safe space to be dangerous
Having an environment to practice martial arts in that feels welcoming, respectful, and inclusive allows us to reach our full potential.
⮞ ⮞ ⮞ ⮞ located in southern california ⮜ ⮜ ⮜ ⮜
inclusive martial arts doesn't need to be a mythical unicorn
Traditional martial arts venues can feel alienating to those from marginalized communities or those who may have different needs. Many gyms are designed to cater to young, athletic, cishet men and can be uncomfortable -- or even hostile -- to those outside of this demographic. Trust cannot be built with our training partners if we do not feel safe and accepted.
We are committed to welcoming LGBTQ+ members of the community, all genders and bodies, the neurodivergent, and those who require adaptations for physical, psychological, or emotional needs. We see diversity as a virtue that makes us more well-rounded as both martial artists and as humans.
challenge on your terms
Whether it is through small-group or one-on-one training, we want everyone to feel that martial arts is something they can participate in.
Everyone has a different on-ramp for their experience! It is true that pushing oneself is important both for growth as a person and for developing martial arts skills, but not everyone is ready to do this in the same ways or at the same pace.
Each individual should have their own idea about what challenging themselves means, and the safer and more heard that person feels, the faster they will actually get there. A supportive environment with trusted training partners is critical for success.
about us
We are a husband and wife team based in the Inland Empire of Southern California. We began our martial arts journey in 2011, when we were both already late into adulthood. Our focus is in Filipino (weapons-based) Martial Arts and grappling. Despite spending our own time on these two styles, we have pluralistic philosophy towards martial arts, and we strongly believe that people can find useful things in many arts and styles.
Acceptance and inclusion is a core part of our worldview and has deeply shaped the kind of people we are. After years of asking whether wanting this in martial arts was a mythical unicorn, we decided that if we couldn't find such a thing in our area, then we would try to connect with others to make that space ourselves with like-minded people.
Community Values
Our goal as a training group is to create a community-forward, inclusive space where all participants feel respected and safe - physically, mentally, and emotionally. These guidelines create a framework for achieving this, and express the values we strive to obtain together.
Training should be welcoming for all genders and all bodies. We know that many gyms and training spaces have perpetuated a culture of toxic masculinity that has been dispiriting for women, queer and trans people, those who are gender non-conforming, as well as those who are big-bodied or who may require adaptations to make training work for them. Our goal is to curate a group of people who aim to uplift and support each other. We see the diversity of bodies, experience, and abilities not only as something to be celebrated but as an opportunity for growth in our own skills as martial artists.
We strive to reflect these values in the way we speak, including respecting names, pronouns, and avoiding ablelist language. We should be open to learning from our training partners, and willing to accept corrections and feedback. It is critical to listen to our training partners' consent and boundaries for their security and comfort and to establish trust. Trust in our partners fosters a positive environment and reduces the risk of injury and harm.
This framework was heavily inspired by the Misfit Community Guidelines who found a way to articulate what we want in a community better than we ever could have.
Safety & Well-Being Protocols
Check for injuries before, after, and during training. Be proactive in reporting injuries and requesting any accomodations to account for them.
Simple choices such as doing warmups, keeping hydrated, and taking breaks as needed is important for well-being.
When doing partner drills and sparring, be mindful of differences in physical attributes such as size, age, strength, athleticism, training experience, etc. Those who need to avoid certain techniques or positions due to injury, trauma, or discomfort should be respected. Those who need assistance or modification in techniques should communicate this to training partners.
Participants should know their bodies' limits and not be afraid to tap early, and others should not shame them for doing so. Only the individual knows the line between what is pushing for improvement, and what is pushing too hard and endangering their healthy and safety.
Those recovering from injury should take as much time as they need to heal and prevent further injury, without judgment. When returning to training, communicate what accomodations are needed to support recovery.
Contact Us
We are located in the Inland Empire with close proxomity to large cities like San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Pomona, etc, within western San Bernardino county and within reasonable driving distance of Riverside County and eastern Los Angeles County.
If you're a like-minded person who is interested in training with us, either as someone new to martial arts or someone looking to continue their training, please Reach Out!
If you run a school in our area committed to these values and are looking for new students or people willing to lead individual or small group sessions, please touch base!
Resources
The Village Dojo - Locate LGBTQIA+ martial arts classes
Triangles Everywhere Gym list - Queer-friendly/Queer-led gym list
Traction Projection - Trans community org with martial arts focus
Self Defense for Trans Women and Gender Non-Conforming folks - Self defense guide and zine
Adaptive Martial Arts Association - Martial arts with a focus on inclusion for people with disability
Off The Zone - Trauma-informed martial arts
Right To Be - Bystander intervention training
The Relationship between the Practice of Martial arts, Anxiety, Wellness, and Self-efficacy - Published dissertation on the benefits of martial arts
Misfit Community Guidelines (our inspiration)