12-year-old London schoolgirl had a year of training in the Israeli combat technique, and put it to good use returning from Krav Maga class.

A 12-year-old schoolgirl from London fought off a man who attacked her by kneeing him in the groin, using combat techniques developed by the Israeli army, reports a local publication.

The girl was walking home at around 6 p.m. in the Hampstead section of London, on her way back from a Krav Maga combat class in Frognal, when she was attacked by a man who grabbed hold of her, reported the Hampstead and Highgate Express at week's end.

Her mother said: “With her year plus of Krav Maga training, she reacted quickly, elbowing the perpetrator and then kneeing them in the groin before taking off at a clip to safety before calling me.”

She added: “She did not see what the person looked like or was wearing as her only concern was to react and get out of there. She did say when the hand grabbed her, it felt large like a man.”

“I know there have been a spate of confrontations between men and local area school girls so I wanted to make you aware that someone remains at large and they are still targeting school-aged girls,” the mother told the newspaper. “She is home safely for which we are grateful."