Postponed - Wen-Do Women's Self-Defense Training

Because of all of the uncertainty with travel, etc because of COVID-19, this training is being postponed until Summer or Fall of 2020.  Stay tuned!

Training Dates and Times - To Be Determined

*This is a non-residential event.  If you need help finding overnight accommodations, please email Kara at soinbody@gmail.com for suggestions.

**Meals are not included in the cost of the event.  A list of local meal/restaurant options will be available closer to the event.

This training is limited to 20 women.  

Women Ages 10 and older are welcome.  Those under 16 must have signed permission from a parent/guardian.

Our fifteen-hour Basic Wen Do course covers a wide variety of physical and verbal self-defence techniques, awareness and avoidance of threatening situations, and discussions of psychological, social, and legal issues involved in self-defence.

All our classes are taught by women, for women and girls. Physical techniques are designed to be effective against larger, physically stronger attackers. They include blocks, strikes, releases from holds (arm holds, body holds, chokes, hair grabs, and situations where one is pinned to the ground), defences against weapons, and defences against more than one attacker. Women do not need to be physically fit to learn Wen-Do; we teach women to use their bodies as they are, and our instructors are trained to offer alternative techniques and strategies to women with physical limitations or disabilities.

Verbal self-defence strategies examined in the class include calming, reasoning, negotiating, distracting, surprising or confronting an attacker, depending on the situation. We also look at the most effective ways of calling on bystanders, if any, for help. Discussion topics include sexual assault; relationship abuse; harassment; self-defence and the law; and safety awareness in a variety of situations (at home, work, or school; at parties or on dates; on the street, highway, or public transit; and while travelling).We also offer our students information on many community resources such as rape crisis centres, women’s shelters, legal services, and more.

Our instructors undergo rigorous training and apprenticeship before being certified to teach, and must re-certify every year. This training includes a strong emphasis on ensuring the physical and emotional safety of participants. Participants complete written evaluations of every course, to assist Wen-Do in maintaining its high standard of teaching.

Deb Chard, Instructor from Toronto, Ontario Canada

As a long time senior trainer and activist in Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence I teach all levels of Wen-Do classes including the instructor training program. Since 1988 I have been part of the creation of safety and wellness programs for colleges, community groups, shelters and schools. These programs are designed for women of all abilities, backgrounds and lived experience. In 1992 I co-developed a course in Wen-Do that offered a specific training to all women who used assistive devices of any type. This program was funded through Ontario Women’s Directorate and at the time – the Office for People With Disability. Our classes were taught throughout the province of Ontario. In 2006 we furthered this development & facilitation of a leadership training project - specifically for women living with mobility disabilities. Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence was nominated and received the City of Toronto Mayor’s Award for Community Safety for this project. Since 2002 I have been offering and further developing courses specific to women with no or low vision. I work regularly throughout the school year with middle school and secondary level young women at their schools where they are able to talk about healthy body images, healthy dating relationships and be reminded that they deserve respect in their lives – everywhere. I am inspired every day by the girls, young and adult women who come to my classes. Our understanding that there are no rules; our understanding that there are lies that we grow up with about our ability, our strength and our self reliance is, in my view, at the core of how we make real change in our lives and in the world. I am inspired by our ability as women to break down the societal misogynist, ableist, racist, oppressive myths that promote internalized and externalized contempt for girls and women. I celebrate our collective and individual will to create change in our own lives and in the world reflecting the underlying revolution of strong, resilient, determined women!