Unlocking karate for self-defence
Hyderabad: Ever since he took to karate in 1996, Gopal Satya Reddy is a man on a mission. This 46-year-old karate fifth Dan has made sincere efforts to spread this martial art in the State, particularly among the women. “The women need to learn karate as a self-defence weapon because the majority of them do […]
Hyderabad: Ever since he took to karate in 1996, Gopal Satya Reddy is a man on a mission. This 46-year-old karate fifth Dan has made sincere efforts to spread this martial art in the State, particularly among the women. “The women need to learn karate as a self-defence weapon because the majority of them do odd hour duties. I have taught over one lakh in 2017-18 as part of women empowerment,” said the Karate instructor, who has his academy at the 75-year-old Madapati Hanumantha Rao Girls High School in YMCA-Narayanguda.
A mechanical engineer, Gopal Reddy chose karate because of his sheer love for the martial art. “There is a lot of science involved in karate. There are a lot of advantages if you learn karate as it gives you a healthy life. Recently, along with veteran Dr Krishna Reddy, I started a programme for the elderly people also. I’m happy there is a good response,” he said.
Gopal Reddy has conducted karate programmes in schools and colleges. He also has been involved in spreading karate among the police personnel. The recent one was at Chanchalguda training College where he taught through karate technique on the art of lifting a person.
“Usually, when there is a dharna, the police, both men and women, are required to lift and move the agitated people. I have taught them how to lift them without injuring or harming any person. The usual self-defence and how to lock and unlock them,” he said. This karate instructor has conducted training programme in all police centres in the city like APPA, Amberpet police training centre and the National Police Academy.”
More recently, he took pains to teach 3,800 lady bus conductors the art of karate. “These lady conductors work at odd hours and have to face different people who at times misbehave them,” he added.
Apart from these training programmes, he celebrates the Telangana Formation Day in his own unique style. On the occasion of the first Telangana Formation Day, his elder daughter Amrutha broke 365 tiles with her forehead in 2015. On the third formation day, Amrutha broke 36 granite stones on nail head in two minutes and 58 seconds and on fifth Telangana Formation Day in 2019, Amrutha and sister Gana Santoshini Reddy broke 60 Shabad stones in 3 minutes and 5 seconds after they were set five minutes timeframe. On the seventh Telangana Formation Day in 2021, Santoshi broke 84 ceramic tiles in 84 seconds.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .
