This workshop is part of HACKNEY PRIDE FAYRE a day of FREE LGBTQIA+ led markets, stalls, activities, workshops, cabaret, performance and…. MORE! Check out the rest of the programme, and book more workshops and performances HERE. Hackney Pride Fayre is funded by Hackney Council.
Please note: whilst this workshop is FREE it requires a £5 deposit + booking fee. This is due to the limited capacity of the workshop. The deposit will be refunded unless you cancel with less than 72 hours notice or you do not show up for the workshop. Unfortunately the booking fee is not refundable.
Come and learn the basics of self defence with Bender Defenders. What to expect:
- A short briefing on the law surrounding self defence
- A warm up involving some games and exercises to raise your heart rate
- You will learn some physical techniques for self defence and have the chance to practise them
- We will discuss de-escalation and practise some techniques around this
- We will practice with some more physical moves!
- Ending with a breathing exercise and closing circle
Please wear clothes you can comfortable move in and bring some water. If you have any access needs, health conditions or injuries, please let the facilitators know before the workshop starts.
The Bender Defender Ethos
Bender Defenders take a holistic view of self-defence, remembering that keeping people safe means more than avoiding danger in the moment – it means creating community systems to heal from the harm hate crime causes in the long term.
We approach self-defence from a compassionate, trauma-informed and community-led perspective. We teach participants simple, effective strategies for using physical force to keep themselves safe.
We believe that queer and trans people already have a wide range of self-defence skills to draw upon, and we encourage participants to collaborate with trainers in sharing these skills, enabling them to feel more confident and empowered when they use them.
Please note: this event takes place in the studio which is only accessible via a staircase, there is no lift and no accessible toilet on this floor.