Health Promotion
Feminist Self-Defense
April 17, 2025 at 6:30pm – 8:30pm EDT
Barnes Center at The Arch, Flanagan Gymnasium
Feminist Self-Defense is a research-based, trauma-informed empowerment self-defense (ESD) program founded in 2014 by Rachel Piazza. Workshops are fun, affirming and welcoming to people of all genders, ages and abilities. Students learn through a combination of interactive discussion, role-plays, boundary-setting exercises and hands-on physical self-defense instruction. Feminist Self-Defense workshops do more than teach participants to fight off an attacker. Participants learn to build healthier relationships, navigate difficult interactions with more ease and ultimately reduce their risk of sexual assault.
Rachel Piazza is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and she is also an adjunct professor of women’s and gender studies at New Jersey City University.
Rachel’s research-based and trauma-informed workshops have reached thousands nationwide and caught the attention of numerous media outlets, including ESPN and The New York Times.
This program is a special event for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
This event was first published on March 17, 2025 and last updated on March 21, 2025.
Event Details
- Category
- Health Promotion
- Type
- Workshops
- Region
- Main Campus
- Open to
- Current Students
- Cost
- Free
- Group
- Student Experience
- Organizer
- Barnes Center at The Arch
- Contact
- Leslie Skeffington
laskeffi@syr.edu
315.443.8000
- Accessibility
- Contact Leslie Skeffington to request accommodations