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The battle against rape in some areas of Nairobi, where there are currently an estimated 1700 serial rapists according to the city's Crime Scene Investigation laboratory, has brought renewed attention to the need to train women in self defence, and a rise across the city in self-defence sports, including women's boxing, led by the Boxgirls.
Within Nairobi alone, CSI estimates that over 3,400 women and children were raped during a six month period last year. Yet it emphasises that these figures are on the low-side, with only a quarter of those raped ever reporting the incident to the police.
Against this backdrop, programmes to promote awareness are now proliferating, and self-defence sports are on the rise, among them women's boxing driven by organisations such as Boxgirls, which was shortlisted for an international ‘Beyond Sports’ 2009 Award, and is now teaching Kenyan girls how to protect themselves in the lower income areas.
Some of the Boxgirls have gone on to hit the world boxing arena, with Conjestina ‘stone hands’ Achieng and Charity ‘scary’ Mukami ranked 3rd and 4th in the world middleweight class. At the same time, women’s boxing has been recognised as an Olympic sport, and will appear at the 2012 London games.
However, the girls who are turning to self defence sports for safety and fitness both have yet some prejudice to fight.
“..Women shouldn’t fight”, says 2004 Olympic silver medallist, Amir Khan. “When you get hit it’s very painful. Women can get knocked out”. This is an attitude that has ignited indignation around the world, and prompted the GB boxing team’s doctor, Dr. Mike Loosemore, to explain that amateur boxing has the same head-injury risk as ice skating.
Boxing is also recognised for its considerable benefits to fitness, with some gyms even recasting it as 'boxercise'. No longer the domain of thuggish men, it provides body toning - on the waist, abs and bottom; rapid weight loss; increased coordination; and plenty of adrenalin. It also carries the weight of knowing ‘this could hurt’, as well as requiring strategic planning to really land a punch. Moreover, it is emerging that women are quicker to pick up boxing than men.
As well as multiple programmes in the low-income areas, many of the city's mid-range and more up-market gyms are also now moving towards offering programmes for self defence. The Colosseum at Adams Arcade offers boxing classes for girls and boys aged 16 years plus. Jack, a trainer at the Colosseum, also highly recommends Muay Thai, which is a martial art similar to kickboxing [see http://www.home.co.ke/index.php/lifestyle/sport-and-fitness/65-muay-thai-brings-self-defence-arts-to-fitness for an in-depth @home article on this subject].
Other martial arts taught in Nairobi include kickboxing and tae kwon do, both of which can be learned at the Serena Hotel; capoeira, a form of martial arts originally from Africa, which incorporates music and dance and is offered by the Kenya National Theatre; and karate, which takes place several times a week at the Arena in Sarit Centre.
As a fitness activity, scientists at Adelphi University in the US recently tested the fitness impact of karate – with its continuous, rhythmic kicks, blocks and punches - against a typical aerobic dance routine. Results confirmed few differences between the two, with the heart rates of young adults reaching 157 beats per minute, and oxygen consumption and ventilation rates almost identical in the two activities. The only significant difference was that the karate movements stimulated an increase in metabolism.
According to Nairobi's gyms, the numbers taking part in classes across all self-defence sports are now on the increase. Many schools are also now offering the sports as extra curriculum activities.
In choosing which one to go for, trainers say they all increase fitness, self confidence, assertiveness, concentration and personal defense, and the wisest idea is to watch a variety of classes before choosing which of the sports to take up.
• Colosseum Gym: Adams Arcade, Ngong Road. Tel: +254724975590; +254735831525
• Capoeira: Kenya National Theatre: opposite the Norfolk Hotel, Harry Thuku Road. Tel: 0721 986873
• Serena Hotel: Kenyatta Avenue / Processional Way. Tel: 020 2822000
• Arena: Sarit Centre, Westlands. Tel: 020 4449484
• http://www.boxgirls.org
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