A MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF girls
I AM SPECIAL! I AM BEAUTIFUL! I AM SMART! I AM STRONG!
GIRL POWER STORY
In 1999, my teacher opened this very school with the inspiration and motivation to teach young girls how to defend themselves using martial arts. I was one of the very first students who joined the program at 5 years old - small, quiet, and scared of just about everything! In an effort to break me out of my shell, my mom wanted me to join martial arts, but didn’t want to put me in a program that would make my fears even worse. When she found Girl Power, my teachers led with empowerment, gentleness, and an approachable stillness that was unexpectedly kind from people teaching you how to punch and kick. They went by Mr. and Mrs. Girl Power.
For me, home was tumultuous on a good day; there was violence, rage, distress, and constant unpredictability. The adults in my life that were supposed to be my source of love were instead my source of fear. This was the case for everyone except Mr. and Mrs. Girl Power, who were a constant force of stability and unconditional love throughout my entire life.
Whenever I entered the dojo, no matter what age I was, I was reminded that I was safe and cared for. Throughout class, I not only learned how to defend myself, but why I was valuable enough to put effort into defending. I learned that I could face my fears with the support of my teachers behind me, and I was constantly empowered to challenge myself beyond my wildest dreams. At the end of every class, I told myself out loud with my peers that I was special, beautiful, smart, and strong, and that even if I didn't fully believe that, it was okay because Mr. and Mrs. Girl Power were always going to tell me that I was and were going to love me just the same until I was ready to believe it myself.
As an adult, I feel eternally fortunate to have been raised in this program, and now even more honored to be teaching it! Children are the most important people in the world, and they need a place where they can feel fully comfortable to be themselves, feel like they can safely make mistakes (and learn from them!), and most importantly, learn how much they are capable of loving themselves. Learning self-defense is a huge bonus too! I would not be who I am today without this school, and getting to continue to serve this community by passing down the lessons from my dear teachers is my highest honor!
— Si Bok Blue Norush (they/she)
GOALS OF GIRL POWER
In Girl Power, we aim to teach girls self-defense while also making sure that they learn it in an environment that builds and uplifts their self-esteem. We live in a world that undervalues and mistreats girls and women at an astronomical rate. Domestic and sexual abuse are issues that disproportionately affect women, and it is vital that we create spaces for women to feel supported, safe, and empowered.
One crucial starting point is in childhood; girls are given messages early on that they are less important, less capable, less intelligent - overall simply less. Girls are told to take up as little space as possible, both literally and figuratively, and given implicit and explicit messages that their thoughts and feelings are an imposition.
While those voices may be loud, ours are simply louder! Girls and women are strong, powerful, determined, fierce, loving, passionate, driven, and so much more. They are entitled to take up as much space as they see fit and have the wisdom to make choices that are in the best interest of their mind, body, and spirit. Girl Power plants the seeds for these important life lessons, waters them, and teaches kids how much they are truly capable of through the art of self-expression and self-defense using Shaolin Kung Fu.
“I am Special! I am Beautiful! I am Smart! And I am Strong!”
- Girl Power Motto
(While kids’ classes are generally separated into boys’ and girls’ classes, this is always flexible and all classes are open to anyone regardless of gender or gender expression! The comfortability of your child’s true self is our top priority.)