The supportive community at Seven Star has helped me move through some big fears and find joy in the movement and the fight. Practicing self defense and sparring were scary at first but I'm becoming more and more strong and confident in my body and in the ways I move through the world.

A highlight was at the 2023 Pride March, doing Kata 2 with all my fellow white belts through downtown Seattle as the crowd went wild!

It’s hard to sum up something so transformative in a few sentences. I started training because I thought it would be fun to hit things, and while it absolutely is, I had no idea how much more it was. Seven Star has given me the space, the support and the tools to (re)invent myself physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

After surviving a violent relationship, I was looking for a safe place to develop fighting and self-defense skills. The art of Kajukenbo and the superior instruction at Seven Star have transformed me in ways I never thought possible. I am stronger, more focused, and more resilient than ever before. Even my coworkers have commented on my newfound confidence, my ability to speak up, and my leadership skills.

I have always wanted to learn martial arts in a space that is welcoming of BIPOC folks and people of all shapes and sizes! I found all of this and more when I joined Seven Star! I love that I am in a space learning with women and nonbinary people and that I'm learning how to be more confident and how to protect myself and the people I love!

Training has made me more confident, increased my understanding of my own body, and has given me skills to be strong and defend myself. But what I didn't expect was how much it has done for my mental health. It gets me out of the house, away from all the pressures of work and family, to a place of joy and play among friends who work hard and play hard, who support me and challenge me and keep me accountable. When I am exhausted and I've had a bad day and I show up to train, all that gets left behind, becuase you have to be fully present when you are about to get punched in the face. You can't worry about board meeting or the car maintenence or the unpaid bill. Training makes me work hard and do things I never thought I could do and then leave feeling like I can handle anything as long as I just keep going.

Since training at Seven Star, I have gained the confidence to travel abroad solo, set better boundaries with friends, work, and strangers, and become stronger, both physically and mentally. Plus, I made some of my closest friends, who I get to punch (with consent)!