Come down to Bethnal Green to learn martial arts with Luca (trans athlete and pro fighter), and Cat (boxer and strength and conditioning coach). This is a playful environment where queer and trans people come to train, make friends, have fun and explore their own strength thorugh martial arts and partner work.
You will learn basic strikes, movements and defences and have a lot of fun hitting things, doing group challenges and playing games.
Come as you are - you don't need to be ‘good at it’ or ‘be fit’.
What to expect:
Participants are not asked to spar or fight each other. You will be provided with pads to hit/kick and gloves to do all the hitting with.
Everything you learn in these classes can be used in self defence, however we do not run these classes with the aim of having to defend ourselves in mind. As a community we are already very hypervigilant and we do not need reminders that we might be in danger. We also run self defence workshops, get in touch to find out more.
The class consists of:
- Warmup
- Introductions (names and pronouns)
- Boxing or Muay Thai training (usually in pairs)
- Fitness/games
- Stretching
And then we go to the pub or the park!
We welcome queers of all abilities, particularly those who don't feel at home in mainstream gyms. We don't tolerate transphobia, fatphobia, ableism, racism or fascism.
We reserve space at each class for people on a low income, and for transfeminine people. So if this is you, and you can't get a ticket, message @bender_defenders_ on instagram.