
Fighting Matters
Fighting fascism and the far-right in combat sports like MMA and BJJ.
Fighting Matters
Jiu-Jitsu and Intimate Partner Violence, feat. D'Juan Owens
Jesse Walker, Jeff Shaw, and Steve Kwan are joined by longtime martial artist, educator, and activist D’Juan Owens. Together, they examine how self-defense training often overlooks the realities of abuse, how martial arts culture can enable victim blaming, and what it really means to create a safe, accountable training environment.
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👥 Featuring:
• D’Juan Owens – Martial artist, educator, activist
• Jesse Walker – @RoughHandsBJJ
• Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ
• Steve Kwan @bjjmentalmodels
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🧠 Topics We Cover:
• Why most self-defense seminars miss the mark
• The myth of the stranger in the alley
• How martial arts culture can enable abuse
• The importance of teaching consent and boundaries
• What it means to build a safer gym culture
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to D’Juan Owens and His Work
00:50 The Journey into Gender-Based Violence Advocacy
09:22 Teaching Self-Defense and Positive Masculinity
11:00 Understanding Privilege and Victim Blaming
13:06 The Complexity of Privilege and Systemic Issues
18:37 Understanding Privilege and Responsibility
21:20 The Psychology of Self-Defense
22:14 Misconceptions in Self-Defense Training
23:25 The Reality of Assaults
26:56 Accountability and Cultural Norms
28:25 The Fallacy of Both Sides
30:11 Moral Cowardice in Jiu-Jitsu
34:07 The Role of Messengers in Self-Defense
37:04 Setting Boundaries and Consent
42:21 The Importance of Power and Responsibility
48:35 Understanding Risk and Personality in Young Adults
49:32 The Importance of Mixed Gender Seminars
51:20 Creating a Toolkit for Situational Awareness
53:13 The Role of Consent in Self-Defense Training
58:27 Navigating Consent and Communication in Martial Arts
01:01:58 Challenging Toxic Masculinity in Martial Arts
01:09:00 Addressing Misconceptions About Women in Jiu Jitsu
01:13:17 Cultural Sensitivity in Self-Defense Training