Guardian Girls Aikido Academy Holds 3rd Session in Bogotá

On February 22, 2025, Guardian Girls Colombia (GGC), the national committee of KIF Colombia, hosted the second session of the Guardian Girls Aikido Academy at the Centro Cultural del Japón, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá. The Academy is part of the Guardian Girls Aikido project launched in 2024 under a bilateral MOU between Guardian Girls International (GGI) and the Latin American Aikido Union (ULA-IAF), aimed at preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in Latin America.

In just two weeks, over 55 women registered through WhatsApp, exceeding expectations for the hands-on format, which typically accommodates 10–15 participants. Ultimately, 23 women attended the “10 Seconds to Survive” session, which focused on essential Aikido-based self-protection techniques designed to safeguard women in dangerous situations. Aikido, known as the “martial art for peace,” holds special relevance in Colombia and the wider Latin American region.

The session was led by Sandra Lugo, Chief Instructor and member of the Federación Colombiana de Aikido. Participants also took part in the launch of the Guardian Girls Integral Care Program, presented by Camila Peroni and María Adaime, offering ongoing psychological and behavioral tools to strengthen women’s empowerment. The program will continue with monthly follow-up talks via Zoom for registered participants.