Jiu-Jitsu and Intimate Partner Violence, feat. D'Juan Owens
Fighting Matters
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. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: • D’Juan Owens – Martial artist, educator, activist • Jesse Walker – @RoughHandsBJJ • Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ • Steve Kwan @bjjmentalmodels ⸻ 🧠 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 ⸻ 📖 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
