{"id":7137,"date":"2017-03-03T20:40:50","date_gmt":"2017-03-03T15:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paisawapas.com\/student-stories\/?p=7137"},"modified":"2017-03-04T02:51:37","modified_gmt":"2017-03-03T21:21:37","slug":"pooja-nagpal-trains-women-with-self-defense-techniques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paisawapas.com\/student-stories\/pooja-nagpal-trains-women-with-self-defense-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Pooja Nagpal who has armed over 1000 Socio-Economically Challenged Women with Self-Defense Techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"

Awarded the 2016 Gloria Barron Prize<\/strong> for young heroes only at the age of 19, Pooja Nagpal grew up experiencing the magic of India. But after learning the gender based violence experienced by young girls and women, often without the protection of law, Pooja could not stand by. She attended the Mira Costa High school, California (US).<\/strong> Trained in street fighting and various other forms of martial arts, Pooja Nagpal is a second degree black belt in Taekwondo<\/strong> and started learning it at the tender age of just 5 with the spirit of a fighter and next what happened is really inspiring.<\/p>\n

This Indian American girl took flight to India this summer 2016 and trained 600 rural women as well as girls in self-defense across rural backwaters of Himachal Pradesh. Winning the title of a National Young Woman of Distinction in 2015,<\/strong> Pooja has armed over 1000 socio-economically challenged women<\/strong> with self-defense techniques in the past four years.\u00a0She supports gender equality and believes in the virtue of social work.<\/p>\n

On having achieved the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of USA<\/strong>, Pooja Nagpal founded a non-profit organization, For a Change Defend<\/strong>, to promote martial arts as a weapon of self-defense for underprivileged school girls. Pooja has also planned to get a safety mobile app for women so that they can connect with the local police in times of sexual harassment.<\/p>\n

Q.1: When was the first time \u00a0you wanted to learn martial arts?<\/h3>\n

I began martial arts when I was about 5 years old. I enjoyed the discipline and mental strength that came along with this unique sport. I have continued for this reason.<\/p>\n

Q.2: How did you come up with such a great step for women? Familiarize us with your start.<\/h3>\n

I started teaching in 2013, the summer between my 9th and 10th class in high school. I traveled to a small village called Subathu in the upper mountains of Himachal Pradesh and taught martial arts for about one month to 40 girls in a school (age 14-18). The steps I created were a mix between Taekwondo and street fighting<\/strong> which I learned from various experts (former FBI agent, Turkish defense, among others). These moves are very practical (strength training but also directed at using the most effective defense skills for females). At the end of the month, I noticed a unique change however-not only were the girls physically more prepared, there was a distinct mental change that guided their educational aspirations.<\/p>\n