T&C for tickets: NO same day refunds or moving tickets to another date UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. If you can no longer make the class with less than 24hr notice, it is YOUR responsibility to resell your ticket.
More about T&C below
THE ADDRESS OF THE VENUE IS IN THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL. Please leave enough time to find the venue your first time!
Please please please arrive at least 10mins before 6pm to give yourself enough time to get ready. We will start promptly at 6pm. If you arrive later than 6:15 you may not be able to participate.
Well hello and welcome to our new intro class!
So glad to see you here ready to add some kicking and punching action to your week.
Every week we reserve free spaces for people on a low income/unwaged, transwomen/transfems people and QTBIPOC. If this is you, and you can't get (or afford) a ticket, email at the.bender.defenders@gmail.com
Who are we?
We are Bender Defenders and these are our Muay Thai classes. This is a playful environment where queer and trans people come to train, make friends, have fun and explore their own strength through martial arts and partner work.
In this class you will learn all the basics of Muay Thai. Every week we will go over different strikes, clinching techniques, movements and defences. We will have a lot of fun hitting things.
What to expect:
We approach exercise playfully and with community building in mind. 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. We train in bare feet on mats, so you don't need special footwear and we we will supply the equipment you need. Please bring/wear clothes you can exercise in and a water bottle. Make sure that you eat something at least an hour before the class, cardio on an empty stomach is not fun!
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 (cos that's just…stressful). As a community we are already very hypervigilant and we do not need reminders that we might be in danger.
The class consists of:
- Warmup (10mins)
- Introductions (names and pronouns)
- Muay Thai training, partner work (40 mins)
- Fitness/games (5mins)
- Stretching (5mins)
Our approach to fitness:
Your best will always be enough. Please remember that it is okay and normal to find exercise challenging, it doesn’t mean you’re ‘bad at it’. It usually just means you’re pushing yourself or going out of your comfort zone. Be gentle with yourself when things feel difficult and only push yourself within your window of tolerance (we do not make assumptions about what that looks like because it is different for everyone). We appreciate that sometimes just turning up is an achievement (we’ve all been there).
Come as you are - you don't need to be ‘good at it’ or ‘be fit’. We understand everyone has their own relationships with bodies and exercise and these can often bring up complicated feelings from peoples past experiences. We avoid cultures of toxic masculinity and fitness in our classes. We do this by encouraging you to listen to your bodies, take breaks when you need it and try not to compare yourself to anyone else. You are not going to be the only one struggling with something! Many feel that way.
If you are struggling with something, give the coach a wave and let them know. We will suggest modifications or find another way to explain the movements to you.
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.
NO COPS AND SOLDIERS IN OUR CLASSES.
ACCESSIBILITY:
This venue is in the basement of a building, it has a small lift and there is a small step at the front door to the building.
If you have any specific access needs please email the.bender.defenders@gmail.com