In an era when safety and empowerment have become inseparable, the Pakistan Martial Arts Association (PMAA) and Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) joined hands to create a defining moment for women’s empowerment. Their Women’s Self-Defense Workshop, held at FJMU and co-organized by the university’s Business Incubation Center JIDAAT under Prof. Dr. Taskeen Zahra, was not just an event, but it was a movement.
At its heart, the workshop sought to equip young female medical students and doctors with the strength to protect themselves, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It was an awakening, a reminder that empowerment is not merely about independence, but also about preparedness and confidence.
The inauguration, graced by Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance), Vice Chancellor of FJMU, set the tone for the event. Applauding PMAA’s initiative, he underscored that self-defense training is not just a skill, it’s a necessity. “Empowering women with practical defense techniques is vital not only for their safety but also for their confidence in every walk of life,” he remarked.
The sessions were led by Sensei Anwar Mohiuddin, President and Chief Trainer of PMAA, whose vision for a stronger, safer Pakistan resonates in every initiative he undertakes. His team, including Sempai Hanzla Mohiuddin, Zainab Sultan, Sumaiyya, and Sarah Yaqoob, conducted intensive, hands-on drills inspired by Krav Maga, Aikido, Kickboxing, and Kyokushin Karate. Participants were trained in situational awareness, escape tactics, controlled disarmament, and combat-effective striking, skills designed not for display, but for real-life survival.
Unlike ornamental martial arts exhibitions, PMAA’s philosophy is rooted in functional defense and disciplined mindset training. The emphasis was on mastering control, of fear, aggression, and reaction, transforming vulnerability into awareness and strength.
The participants, mostly young medical students, approached the sessions with remarkable zeal. Each strike, each defensive block, was not just a physical act but a declaration, we will not be unprepared. Their determination spoke volumes about a new generation of women who refuse to be passive in the face of threat.
One of the most electrifying moments came when Zainab Tariq and Hafsa Fatima performed a daring stunt: lying with a heavy stone placed on their stomachs as Sensei Anwar smashed it with a hammer, a breathtaking display of control, trust, and courage. The hall erupted in awe. It wasn’t just a stunt; it was a metaphor, that women, when trained and trusted, can endure and overcome anything.
As the event concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony, both guests and faculty members praised the participants for their enthusiasm and resilience. Sensei Anwar, in his closing remarks, expressed heartfelt gratitude to young organizers Mahnoor Shawal and Amna Tazeen, and to the FJMU administration for making the collaboration possible. He reaffirmed PMAA’s commitment to continuing its National Self-Defense Training Mission, ensuring that more women across Pakistan gain access to this transformative experience.
But the impact of the workshop transcends the walls of FJMU. It symbolizes a cultural shift, a recognition that self-defense is not a privilege but a right, and that empowerment begins when women learn to protect themselves.
The PMAA-FJMU initiative stands as a beacon of inspiration. It celebrates not only the strength of women but also the foresight of institutions that understand that empowerment starts with awareness and ends with action. In every strike, every move, and every heartbeat of that training hall, the message was clear: The women of Pakistan are ready, confident, capable, and unafraid.
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