Guardian Girls Aikido Academy Wraps Up Successfully

On May 24, 2025, Guardian Girls Colombia (GGC), the national committee of KIF Colombia, hosted the sixth and final session of the pilot Guardian Girls Aikido Academy at the Centro Cultural del Japón, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá. The Academy, part of the Guardian Girls Aikido project launched under a bilateral MOU between Guardian Girls International (GGI) and the Latin American Aikido Union (ULA-IAF), was implemented with the support of the Japanese Embassy in Colombia, UNFPA, and the Federación Colombiana de Aikido (FCA) to help prevent gender-based violence (GBV) through practical self-protection training.

This session brought together 25 women, many of them repeat participants, for the “10 Seconds to Survive” program—Aikido-based personal security training designed to equip women with techniques to safeguard themselves in dangerous situations. The session reinforced Aikido’s role as the “martial art for peace,” with particular importance in Colombia and the broader Latin American region.

Instructors:

• Sandra Lugo, Chief Instructor, Federación Colombiana de Aikido

• Diana Alexandra Benavides, Assistant Instructor

Six-Month Pilot Program Summary (October 2024 – May 2025)

Launched on October 12, 2024, the Guardian Girls Aikido Academy was the first Guardian Girls Academy in Colombia, operating as a six-month pilot program in Bogotá. It was implemented monthly at the Centro Cultural del Japón, Universidad de los Andes, led by instructors from the FCA and coordinated locally by GGC and KIF Colombia with national partners, including the Japanese Embassy.

Program Structure:

• Frequency: Monthly sessions (3rd Saturday of each month)

• Format: 2-hour personal security training for women aged 18+

• Cost: Free for participants

• Methodology: Practical Aikido techniques for self-defense, combined with the Guardian Girls Mental Health Program offering psychological and behavioral empowerment tools

Participation and Reach:

• Registrations: 246 women over six months

• Attendance: 116 women (47% attendance rate), including ~20 repeat participants

• Session Attendance:

  • Oct 2024 – 11

  • Jan 2025 – 9

  • Feb 2025 – 23

  • Mar 2025 – 29

  • Apr 2025 – 18

  • May 2025 – 25

Key Results & Achievements:

1. 116 women trained in Aikido-based self-defense during the pilot phase.

2. WhatsApp community established, now with 74 members for ongoing engagement.

3. Three online Integral Care sessions delivered to 20 women, focusing on emotional resilience, boundary-setting, self-care, and recognizing unsafe situations.

4. Regular distribution of training videos and empowerment materials to support continued practice beyond the Academy.

5. 20 women expressed commitment to continue Aikido training privately after the pilot.

6. Recognition awarded to Karol Vanessa Rivera for dedication and consistent attendance.