Foundation Statement

‘Get a Grip’, a women’s empowerment program currently being established through the Open Door Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, is founded on the principal that the measure of control every individual has over his or her own life is, in part, based on the measure of control they have over their own body. No matter how wealthy, educated, or intelligent you may be, if other people are able to control you physically, the choices you make in life are only available to you so long as no one stronger chooses to take them away. As a result, the decisions you make cannot but be influenced by a desire to placate those more physically powerful than you, in order to ensure that this will not happen.

Women, by virtue of being 'the weaker sex', go through life with a constant awareness of the fragility of their own emancipation. At some level we know that the only thing standing between ourselves and the kind of domestic/sexual enslavement seen throughout history is men's voluntary adherence to the established laws of 'civilized conduct'.

It is the aim of ‘Get a Grip’ to teach women how to be physically aggressive from a place of joy and passion, rather than from a mind-set based in fear, hate and anger. We strive to give our female students the skill and confidence to defend themselves. Yet because we do so in a non-threatening, supportive, 'play-based' environment, wherein men and women work together as partners and train as equals, male physicality no longer becomes identified with something that's 'bad', 'scary', or even 'intimidating'. And because of this, the women who train in our Jiu Jitsu/submission wrestling/self-defense classes will be significantly less subject to the influence of male intimidation in whatever future choices they will make throughout the rest of their lives. It is only by gaining real control over their own bodies; only by having the ability to say 'no' or 'yes' and mean it, can women truly achieve that thing which defines each member of the human race as a 'moral entity'. And that idea which is the true foundation to all claims to equality, and which, in turn, defines the measure of respect awarded to every individual; can be summarized in two words - Free Choice.

Until we are able to joyously take control of our own bodies, and act in the world without fear of physical violence, only then can we fully exist as equal members of society. We must be able to act with a courage not founded on men’s good will or peaceful intent, but in our own knowledge and skill so that as individuals we can respond appropriately to physical danger if and when the need arises. Because in order for it to be respected and acknowledged, equality, like freedom, must be taken…not granted.

For More information contact Jess:

vonmott@gmail.com


or check out our website at:
www.opendoorbjj.com