{"id":213356,"date":"2020-02-07T10:29:58","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T15:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=213356"},"modified":"2020-02-07T10:29:58","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T15:29:58","slug":"cuban-women-learn-jiu-jitsu-to-protect-themselves-against-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/cuban-women-learn-jiu-jitsu-to-protect-themselves-against-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuban women learn jiu-jitsu to protect themselves against abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

The change begins by taking off jewelry, makeup and everything that hinders you to fight. \u201cWe ask the young women to even cut their fingernails,\u201d explains Elena Molina, one of the organizers of a jiu-jitsu workshop to \u201cempower\u201d women in imminent situations of rape.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, ready to \u201croll on the floor,\u201d about 20 participants in the course begin the true process of transformation, which goes from the physical to the mental: learning that defending and hitting an aggressor is not \u201ca bad thing\u201d and convincing themselves that they can face a stronger person trying to overpower them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s about a paradigm shift and building the confidence that you can be prepared for a difficult situation,\u201d adds Fabiana Salgado, the other half of the duo behind Arthaus, an autonomous creative space, dedicated mainly to art and now hosting this initiative, unprecedented in Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fabiana Salgado, artist and organizer of the Arthaus project, talks with EFE, on January 29, 2020, in Havana (Cuba). Photo: EFE \/ Ernesto Mastrascusa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Be prepared for the worst<\/b><\/p>\n

The images are eloquent. Javier Pe\u00f1a, the professor of \u201cJiu-jitsu against Rape,\u201d shows them on the cell phone to those who still doubt that a woman can overpower an attacker.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two different girls keep two aggressors immobilized on the floor, struggling to get away without achieving it. The two practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu or BJJ.<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea of \u200b\u200bteaching techniques and training women with an \u201ceffective guide\u201d to stop a possible sexual assault was in Pe\u00f1a’s mind for months. According to him, it is not about neutralizing the aggressor, but about gaining time and getting out of dangers way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s about empowerment, that at any given time you can defend yourself, protect yourself from an extreme situation. It is not ideal to reach it, but if you are there, what do you do? Repond,\u201d emphasizes the former athlete, with more than 18 years of experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: EFE \/ Ernesto Mastrascusa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a self-defense system that does not use force but works with the functioning of the body, jiu-jitsu\u2015in this case the BBJ No-gi or without kimono\u2015comes in handy for classes, divided into three sessions with practical solutions like what to do when an aggressor tries to force you on the floor or attacks you from behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reaction of the students when facing this sport for the first time is one of the things that satisfies Pe\u00f1a. \u201cIt is impressive when you give the first explanations, sees disbelief in their faces, of \u2018I won\u2019t be able to do this,\u2019 and then you see that they are completing the movements. It’s about building confidence,\u201d he explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels very good to go from a situation of vulnerability, in which someone is trying to get between your legs to rape you, to take control and be able to strangle him,\u201d insists Pe\u00f1a, who warns that they don\u2019t \u201cencourage violence for the sake of violence, but there are times when you have to defend yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

First data on femicide in Cuba<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n