Self-Defence is Self-Respect: Why Every Girl Must Learn to Protect Herself

In a world that still teaches girls to stay silent, walk fast, and look down, there is nothing more powerful than teaching them to stand tall and protect themselves. Every day, we hear stories—on the news, in our neighbourhoods, sometimes in our own families—of girls harassed on the way to school, women shamed for speaking up, or daughters told to “adjust” rather than resist. Fear has become a part of daily life, and silence has become its shield.

But this fear is not natural—it is taught. And so is helplessness. For too long, girls have been made to believe that safety is someone else’s responsibility. That they need a father, brother, or husband to protect them. That their strength is in staying invisible.

It’s time to rewrite that narrative.

Self-defence is not just about fighting off an attacker—it’s about mental readiness, emotional confidence, and physical awareness. It’s about a girl knowing that her body is her own, her voice matters, and her safety is not a privilege—it’s a right. The moment a girl learns to protect herself, she begins to trust herself. And that’s where empowerment begins.

In India, over 80% of sexual harassment cases go unreported. Why? Because girls are either too scared, too ashamed, or too unsure of what to do. When a young girl is taught how to respond to danger—how to say no firmly, how to read warning signs, how to physically defend herself if needed—she’s not just safer, she’s stronger. And when one girl gains this power, it encourages others to believe in it too.

We need to stop teaching girls to be afraid and start teaching them to be prepared.

Learning self-defence doesn’t require expensive equipment or years of martial arts training. It begins with awareness—understanding surroundings, spotting red flags, and trusting instincts. Basic techniques like how to break a wrist grip, use your voice to draw attention, or create distance from an aggressor can be taught in short, structured workshops. Local NGOs, schools, and community centres can collaborate with trained instructors to conduct sessions that are age-appropriate and scenario-based. When self-defence is taught in an empowering environment—especially among peers—it becomes more than just a lesson; it becomes a shift in mindset.

At Atul Krishan Bansal Foundation, this belief led us to start free self-defence training programs for school and college-going girls of vulnerable communities. We see the shift—nervous eyes turning into fierce ones, hesitant voices becoming assertive, and uncertain bodies learning to move with strength and confidence. From basic techniques to practical simulations, the goal isn’t to create fighters, but to nurture self-respecting individuals who know they are not helpless.

The responsibility of safety should never fall solely on the shoulders of girls. But until the world changes, we must equip them for the one they live in. And the first step toward that is knowledge—of their rights, of their strength, and of their worth.

As Ashvika Bansal, our founder, says, “When a girl learns to protect herself, she learns to value herself. And once she values herself, the world begins to do the same.”

Let’s give our girls more than rules to follow—let’s give them the tools to lead. Because self-defence isn’t just protection—it’s self-respect.