All proceeds up to $2,000 will be donated to BWN Scholarship Foundation

Stories circulated about women in gender-based violence often involve interactions with strangers. However, according to the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, about 80–90% of assaults against women are perpetrated by people they know and trust. Whether it’s everyday harassment or life-threating situations, University of Oregon’s Dr. Jocelyn A. Hollander says proper self-defense training can help stop violence because when most women resist being assaulted, their resistance is frequently successful.

BWN member and 2011 BWN Lifelong Learner Scholarship recipient Monique Washington-Jones is a sixth-degree black belt master of martial arts and founder and owner of Karate 4 Girls. The Columbia-based female-only martial arts school empowers hundreds of girls each year through regular lessons, after school programs and summer camps. Women can also take karate classes and participate in self-defense workshops.

“So many times, we think, it would never happen to me,” says Master Washington-Jones. “Why not empower yourself to be prepared to protect yourself or a loved one, just in case? I sincerely believe that everyone should learn some form of self-defense. It’s better to know it and never use it, than to need it and not know it. It also teaches confidence, resilience and situational self-awareness.”

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Master Washington-Jones will host a fundraiser self-defense workshop for 40 women at her dojo located at 9385-C Gerwig Lane. The price of admission is $50 and 100% of funds collected will be donated to the Business Women’s Network of Howard County Scholarship Foundation.

The class is designed to prepare women to confidently respond in unpredictable situations. The workshop will cover everything from awareness training to physical confrontation and will give women the opportunity to implement basic techniques, defense moves and effective self-defense strikes. Workshop participants should expect to gain practical self-defense training and safety awareness tips while having fun investing in themselves in a positive, relatable and safe space to become a better version of themselves. 

“If we believe something is valuable, we protect it,” says Master Washington-Jones. “We should view ourselves no different. We should be able to defend ourselves. We are worth defending.”

BWN members will have priority access to sign up for the workshop at the BWN monthly luncheon on September 20, 2023, which will be held at The Collective Encore (10221 Wincopin Circle in Columbia). If the class is not filled by October 6, 2023, Master Washington-Jones will open registration to the public in order to reach her goal of raising $2,000.

BWN members are encouraged to attend the September luncheon to secure their spot. Members in attendance can purchase multiple tickets at a time. If they can’t attend, a members-only link will be emailed and posted in the members-only Facebook group.

Register for the September 20 luncheon today to secure your spot at the self-defense workshop and learn how to maximize your BWN membership, network with colleagues, and meet the incoming BWN Board.