Yazidi women fighters
The self-defence schemes are being held in a number of locations across the country (file photo) Ahmed Jadallah/ Reuters

Free self-defence classes for Polish women are to be held at 30 military bases across the country, according to the country's Ministry of National Defence.

Polish army instructors will reportedly show women strangulation techniques, hold-breaking and how to ward off assaults with weapons. The classes are to teach "basic fighting techniques and, above all, improve overall physical fitness," said Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz.

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"We invite the ladies, there are still places – there are no age limits," he added

The self-defence schemes are being carried out as Poland fears an invasion from Russia, according to MailOnline.

The unarmed combat instruction will begin on Saturday 12 November 2016 and end on 3 June, 2017.

Those who take part must sign a letter saying the defence ministry is not responsible for injury claims and participants need their own medical insurance.

A paramilitary Territorial Defence Force comprised of 35,000 personnel has also been set up by the Ministry to guard against Russia's aggressive military.

Poland and neighbouring countries in the Baltic region have expressed alarm about Russia, particularly with regards to the Ukraine conflict.

Warsaw has criticised Moscow's actions in Ukraine and has asked Nato to boost its presence on Polish territory. Nato has also reported over 600 "interceptions" as Russian fighter jets test defences over the Baltic states.

A report by US think tank the Atlantic Council called Arming For Deterrence claims the Alliance would be slow to respond if Russia were to invade and Polish forces would need "to delay and bog down an invading force and inflict unacceptable damage" to buy time for reinforcements.

But some experts say the self-defence classes for women "have a propaganda dimension", according to Krakow-based journalist, Marcin Ogdlowski.

Roman Polko, a special forces commander dismissed the new scheme, telling Dziennik Polski that teaching martial arts "won't win a war."

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