5th Session of Guardian Girls Aikido Academy in Bogotá
On April 26, 2025, Guardian Girls Colombia (GGC), the national committee of KIF Colombia, hosted the fifth 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), supporting efforts to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) across Latin America.
Over a two-week registration period, 54 women signed up via WhatsApp following promotion through social media and outreach to previous Academy participants. Ultimately, 18 women attended the “10 Seconds to Survive” session—exceeding the target capacity of 10–15 participants despite inclement weather. The session focused on practical Aikido-based self-protection techniques to help women safeguard themselves in dangerous situations. Aikido, known as the “martial art for peace,” is especially relevant in Colombia and the wider Latin American region.
The training was led by Sandra Lugo, Chief Instructor and member of the Federación Colombiana de Aikido, with Diana Alexandra Benavides serving as Assistant Instructor. Participants also engaged with the Guardian Girls Integral Care Program, which included an online session on April 22, attended by 11 women, to provide psychological and behavioral tools for continued empowerment.
