First, you have to know that I trained karate when I was young, so I’m biased.
I think that all yeshivot and bais Yaakovs should train the students in self defense/krav maga. It serves two purposes, besides the obvious one of being prepared.
1) It makes students feel more sure of themselves and less vulnerable, This will also spill over into their daily lives so that they are less aggressive or fearful. If an instructor feels that a student is a possible problem he should inform the mashgiach and if necessary get the person evaluated.
Plus, people who have trained are less likely in the first place to be bothered. There are subtle differences in the way one carries oneself that are picked up by potential aggressors and warn them off. A psychologist in New York once did a study in which he asked convicted muggers how they chose their victims, and showed them films, asking “Is this a person you would be likely to try to mug?” There was a specific set of behaviors that act as “tells” for a potential mugger. Training in self defense gets rid of most of them.
2) It’s excellent exercise, and will help young people to keep fit, and incidentally help the “AD” type kids focus during the rest of the school day.
And, yes, there are female krav maga instructors, even in the US, especially on the Est Coast, so tnzius shouldn’t be an issue in protecting our girls.