Self Defense Class with LGBTQIA+ and Women Focus: Asbury Park / Jersey Shore Plura Community Polyamory/CNM/ENM September Meetup

Open event! New and returning members are welcome!

Asbury Park / Jersey Shore Plura Community

🎉 We are excited to announce another event for the Asbury Park / Jersey Shore Plura Community (APJSPC)! This time we will host a self-defense class, specifically for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and Women (but all genders/sexual identities are welcome!) at CMB Karate. Socializing (food/drinks) to follow after the class, location TBD.

🤡 This event is hosted for the Asbury Park / Jersey Shore Plura Community group. Please feel free to join our chat! https://plra.io/m/chat/asbury-park-nj-jersey-s?r=ali1233

👋 Please note that this is an educational and community-building event. It is NOT a “pick up” event and it is NOT a play/sex event. The purpose of this event is to learn together, make friends, and build community. Please see the “Community Guidelines” below for more information. All attendees will be required to read the community guidelines before the event, and to give verbal consent to adhere to the guidelines at the event.

WHAT IS A SELF-DEFENSE CLASS?

🥷 This is a self-defense seminar covering basic defense principles as well as specific situational defenses (e.g. attacked from behind, defense against a knife, on the ground defense, etc.). We welcome participants of all genders and sexual identities, but the class is designed with LGBTQIA+ folks and women in mind. If you do not identify as a member of these groups, you are welcome to attend but please be mindful of the centering of the class for gender and sexual minorities (if you're not sure what we mean by this, please ask a host! We are happy to clarify). The class will be taught by Master Christopher M. Brooks and assisted by our very own APJSPC member, Jared! Note, if you are able, there is a suggested donation of $10 (you are welcome to donate more or less, depending on what you can afford) to help Jared cover the cost of the event. No profit will be made, this is only to help cover the expenses of the event.

WHEN

🗓 Friday October 17. Please arrive between 6:30 and 7:00. The class will begin at 7:00 and finish around 8:30. We will optionally socialize after at a local bar/restaurant (location TBD).

WHERE

📍CMB Karate 2025 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ, 08550

WHAT TO EXPECT

🌈 When you arrive at the karate studio, look for Tab and Nate. They will be easy to spot in their rainbow headband and rainbow cap. Introduce yourself to Tab and Nate and they will review the “Community Guidelines” (see below) with you. After you verbally agree to the community guidelines, they will provide you with a name tag. Important note: There is a family-friendly event happening at the karate studio before our self-defense class. Please be mindful of this as far as dress, language, etc. Important to note 2 (trigger warning): Due to the nature of a self-defense class, some challenging subjects will be discussed such as attempted sexual assault, weapons, etc.

🤝 The hosts will help you get set up and will introduce you to the other people in our group, including our own member and self-defense co-instructor, Jared.

🥋 Then, we will participate in the self-defense class together. We may socialize at a local bar/restaurant after the class.

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR

Bring a bottle of water. Dress comfortably in workout-appropriate attire. Jewelry should be taken off and no shoes allowed on the mats.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

🅿️ For information on cost, accessibility, food, and parking, please visit this link. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kadnhkWt1wNxT8XmnaD3JWuMnSnEQLbTMLxLy1XceNU/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ilclpp7jigd8

ASBURY PARK / JERSEY SHORE PLURA COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

✅ All members are required to read the community guidelines before the event, and to verbally agree to the community guidelines with our hosts, Tab and Nate, upon arriving at the event. Please visit this link for the community guidelines. https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c0a5HI2vFHERJkFF-gApAQbHhMr5fLlVFuIqnmYFT0/edit#heading=h.v5oxhmi6g8sv

WRAP UP

🥳 We are excited to see you for our event on Friday October 17! Please re-read this entire event posting the day of the event, including the community guidelines page, in case any changes/updates were made.

💬 Please post any questions/comments/concerns in the event chat. Please monitor the chat on the day of the event for any updates.

🙈 (By the way, if you’re feeling nervous/shy about attending, we hope you will consider being brave and joining us 😁 Your hosts want to make the event fun for all members! If you decide to come but end up feeling awkward/nervous/uncomfortable at the event, let us know and we will work with you to adjust and make it more fun 😁 Let’s build this community together!)

😁 See you soon! 😁😁😁