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Wen-Do
Women’s Self Defence

50+ Years of Fighting Back

Upcoming Trainings

Wen-Do instructors are currently teaching online and/or in-person. To explore upcoming courses, click on the ‘Start Training’ button below. For all other information, please email wendoinfo@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

What is Wen-Do?

Wen-Do is Canada‘s oldest women’s self-defence organization. Wen-Do is a program designed for women by women. Techniques are designed for women of all ages, sizes, and abilities. A combination of discussion, with practical physical skills results in an integration of mental and physical preparedness.

Wen-Do recognizes that people who do not identify as women also need self-defence training that is sensitive to their needs. Defy: Trans+ Self-Defense classes, currently taught by certified Wen-Do Women’s Self-Defense instructors, are open to all 2SLGBTQ+ people of ten years and older, and of all abilities. Some people who are both women identifying and members of the queer or trans community may choose to go to either a Wen-Do or Defy: Trans+ class.

News & Stories

September 1, 2024 – Authority Magazine features Wen-Do Instructor Heather Howe
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/mindset-matters-psychotherapist-heather-howe-on-how-to-build-stress-resilience-with-a-positive-486ecd067b7c
November 22, 2023 – The New Classical FM & Zoomer Radio features Wen-Do senior instructor Deb Chard
https://zoomerradio.ca/blogs/station-blog/2023/11/22/zoomer-crooners-songbirds-deb-chard-womens-self-defense-senior-instructor/
Camões TV’s Body & Soul program features Wen-Do instructor Leslie Allin
On April 12 2022, Leslie Allin spoke with Camões TV about Wen-Do Women’s Self-Defence and self-defence training especially designed for …
Cityline: How Women Can Assert Personal Boundaries
Leslie Allin was a guest on Cityline, Canada’s longest-running daytime talk show for women, on March 9, 2022. Tracy Moore …

Instructors

Meet some of our certified instructors.

Portrait
Leslie Allin

For this university lecturer, Wen-Do is about bringing together an understanding of oppression and the practical tools to fight back.

Portrait
Deb Chard

Long-time instructor working in high schools and with expertise serving women with mobility or visual disabilities.

Heather Howe

A social worker and psychotherapist who has a personal and professional dedication to working with survivors of gender-based violence.

Wen-Do Women’s Self-Defence acknowledges that the training we provide takes place on unceded Indigenous lands across Canada and beyond. We honour and respect the traditional caretakers of these lands and are committed to an anti-oppression analysis in our classes.