs to this one central place.

There is so much I want to capture, to express – about how Dfend can create a snow-ball effect in our society. I finally have a home for my thoughts.

Today, 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 are Masters and Blackbelts in Karate, along with the rest of my team, are simply amazing. They carried out today’s session flawlessly, bringing both discipline and energy to the hall.

The focus of the session was on five punches – Oi-zuki, Gyaku-zuki, Kizami-zuki, Uraken, Jodan-zuki, Gedan-zuki – and two hand strikes – Nukite and Teisho Uchi. These Japanese names may sound daunting, but each technique, when used in the right manner and situation, can cause enough damage to a perpetrator to allow the victim to escape safely.
Even though I wasn’t present, I didn’t miss a thing.
After the session, I received a detailed report along with photos and videos and seeing the energy and confidence on the girls faces gave me the same joy as if I had been standing right there with them.

When 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 brand-new group of 190 students. And with them began a brand-new journey. Many of these girls had seen the previous batch practicing and were eagerly waiting for their own turn, so the excitement level was already high. But at the same time there was the same nervousness, the same curiosity, and those same wide eyes filled with questions of “What will we learn today?” The energy was raw, but it was real. Some girls stood confidently in the front row, while others hesitated at the back. But I knew, from experience, that by the end of this journey, many of those shy voices would transform into powerful “Kiais!” echoing across the hall.

We began the workshop by breaking the ice, introducing the team, and explaining the four parts of our program: Karate Training, Practical Application, Activity for Home, and Awareness Talks. At first, there were shy smiles and hesitant voices, but slowly, as we moved through the drills, the hesitation began to melt. The sound of the first “Kiai” was a little soft, but soon it grew louder, sharper, and braver.

In today’s session, we also laid importance on understanding IPC rules – emphasizing that the force used in self-defense must always be proportionate to the threat and necessary to avert the danger. Self-defense is a vital skill, but using it irresponsibly or negatively can lead to legal consequences – a lesson as important as the strikes and stances themselves.

Today 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 together we spoke about how mental resilience is just as important as physical strength. Self-defence is not only about the body it is also about the mind that refuses to give up, the courage to stay calm in fear, and the belief that you are worth fighting for.

The girls were determined to give their best today. Every kick was sharper, every punch stronger, every escape technique more precise. We also introduced the final set of escape techniques, and I could see the confidence in their eyes as they practiced not just copying moves, but owning them.

This journey that we took together in the past week wasn’t just about teaching them; it was also about learning for me.
And while I thought I was training them they infact were training me with their creativity, questions, and problem-solving that opened new perspectives on self-defence.
After the session a few girls came up to record their feedback and these were their feedbacks – unfiltered and unedited
Truly this was an end that felt like a beginning

Today 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 shy on Day 1 now shouted “Kiai!” with confidence. Some who used to hold back in the corner were now coming to the front, ready to demonstrate. It felt like their voices were getting louder, their stances stronger, and their spirits lighter with each passing day.
One of the girls also volunteered to help conduct the warm-up activities.

In the last session, we had asked the girls to think of all possible ways they could escape if someone caught them by the neck or from behind.
And oh my.. when they shared their answers today, I was blown away. Each girl had come up with her own solution – some thought of stamping feet, others of twisting their bodies quickly, some even used their school bags as shields.

It wasn’t about whether their moves were perfect. It was about the fact that they were thinkin, thinking about their safety, about being alert and not freezing in fear. That eagerness, that creativity, showed me that they were beginning to take ownership of their own defence.

We ended today’s session with a small awareness talk on the importance of trusting your instincts and how that “gut feeling” is often your first line of defence. I could see the girls nodding, some even whispering stories to each other of when they had felt unsafe but ignored the feeling.
Today I learnt that courage isn’t something you teach, it grows from within.
Even the smallest steps, like a girl volunteering to lead warm-ups or finding her own unique way to escape a grip, are powerful signs of real empowerment.

I 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. Only now the reps had increased, and every move pushed us a little harder. It wasn’t easy. My hands ached, my legs felt heavy, but the moment we finished, there was this deep sense of fulfilment. It’s strange how exhaustion can turn into strength when you know you’re growing through it.

After training, we gathered for our awareness talk. Today we discussed good touch and bad touch – what it means, how to avoid uncomfortable situations, and most importantly, how to get out of them. The girls listened intently, their eyes wide, as if each word was quietly reshaping the way they saw the world.

Then, a girl came up to me. She was small for her age, and with a shy smile she said, “People think girls like me – short and thin – can’t really defend themselves. But today, I feel like I can.” Her words stayed with me. They reminded me that strength is not measured in height or size, but in courage and belief.

Somewhere between the drills, the talks, and these little moments, I realised that these sessions don’t feel like training anymore.