Wen-Do workshop at GBC helps women students lose fear.  

SafeWalk provided Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence workshops for George Brown College (GBC) students on Sept. 25, 27 and 29 at the three major GBC campuses.  

Wen-Do self defence workshops were previously provided to students by GBC.  

However, since the end of this program, SafeWalk initiated to bring it back on campus this year.  

Chris Yalousakis, coordinator of SafeWalk, shared that the idea for bringing the workshops for students was partially originated from the Toronto city council’s declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic. 

“The demand for this type of workshop was there, and for students who identify as women, this was an event that was needed,” said Yalousakis. 

Deb Chard, a senior trainer of Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence facilitated the workshop at the GBC campuses. She shared with participants the importance of self defence, certain physical self defence techniques, and other de-escalation techniques. 

“The three-hour Wen-Do workshop delivered more than I could have hoped for. The instructor imparted a wealth of self-defence tactics and strategies. Learning these techniques was undoubtedly invaluable, but what resonated with me on a  

deeper level was the realization that women are far from the weak and fragile beings that society has sometimes depicted us to be. Our voices, both metaphorically and literally, are powerful tools in our self-defence arsenal,” shared Emmanuella Onwuzuluorah, a student at Casa Loma campus. 

The free workshop that was provided is a shortened version of the 15-hour basic Wen-do course which costs around $150.  

Yalousakis also shared that work on bringing the full workshop has started since receiving feedback from workshop participants requesting the full workshop to be brought to GBC. 

“I hope that students who attended received a sense of empowerment, that they can be active in their own defence, and to learn some basic moves to give themselves confidence if something unfortunate happens. I know that it can be a lot to ask for in just three hours, which is why the full training is now being assessed. [It] is something I am seriously looking at for the winter semester.” 

During the workshop, Chard emphasized on the strength women have and used this to explain how Wen-Do is beyond just physical self defence.  

“Understanding that physical strength is not the sole determinant of one’s ability to protect oneself was a revelation. The workshop highlighted that confidence, assertiveness, and the willingness to vocalize our boundaries are crucial elements of self-defence. These newfound insights have not only boosted my self-esteem but have also instilled a sense of empowerment that I carry with me daily,” said Onwuzuluorah.  

The women participants were given a safe space to speak about their experiences, their fears, and their expectations from the workshop.  

Participants showed eagerness to learn more about Wen-Do.  

“It is my hope that the Student Association of George Brown College can bring us the full 15-hour workshop. I believe that an extended workshop would provide an even richer and more immersive experience, allowing us to delve further into the intricacies of self-defence and personal safety,” Onwuzuluorah said. “It has been an eye-opening and empowering journey, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to further enhance my self-defence skills in the future.” 

Yalousakis added that participant feedback was positive and encouraging. 

“From what we received, participants found the workshops to be a space that is very welcoming, safe (there were partitions to block windows, and the workshops consisted of women only), encouraging, empowering, and most respondents stated that they wished they had more time. Participants also stated that the trainer was highly knowledgeable about the topics, and that she was very engaging. Overall, they really enjoyed the workshops a lot,” he said. 

SafeWalk will be providing three more Wen-Do workshops in November. Interested students can stay updated on the details through SafeWalk’s instagram page @gbcsafewalk. 

Students can also learn more about self defence and self protection during the Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviour training provided by SafeWalk later this month.  

All details can be found on SafeWalk’s socials.