Femininjas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This fall, Femininjas and Wuji Systems, Inc. are introducing a four-week self-defense training course for transgendered people, people in the LGBTQ2SI community, and allies.

This course will cover basic self-defense strategies, such as how to get out of headlocks and arm grabs, how to get away from assailants, and how to mitigate the danger posed by weapons such as knives and guns. More importantly, it will also include training in spotting and avoiding dangerous situations before they start.

While there are many organizations in Vancouver offering self-defense training, none of them offer a space that is explicitly queer-  and trans-friendly. The recent spike in violence against trans women in Vancouver makes the problem pressing. But it’s the lack of trans-friendly services that makes it critical.

“When you belong to a marginalized group, physical safety is incredibly important,” says Beth Marston, spokeswoman for Femininjas. “But there’s a nasty chicken-and-egg problem: to get training, you need a space you know is safe. My hope is that by offering this training program, Femininjas and Wuji Systems will help trans and queer people feel safe on the streets.”

The course will consist of four two-hour training sessions, spread over four weeks, and will cost $80 per person. For more information, please leave a message at www.femininjas.com/contact.

For more information about about Wuji Systems, visit http://www.wujikungfu.com/about.html.

For more information about Femininjas, visit http://femininjas.com/about