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Wen-Do
Women’s Self Defence

Celebrating 50 Years in 2022

Upcoming Trainings

Wen-Do is Canada‘s oldest women’s self-defence organization. Wen-Do classes are currently taught online or in-person – please explore upcoming class opportunities for further information.

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What is Wen-Do?

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.

News & Stories

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 …
A conversation with Flip the Script
Flip the Script Sexual Assault Resistance Education program is a 12-hour workshop at the University of Windsor. In February 2021, …
Wen-Do in Eastern Europe
Our Bodies, Our Wen-Do By Hanna Liubakova for Transitions With domestic violence rates in Belarus among the highest in Europe …

Instructors

Meet some of our certified instructors.

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Leslie Allin

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

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Deb Chard

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

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Shailagh Keaney

Arts-based facilitator, social worker, psychotherapist and Wen-Do instructor with expertise working with queer communities.

See All Instructors

“We encourage all organizations that value women and girls’ safety to sponsor Wen-Do classes, as we ourselves have done since 2005. Taking Wen-Do is a tremendously empowering experience, in which countless participants have discovered an inner strength and confidence that they didn’t know they had. The instructors have an in-depth understanding of multiple aspects of violence against women and girls, and teach with great skill and sensitivity to participants’ needs.”

— Sexual Assault Survivors’ Support Line at York University