Gender-based violence is "violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty." (UN Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ‘General Recommendations No 19’).

Neil Ripski is an international workshop provider in Chinese martial arts and thought. His experience with different styles gives a unique perspective on the shared principles between the arts.  Internal martial artist of Xinyi, Bagua, and Taiji Quan as well as Zuiquan, and shaolin 18 Lohan Palm. Neil now focuses on the personal internal transformations possible through Chinese training methods.

Richard Dimitri born in 1969,  at the age of 6 he began his martial arts training. 

By the age of 21, he had acquired instructor certifications and black belts in several forms of martial arts, combative, and self-defense disciplines. This martial arts education led him into various careers spanning over two decades in the fields of private, public and corporate security, surveillance, countersurveillance, bodyguarding for high-profile clients in Canada, the US, Europe, and Mexico.

Richard is the Chief Architect at Studium Violentiae.

https://studyofviolence.com/about/

Today Richard focuses on teaching and evolving his Masterclasses, specifically designed courses diving deeper into the applications of Violence Prevention and Defense tactics.

Pam is the Chief Impact Officer at Study Of Violence,  a free online educational site full of free online courses on violence prevention and defense. She is a trauma informed self defense and yoga instructor. She is also a trauma informed educator who holds train the trainer programs for self defense and yoga teachers, showing them how to adopt trauma informed approaches and methods in their classes.

From the world of revealed martial arts to the hidden realms of Budo, Geoff Thompson explores his roots and his path with interviewer Ben Myers.  He goes deeply into his history and ultimate transcendence of violence. And his path to self-realization. 

Julien Masson, is the creator and lead instructor of Adrenaline Combatives a reality-based self-defense platform that focuses on every aspect of self protection. The system is specifically designed to prepare the average person mentally emotionally and physically to deal with the worst case scenario of interpersonal violence. He is dynamic, explosive, and direct, in his approach. He can be reached at [email protected], on his Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/Adrenaline-Combatives-105286997527601/ and he can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMeMRrqC07eFjX2iJfaqW8w

Sifu Patrick Marcil, of Fang Shen Do, is the trainer of World Lethwei Champion Dave Leduc. He is head insturctor and MMA coach at Patenaude Martial Arts Casselman. 

In the words of "King" Leduc "Patenaude Martial Arts Casselman is the BEST kickboxing and MMA school, period. Undoubtedly, it was thanks to PMA Patenaude Martial Arts Casselman that I won the golden belt in Myanmar!"

-Dave "The Nomad" LeducLethwei Open Weight World Champion

His Sifu was Jacques Patenaude. Who was a student of James W. Demile from 1975 to 1979 ( promoted to black belt instructor) and remained in his organization until 1991. Sifu Patrick Marcil's art is always evolving. He studiww grappling with Judo Gene lebell and Gokor as well as various Kali instructors to this day. Always seeking to strenthen his game.