FLO Kolkata, under the leadership of Chairperson Mansi Agarwal, conducted practical “Karate & Self-Defence Sessions” at Apni Kutir, Chetla, with 47 participants, as part of its Health, Wellness & Life Skills initiative. The session was designed to introduce participants to basic self-defence techniques while simultaneously strengthening physical fitness, coordination, confidence and awareness.
The programme commenced for two consecutive months- July to August 2026 with a structured warm-up, allowing participants to prepare themselves physically before moving into the core training. This was followed by practical Karate and self-defence sessions conducted by Miss Sunita Kumari. The facilitator demonstrated basic movements and techniques and subsequently guided participants through their practical application.
The learning was deliberately experiential. Instead of limiting the session to verbal instructions, participants actively performed the movements demonstrated by the facilitator. They practised the techniques under supervision, enabling them to understand the movements more effectively and develop greater familiarity with their physical responses. The session thereby created an environment of active participation and practical learning.
An important dimension of the programme was its focus on personal safety and preparedness. Self-defence awareness is increasingly relevant to women and young learners as they navigate everyday environments independently. The sessions provided participants with an introduction to basic defensive techniques while reinforcing the importance of remaining alert and aware of their surroundings.
The training also contributed to broader physical-wellness outcomes. The warm-up exercises and Karate movements encouraged physical activity, coordination, body awareness and fitness, while the disciplined practice of techniques promoted concentration and attentiveness.
The sessions further connected physical training with important life skills. Participants were encouraged to develop confidence in their physical capabilities, understand the importance of preparedness, and practise movements with discipline and focus.
Key Takeaways
- Introduced self-defence as an essential life skill, linking personal safety with preparedness and awareness.
- Provided practical exposure to basic Karate and defensive techniques through live demonstration and guided practice.
- Strengthened physical awareness and coordination through structured warm-up exercises and movement-based training.
- Enhanced confidence through physical preparedness, enabling participants to become more familiar with their own physical capabilities.
- Cultivated alertness and situational awareness, reinforcing the importance of being conscious of one’s surroundings.
- Integrated fitness with personal safety, demonstrating how physical wellness can support greater preparedness.
- Developed discipline and concentration through attentive observation, repetition and supervised practice.
- Encouraged composure and responsiveness, helping participants understand the importance of controlled physical responses.
- Created an experiential learning environment, allowing participants to learn through active participation rather than observation alone.
- Strengthened the foundation for continued self-defence learning, giving participants practical exposure that can be developed through regular practice.
Impact & Outcome
This combination of physical and mental engagement positioned self-defence as more than a martial-arts technique- it became a practical component of personal preparedness. The 47 participants actively engaged in the sessions and practised the techniques under the facilitator’s guidance. The programme thus created a meaningful learning environment where fitness, self-awareness, personal safety and confidence converged.
Through this initiative, FLO Kolkata extended its Health, Wellness & Life Skills agenda beyond conventional wellness interventions to include practical safety preparedness. The session reinforced the importance of enabling women and young learners to develop greater physical awareness and confidence while equipping them with foundational self-defence knowledge that can be further strengthened through continued practice.