By Si-Je Lucy
Along with Si-Je Anna, Si-Je Evelyn and Si-Je Sophie, I was delighted to be part of the all female instructor team for our Womens Self Defence course on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2026.
The course aims were to empower women and equip participants with the skills and confidence to assess potential threats and effectively handle unwanted contact should the need arise.
It is never about blaming the victim. In an ideal world we could go wherever we like, at any time of day or night, oblivious to our surroundings. Sadly, we all know that the reality can be very different, so it is important to develop skills to help us stay as safe as we can while out and about, at home or whilst driving in the car.
We wanted to create a safe space for women be able to train practical applications with one another and we tailored the practical aspects to each individuals ability and fitness level. It was lovely to see a mixture of ages with Mum’s and Aunties training alongside their Daughters and Nieces.
The session started with us talking about avoidance and awareness – what might an attacker look for and how can we mitigate risk? We spoke about the tactics an attacker might use to gain our attention or distract us before they strike. We looked at ways we appear more confident and self assured even if we may not feel it. We practiced how to walk in to a room or down the street with head up and shoulders back, perhaps emulating a favourite superhero or movie star.
Then we looked at what action to take if an attacker manages to engage and get hands on, what constitutes reasonable force when defending ourselves and how we can effectively summon help if needed.
Everyone shared ideas and challenged themselves to act out different real life scenarios. We worked together to answer “what if” questions with straightforward, practical solutions rooted in Kung Fu techniques.
We also shared a delicious buffet during the break, using the time to reflect, ask questions and share experiences. It was truly a privilege to work and train with such an inspiring group of women, several of whom we now see in our regular classes.
