Self Defense 101:
Creating safe space
We hosted our second Self Defense 101 with gold medalist Sakura Kokumai in Portland in partnership with Femme Rising, the only jiu jitsu studio for women, girls, and nonbinary individuals.
We asked Ella Quinney, Director of Communications and Culture, about what it felt like to experience Sakura’s kata and what their hope is for Femme Rising (do we hope that one day we won’t need a place to learn self defense because we will one day life in a safer future?).
The high-five you see in the photo below of Ella and I, is pretty much the culmination of what it felt like to be in that room that day, with stark reality of what it means to be a woman in the world now, with the hope of where we want to be one day in the near future.
Photography by Zoe Ching (we love her so much!!)
Read more about our expert Sakura Kokumai
You guys opened as a place to protect and support women, how has it been since opening? Do you see your mission being fulfilled?
Since opening, we’ve been working hard to keep pace with the incredible demand, which has been both deeply affirming and, at times, overwhelming. It’s heartening to see that Val and I weren’t alone in recognizing the need for this type of community and athletic space—women, girls, and nonbinary individuals have truly been craving it. At the same time, we’re realizing how much we still need to grow. We need a larger studio, more space for childcare and showers, and bigger mats. Our vision now extends beyond Portland; we see the need for a Femme Rising in every city, suburb, and town. The interest and support we’ve received are powerful, and while it’s a challenge to meet that demand, it’s also an exciting and humbling opportunity to serve.
As for our mission, I experienced a defining moment recently during a class with Jordan Kanewa, our Director of Self-Defense. We both realized that, for the first time, there were no new participants in the class—just two weeks after opening. The room was full of returning members, individuals who not only believe in what we’re doing but are fully invested in it. They’ve committed to this space, to our mission, and to the empowering community we’re cultivating. To me, that’s the heart of our mission being fulfilled: women saying “yes” to themselves, to each other, and trusting us to help them continue that cycle of empowerment. It’s an incredible honor to be part of that journey with them.
How was our event different from what you had experienced in classes beforehand? How was it a continuation of what you’ve fostered in the three weeks you’ve been open?
There was something incredibly special about having a guest in our space, especially for our first event with an outside instructor just a week after opening—that felt like a major milestone. If our mission is to uplift women and girls in a sport historically shaped by male bodies and male culture, seeing Sakura, a woman who has excelled in the martial arts (karate) world, leading this event was truly powerful. The difference between this event and our regular programming was that it gave the women and girls in attendance the chance to see a successful woman thriving in a sport typically dominated by men. It was like saying, “We’re here to make space for women and girls in martial arts, and here’s a prime example of a woman who is leading the way.” It was inspiring to witness and an amazing representation of what we’re trying to build.
In many ways, the event was a continuation of what we’ve been fostering since we opened. We kept the same structure—a HIIT class followed by self-defense—but this time, these women and girls were working out alongside an Olympian, which is such a surreal and exciting thing to say! At its core, the event was a reflection of our ongoing mission: for women to leave our space feeling more empowered than when they walked in, and for girls to see themselves in a sport that society often tells them isn’t for them. We’re breaking down patriarchal norms, one class at a time, and this event was a powerful extension of that effort.
What were your favorite moments before, during, after, and why?
Sharing a meal at Han Oak with everyone, especially Sakura, was such a memorable experience. It’s not every day you get to relax, share drinks, and sing karaoke with an Olympian who is so humble and grounded that you’d never guess her incredible achievements. I often tell people that while Femme Rising is a women-owned jiu-jitsu and self-defense studio, at its heart, it’s about creating a new kind of community. In a world where competition often overshadows connection—especially among women—we’re here to change that. Our mission is to replace competition with collaboration, breaking down the barriers that patriarchy has built to pit women against one another. That dinner felt like a true reflection of this mission: a group of incredible women coming together in unity and humility. It set the perfect tone for the weekend, which was all about building community in the most genuine way.
As the event unfolded, Sakura’s kata performance left everyone in awe. Despite her petite frame, she commanded the entire room with her presence. It was deeply moving to witness her journey—everything that had brought her to this moment. Her remark about being more nervous to perform in our studio than at the Olympics was unforgettable. But what touched me the most was seeing the women in the room, completely captivated, sitting on the edge of their seats and seeing a reflection of themselves in her. It felt like a collective healing of their inner child, as they drew strength and inspiration from her. In that moment, it was clear that we were building something bigger than just a class or an event. There was no competition in the room—only admiration and empowerment. It was the purest form of what we’re striving for: success through community and mutual support.
After the event, the sight of young girls eagerly taking pictures with Sakura was incredibly heartwarming. I spoke with my friend Meredith, whose six-year-old niece was there, and it was amazing to see the impact Sakura had on her. Despite her long list of titles and achievements, Sakura connected with these girls on a personal level, making them feel seen and valued. The fact that Meredith’s niece couldn’t stop talking about meeting an Olympian the next day at school was a testament to how deeply the experience resonated with her. Sakura’s kindness and openness showed that true leadership is about lifting others up, no matter their age or background. That connection, the ability to inspire the next generation, is something that will stay with Meredith’s niece—and with me—for a long time.
— Sakura Kokumai
I wonder if you’d ever want to not exist as a business because women one day will feel so safe, and well equipped, and well protected. I know that is dreaming maybe too big, but any thoughts that come up when I share that sentiment?
About two months ago, we undertook a big project at Femme Rising where we invited women to share their experiences—the nuances, fears, joys, and worries that are unique to being a woman. The statements were raw and honest: “I wish I didn’t have to walk around with one AirPod in,” “I wish I didn’t have to carry pepper spray,” “I wish I didn’t have to ask my friends to text me when they got home out of fear rather than care,” “I wish I could run at night,” and “I wish I didn’t have to leave hair and fingerprints in Uber and Lyft rides.”
On the day we were scheduled to record the audio for this project, news broke that a Beaverton Providence St. Vincent nurse, Melissa Jubane (say her name), had been murdered by her neighbor while walking to her car for a 6 a.m. shift at the hospital. This tragedy hit me hard. It was a stark reminder that no woman is truly safe—Melissa was killed by her neighbor in the suburbs, just going about her daily routine. That event changed the tone of our project completely. It wasn’t just theoretical anymore. It became painfully clear that no one, no woman, is safe simply existing. Melissa was murdered for simply taking up space.
In that moment, I found myself saying out loud, “I’m so over having to justify why a place like Femme Rising has to exist. And I’m over the fact that it even has to exist.” Women have never been safe simply existing, and while I would love to see a world where Femme Rising isn’t needed, the systems that claim to protect and uplift women have failed us. The statistic of 1 in 3 women being assaulted is no longer acceptable—and that’s only the violence that’s reported and believed.
Femme Rising exists out of necessity, not luxury. It’s a privilege that we’re able to create this space in the face of femicide and patriarchy, but our goal isn’t just to exist long-term. Our end goal is to live in a world where 1 in 3 isn’t a reality, where pepper spray keychains aren’t so casual, where women, girls, femme-identifying individuals, and marginalized communities can walk with the same confidence men have had for centuries. The ultimate goal is for safety to be a universal right, not a privilege. Until that day comes, Femme Rising has to exist. We don’t have the luxury of wishing otherwise right now.
What do you hope for the women and the teens and the little girls who came to our session?
I hope that every woman, teen, and little girl who attended our session left feeling more inspired, empowered, and connected to both themselves and others than when they first walked in. I want them to have felt at ease in our space—a sense of relief from the mental load women constantly carry, with their nervous systems always in a state of fight or flight. My hope is that they were able to let that go, knowing they were safe, that our space is created for them, and they are welcome just as they are.
I also hope they feel inspired to share what they’ve learned. At Femme Rising, we aim to build a generational legacy where women empower one another, passing down these lessons to the next generation. I hope the children who came with their caregivers felt empowered by them, and in turn, will go on to empower their friends, and someday their own children, continuing that cycle.
Furthermore, I want the community we are fostering within our studio to extend beyond its walls. The connections and empowerment that happen here should ripple outward into the lives of everyone who comes through our doors. Whether it’s with their families, friends, coworkers, or the places they frequent, they take a piece of this community with them, one centered on connection over competition. This is the beginning of a much larger movement, where empowerment and humility spread beyond us and into the wider world.
What do you hope for Sakura as the expert?
My hope for Sakura is that she truly understands how interconnected our success is. We cannot succeed without her, and she cannot succeed without us. I also deeply hope that karate makes it into the 2024 Olympics in LA—I’ve made it a personal mission to do whatever I can to support that, and I want to see that happen for her.
Sakura mentioned how she wished she’d had a space like Femme Rising when she was growing up, and that’s something I’ve heard from so many of our coaches who have been part of the jiu jitsu world for years. This is the first time they’ve seen a space that is exclusively for women and non-binary individuals in an environment that has historically catered to masculine culture and energy. My hope for Sakura is that she’s inspired to create her own version of “Femme Rising” in the karate world. I want her to build studios for young girls like her, where they are no longer the minority in the sport but become the majority.
— Sakura Kokumai
Any other feelings or reflections from our weekend together that you’d want to share?
This is just the beginning. Honestly, it felt like a little glimpse of heaven.
For me, heaven is women simply existing, breathing, and taking up space without hesitation or fear. That’s what we’re building at Femme Rising—a space where women can feel free to take up the room they deserve. It brings me to tears thinking about it, because this is exactly what we’re accomplishing: women reclaiming their space, unapologetically.