WHO ARE

Who are Women Educating in Self-defense Training?

We are a not-for-profit group of women teaching self-defense to women and their children in British Columbia since 1976.

Wenlido courses are recommended by many people and groups, such as Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter, Women Against Violence Against Women (W.A.V.A.W.), Vancouver's Women's Health Collective and the Battered Women's Support Services. We maintain contact and cooperate with various women's groups in North America, and around the world.

In addition to teaching a 12 hour Basic Wenlido course, we do speaking engagements, provide Continuing Wenlido self-defense training, Instructor Training and a support system for women in self-defense.

WHERE IS WENLIDO TAUGHT?

Basic Wenlido courses are taught in many areas of B.C. & Alberta. In B.C. we are in the Lower Mainland, Kootenays, Okanagan, Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlottes. Our sister group, Women In Self-defense Education is in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We can and will come to you.

Basic programs are twelve hours in length and are usually taught over a six week period or as a two day workshop. They can be adapted for the needs of any group.

All Wenlido instructors are certified annually and take extensive practical training in verbal and physical techniques.

A BIT OF HERSTORY

"We" all started in Toronto in the early 1970s and were called Wen-Do, a name owned by the Paige family (a family of martial artists who felt that their art did not meet the need by the family women for self-defense). It was incorporated as a business and later a non-profit corporation.

As time passed, Wen-Do became a Canada-wide, and national organization, and I moved to the westcoast and we grew here as Wen-Do West. With continued growth, we found it difficult to function as a Canada-wide organization as Canada is such a big country and needs vary across regions. In the early 1980's, we decided to decentralize and since the name was legally owned by the Paiges we changed our name and registered as a BC not-for-profit society - Women Educating in Self-defense Training (WEST) - teaching Wenlido.

Alice Macpherson was the senior instructor, and part of the first group of Wen-Do instructors in Toronto and developed their instructor training program. What she and other WEST instructor's taught as Wenlido was effectively the same as what a student would get if they took a Wen-Do class. We continue to respond to the real needs of women and their children for practical self-defense techniques and knowledge and so our materials have also developed over time.

WEST is an ally and friendly sister-organization with our own separate administration and legal construction to Wen-Do Inc. and other women’s groups teaching self-defense.

HOW DO I FIND A WENLIDO CLASS?

Wenlido classes can be arranged through W.E.S.T. for any group of ten or more. Mother/daughter groups are encouraged. We will travel to any place (community centre, home, business, etc.) where women wish to learn effective self-defense. We regularly teach through a variety of schools, community organizations and women's centres

What is needed to set up a class is an open space, large enough to allow the participants to move freely. It should have chairs, clean floors and comfortable temperatures. Class size is limited to a maximum of twenty. The times can be arranged to suit the needs of the group. Costs for the course per person average $75 and are subject to sliding scale based on need

Call of write to us for classes already scheduled in your area.

B.C., Canada, 1 (604) 876-6390

Contact us by email:
Women Educating in Self-defense Training (WEST).

Return to the Wenlido home page.