From eve-teasing to everyday insecurity, karate coach Premjit Sen believes self-defence should become a life skill for girls
KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026: What if every girl walking home from school, college or work knew what to do when someone crossed the line?
Not panic. Not freeze. Not simply run.
Know what to do.
That is the thinking behind karate coach and administrator Premjit Sen’s long-standing advocacy of women’s self-defence and empowerment.
For Sen, the issue goes beyond karate. It is about changing a mindset that often tells girls where not to go, what time not to travel and how to avoid unwanted attention.
His question is different: Why not prepare them to face a difficult situation?
“Self-defence is not about making women aggressive. It is about making them confident, aware and prepared,” says Sen.
The training, he believes, should begin long before a girl finds herself in danger — recognising warning signs, maintaining distance, using her voice, seeking help, knowing when to escape and, if absolutely necessary, using appropriate techniques to create an opportunity to get away.
The objective is not to win a fight. The objective is to get home safely.
This philosophy also reflects the larger journey of Sen as a karate coach. From 2005 to 2026, he has produced and guided a large number of champions, many of whom have gone on to establish themselves in competitive karate. His work has extended from athlete development to coaching, officiating and taking karate beyond the competition arena.
For him, however, karate is not only about producing champions.
“Not every girl has to become a karate champion,” Sen says. “But every girl should have the confidence to protect herself, make the right decision under pressure and believe that she is not helpless.”
That is why he wants self-defence programmes to reach schools and communities in a wider way.
A girl may never enter a tournament. She may never win a medal. But learning awareness, confidence, discipline and basic self-defence can still become an important part of her everyday life.
Within Bengal’s karate fraternity, Sen is often described as the “Bengal Tiger” — a reference not simply to fighting ability, but to his energy, dedication and constant involvement in the sport.
From developing champions to training officials, organising major championships and taking karate into schools, his approach has remained centred on keeping the sport active and accessible.
Now, he wants that same energy to serve a purpose beyond the tournament mat.
To make self-defence a life skill.
There is no podium for that achievement. No trophy. No medal ceremony.
Sometimes the only evidence that the training worked is a girl who recognises danger early, finds her voice, creates distance and gets herself out of trouble.
That may be the most important victory of all.
And Sen’s message is simple:
“Don’t teach our girls to live in fear. Teach them to live with confidence.”
