WHO WE ARE
We are a radically inclusive martial arts collective based in Burlington, VT. We believe the practice of martial arts creates the opportunity to develop a diverse and supportive community, and that as a community we have the power to create and live the world of our dreams together. Martial arts are for everyone. Come train with us.
INSTRUCTORS
CHRISSY ROSE: KARATE, SELF-DEFENSE
Senpai Chrissy Rose (they/them) is a queer martial artist and activist with nearly ten years of teaching experience. They are a second-degree black belt and semi-knockdown champion (Gotham City Tournament, NYC 2023) in World Oyama style karate, and hold multiple awards for both open hand and weapons kata. Chrissy earned their nidan under Shihan Maria Van Dessel, and continues to train karate with her as well as other masters of the form, including Shihan Hiro Iwata and Shihan Freddy Victoria. Outside of karate, Chrissy studies Brazilian jiujitsu under Seth Shamp, and serves as a self-defense instructor for Prepare.inc, an Impact International organization. In 2022, Chrissy co-founded Fearless Queers Self Defense in order to address the crisis of violence against the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and has since provided free self-defense training to hundreds of members of the queer community in New York City and beyond.
Nico (they/them) is a queer martial artist, activist, and artist with almost a decade of teaching experience. Nico began practicing capoeira in Berkeley, California when they were four years old with Capoeira Brincadeira Viva under Carlos Hill, earning the title of formado by age eighteen. After taking a hiatus from capoeira in their twenties to focus on other passions, Nico returned to training in New York City, where they connected to the lineage of Mestre Nô of Capoeira Angola Palmares through Mestre Ombrinho (Capoeira Angola Quintal), and now Mestre Omi (Capoeira Ilê de Palmares). Nico has traveled to Brazil to practice capoeira and has attended rodas and seminars all over the east coast with some of the most notable living practitioners of the art form.
