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A list of publicly advertised self-defense & martial arts classes, that are for LGBTQIA+ students only, and are taught by LGBTQIA+ instructors.Last updated 9/6/2025. Info is self-declared by each organization and is not verified by Degenderettes; let us know if something needs updating. Sharing link: degenderettes.org/classlistDegenderettes' recommended curriculum for trans-fems who are BIPOC or sex workers (see degenderettes.org/downloads for our curriculum):Other items in the "Degenderettes Score":
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Score is these things ->Teamwork TechniquesInconspicuous GrapplingIntimidation & FawningVerbal ManipulationRegular SparringTrans-fem Led*BIPOC Led*Isolated LGBTQ TimeslotTrans ProtocolsAccessible / CleanMasked or OutdoorsCost
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Degenderettes ScoreCityProject TitleLocationFrequencyTimeInstagram ContactNotes
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5Athens / onlineQueer Liberation Martial Artsonlineyesnoyesyesyesfree@queerselfdefensepatreon.com/queerselfdefense
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1Ashland OregonWomen's BJJAshland Hero Academyyesno
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10AtlantaKnight Fight TSD
Team Lis Smash (East Atlanta Village)
every other Sunday (every Sunday starting 2025)
yesyesyesyesyesyesnoyesyesyesyes$10-$31@knight_fight_tsd
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7Atlanta (Lithonia)Women's BJJTemporal Jiu JitsuSundays10:00 AMyesyesyesnoyesyesyes
no, but big space w/airflow "grappling presents a challenge for masks, we've asked that people keep vaccination up to date and stay home if feeling off"
free@cordi.cepsBJJ club
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1AustinQueer MMABlack Widow MMAmonthlyfree@coach.lu.atx
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Baltimore & DC & Online
Strange Fox Fighting Arts (Bataireacht)
sign up on website
Baltimore: Sundays 2pm (Other locations: Sat, Sun, Tues, Weds)
2:00 PMyesyesyes
no, but hope to be by the end of 2024
nosomeyes
yes: DC classes wheelchair accessible; 2024 Baltimore location requires stairs to access
yes$20-$30@bmorebataseated & online classes available
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1ChicagoHaymaker GymRizal Center (1332 W Irving Park)
Thursdays & Saturdays (see @haymakergym)
yes@haymakergym
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7ChicagoTASCHan Training1st & 3rd Saturdays2:30 PMyes
upcoming
upcoming
upcoming
yesnonoyesyesyesyesfree@tascchicago
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2ChicagoQueer Kickboxing Club Chicagowww.qkcchicago.comschedulablenoyesyes@qkcchicago
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10CincinnatiCincinnati Trans Supportroamingsporadicyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesfree / donation@513transsupport
"CTSN hosts these events periodically, following the curriculum of [the] zine, plus working through situations the audience asks about"
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9ClevelandQueer Martial Arts Club (CLE)Rhizome House
1st & 3rd Sundays, 2nd & 4th Saturdays
upcoming
yesyesyes
upcoming
yesnoyesyesyesyesfree / donation@qmac.cle
Collaborative approach - come share your knowledge!
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3ColumbusDegenderettes Columbusyesnoyesyes@degenderettescbusmay return 2024?
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8DurhamQueer & Trans Self DefenseElevate MMA Academy1st Saturdays3-4pmyesyesyesyesnononoyesyesyesnofree@lil.bruisie
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5DurhamPlay Fight Movemessage for locationongoingyesnoyes
yes (private lessons)
yesyes?pay what you can / $25-$40 sliding scale, no one turned away for cost@playfightmove
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10DC/MarylandDMV Queer Fight ClubHighstyle JJSundays & Tuesdaysyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyessomefree@queer_dmv_fightclub
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7EugeneQueer Eugene Grappling ClubLavender NetworkSundays12:00 PMyesyesyesnoyesyesyesnofree
@queer.eugene.grappling.club
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6HoustonLGBTQ BJJ ClassThird Ward BJJMonthly11:30 AMyesyesnonoyesno
no, but BIPOC guest instructors
yesyes
no requirement "but many do"
free / donation@thirdwardbjj
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8Indianapolis (Fishers)Academic GrapplingAcademic Grappling
Mon-Thur 7pm, Mon/Wed 8am, Fri 9am
yesyesyesnoyesnoyesyesyesyesno$100+@academicgrappling
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6Los AngelesQT GrapplingBreakdown Academy2nd & 4th Sundays2:30 PMyesyesnoyesyesyesnofree
@qt.losangeles.grappling
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5Los AngelesSupernova*on hiatus* [7/24]no classes summer 2024yesyesyesyesyes@rykaaokion hiatus, TBD
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5Leeds (UK)Bent CollectiveDM for locationsee scheduleyes
yes (1 class)
yesyes
yes (1 class)
@bent_collective
bentcollectiveuk@gmail.com muay thai, pro-wrestling, submission grappling, QTIPOC class, self defence
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6LouisvillePlay Fight Move*moved to Durham
weekly on saturdays and by appointment
11:00 AMyesnoyesyesyes
yes, gym is wheelchair accessible, kept low odor, low/necessary light, and a separate space is kept for any needed quiet moments
yespay what you can / $25-$40 sliding scale, no one turned away for cost@playfightmove
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9Milwaukee
FitPower's Collective Safety Program
FitPowercontactn/ayesyesyesyesnoyesyesyesyes
some, with other covid protocols
free@fitpowermke
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6Oklahoma City, OKOKC DSA Queer Fight ClubDiversity Center of Oklahoma
Twice a month on Mondays
7:00 PM
upcoming
upcoming
upcoming
upcoming
yesnonoyesyesyesyesfree@okcdsa
"We also teach first aid techniques. After October we might be moving locations to Evolve Church, an explicitly queer-affirming church right next door to one of OKC's most popular gay bars."
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5NYCFearless QueersBond Street Dojotwice a month1:30 PMyesyesyesyesdonation@selfdefenseisgay
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3NYCPop Gymroamingworkshops per availabilityn/a
upcoming
upcoming
upcoming
upcoming
nosomesomesomeyesyesfree / donation@popgymbk
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2NYCQueer Fight School (Brooklyn)Queens Training Club1st Sundays1:30 PMyesfree@queerfightschool
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9Oakland CaliforniaQueer CombatMisfit CombatFridays7:00 PMyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesfree@misfitcombat
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3OaklandWarrior ExpandOutdoorsnoyesyes
yes outdoors
@warriorexpand
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10PittsburghQueer Fight Club PGH
email for location: queerfightclubpgh@proton.me
mondays8:00 PMyesyesyesyesyesyesnoyesyesstairsyesfree@queerfightclubpgh
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3Portland OregonAutonomy RecoveryAlder Commons2nd Saturdays1:30 PMyesyesfree@autonomyrecovery
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4Portland OregonSafe TogetherMarie Equi Centersporadicnoyesyesyesyes
pay what you can
@hollyempowered
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7Portland OregonQT PDX Grappling ClubFemme Rising3rd Saturdaysyesyesyesyesyesyesfree@qt_pdx_grapplingclub@femmerisingstudio
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12Portland OregonDegenderettes x UnicornUnicorn Jiu JitsuEvery Friday7:30 PMyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesfree@degenderettes
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8Portland OregonDegenderettes x SWAMP
Southwest Portland Martial Arts (SWAMP)
Every Sunday2:00 PMnoyesnonoyesyesyesyesyesnoyesfree@degenderettes
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11Portland OregonDegenderettes Clubhouse1628 N Columbia #F (Kenton Max)Every Day (see schedule)
all classes
yes, see schedule
yes, see schedule
yes, see schedule
yes, see schedule
yes, see schedule
yesyesyesyes
no (gravel lot, small bathroom, striking downstairs but wrestling upstairs, strong automotive odors)
yes
$10 gym use, free self-defense classes
@degenderettes
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6Online (Tiktok)Queers Never Dietiktok @queersneverdiearchived video seriesn/ayesyesyesyesnoyesnonon/an/afreetiktok: @queersneverdievideo series
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1Salt Lake CityStonewall Self Defensenonoyesno$60/month
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3SeattleSnowblind BJJSeattle Aikikai (Capitol Hill)
weekends (see schedule)
yesyesnoyesnomembership@snowblind_bjj
sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym run by a transfem blackbelt
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4SeattleRed Panda Gym1415 10th Ave #2 (Capitol Hill)Every Day (see schedule)
all classes
yesyesnoyesyesstairsno
gym membership
@redpandaboxing
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10SeattleQueer Self Defense & MovementRed Panda Boxing (Capitol Hill)Tuesdays7:00 PMyesyesyesyesnonoyesyesyesyesyes
$5-15 or free (NOTAFLOF)
@qt.combatarts.206rotating guest instructors
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7Seattle (North)LGBTQBJJBallard BJJ2nd & 4th Sundays11:00 AMyesyesnoyesyesyes
yes, but 4th sunday is masks optional (bjj sparring/competition focused)
free@gwenjitsu
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8Seattle (North)Queer Fight NightBallard BJJ1st Saturdays7:00 PMyesyesyesyesyesyesyesdonation@queerfightnightseattle
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1St LouisQueer Fight Clubyes@qfc.stl
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5TorontoTransFightersTOmessage organizersmessage organizersyesyesyesyesfree@transfightersTOqtbjjto@gmail.com
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0Victoria BCtransfem training clubVictoria Martial Artsevery other Sunday5:00 PM
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Teamwork TechniquesExamples: Tackling & finishing; Bystander training & de-arrest; Confrontation formations; Recruiting onlookers & exploiting allies; Squad building exercises; Boffer battles; Discussion of buddy system, mutual aid, collective living, medical advocates, adult advocates, bathroom accomplices.
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Inconspicuous GrapplingMoves that improve your positional control without alerting an aggressor that you've become defensive (to maintain a resource-related relationship, protect a shared-custody child, or secure client payment).
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Intimidation & FawningIntimidation: posture and internal techniques (with or without a weapon) to make an aggressor de-escalate. Fawning: theatrical and environmental techniques that make an aggressor feel satisfied or inappropriate.
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Verbal Manipulation"Fast-talk" training to prevent an aggressor's ramp-up. Bluffing that you have backup or crowd support. Shaming against bystanders or a respected figure. Femme voice, for passing or respectability. Verbal over-escalation. Befriending, sharing history, appealing for sympathy. Distration, misinformation. Create openings for physical techniques.
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Regular SparringGames that improve comfort with reaction and improvisation (ie. sock wrestling, BJJ rolling, boxing sparring, wrestling for foam knives, etc.).
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Trans-fem Led
a trans-fem lead instructor, OR a trans-fem administrator & a trans-fem teachers-assistant present in class
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BIPOC Led
at least one instructor is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color
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Isolated LGBTQ timeslot
No other general classes in the gym before/during/after class (especially while trans students are changing).
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Accessible / Clean
Good disability accessibility (ie. no stairs, wide walkways, ADA bathroom, low scents).
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Clean and well ventilated gym space, disinfected mats, and low odors.
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Trans Protocols
Protocols for pronouns and dysphoria, and explicit announced support for trans people.
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Masked or Outdoors
* acknowledge some covid risk from masks slipping off during drills & sparring
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Costconfirm with host
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