About Us
What is WenDo Women's Self Defense?
WenDo Women’s Self Defense began in Toronto, Ontario; Canada in 1964 and has been offering classes to women and girls (10+) for nearly 60 years. They are the longest running self defense course for women in Canada and have helped over 100,000 women and girls explore their power. Classes incorporate an analysis of how sexism, misogyny, and the socialization of women/girls impact their lives and ability to defend themselves. Through discussion and exploration of both verbal and physical self defense strategies, participants are able to gain both a psychological and physical preparedness for defending themselves. As an evolution to the core value that all people deserve high quality self defense, the WenDo Organization now offers Defy! LGBTQ+ Self Defense. Using the same principles and approaches of WenDo, Defy welcomes people of all gender identities that are part of the LGBTQIA+ Community and incorporates analysis of the specific experiences of LGBTQIA+ Folx.
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:940,cg:true)
The Wendo approach
WenDo begins with the fundamental beliefs that all people are capable of defending themselves in the body they are in exactly as they are today and that violence against women/LGBTQ+ folx is rooted in misogyny and oppressive systems as opposed to an individual “failure” by the victim. Courses are taught by WenDo Certified Instructors and meet the requirements of an "Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) Program" as defined by the National Women's Martial Arts Federation. ESD programs are considered the most effective and overtly reject the “rule setting” and victim blaming that can occur with other self defense programs. ESD programs must:
- Provide evidence based information
- Provide a comprehensive self defense toolbox addressing the full range of assaults (avoidance through life threatening situations as well as strangers and acquaintances)
- Explicitly hold perpetrators responsible for their violence
- Transform understanding of women's/participants bodies
- Locate violence in a social context
- Have social change goals
- Empower Women/Girls/Participants
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1233,h:1233,cg:true)
Kristi, Wendo Women NY Owner & Self defense Instructor
Kristi is the Owner & Founder of WenDo Women NY, an LLC located in New York State offering WenDo Women’s & Defy!LGBTQ+ Self Defense Courses throughout the United States. Kristi founded this organization following completion of her WenDo Instructor Training in 2023, becoming the first operational Instructor based in the US. Kristi brings together her WenDo training with over 15 years experience working in community based domestic violence and rape crisis programs. This work included advocating for and walking along side survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and child sexual abuse as they found safety and healing. Today she brings together all of her experience to provide workshops on topics of trauma and abuse and comprehensive, trauma informed self defense classes for women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ Folx.