Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champions Host Women’s Self-Defense Seminar in Boynton Beach

For International Women’s Day, world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes Luanna Alzuguir and Ana Carolina Vieira are leading a free self-defense seminar in Boynton Beach, Florida, aimed at empowering women through safety and skill-building. The seminar, hosted by their academy Aviv Jiu Jitsu, is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th, at 11 a.m.

Empowering Women Through Self-Defense

Alzuguir and Vieira, who are too the sport’s first openly gay married athletes, founded Aviv Jiu Jitsu with a focus on inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for all, particularly women and the LGBTQ+ community Aviv Jiu Jitsu. They believe that self-defense training is crucial for women, given the unique safety concerns they often face.

“It helps you to understand situations that you might face,” Vieira told WLRN WLRN. “I feel that every woman has been in a situation that they either felt uncomfortable or scared. Only we know that feeling.”

The Importance of Prevention and Awareness

Alzuguir, a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame, emphasizes a three-part approach to self-defense: perceive danger, regulate emotions, and act with purpose (P-R-A). However, she stresses that true self-defense begins with awareness and emotional control.

“The real self-defense starts before that,” Alzuguir said to WLRN. “So if we can have a decent perception and a good regulation, many times we don’t even need to get to the action.”

Statistics on Violence Against Women

The seminar comes at a time when statistics highlight the prevalence of violence against women. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 41% of U.S. Women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime WLRN.

Seminar Details

• What: Free International Women’s Day Community Self-Defense Seminar
• When: Saturday, March 7th at 11 a.m.
• Where: Aviv Jiu Jitsu, 160 Commerce Rd, Ste F, Boynton Beach, FL 33426

The seminar is open to all levels of experience and focuses on both prevention and physical skills.

About Luanna Alzuguir

Luanna Alzuguir, born August 16, 1985, in São Paulo, Brazil, is a highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and coach. She holds a 4th-degree black belt and has won multiple world championships, including five world Jiu-Jitsu titles and an ADCC submission fighting world championship Wikipedia. She began training at age 9 and received her black belt in December 2007.