Pamplona Youth House to Host Free Self-Defense Workshop Ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The Pamplona youth House will resume offering personal defense training on Monday, November 24th, with a free, practical workshop. This marks the return of the activity after a six-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is scheduled as a lead-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25N).
The ‘Self-defense workshop against gender violence’ will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is open to individuals aged 12 to 30, with attendance limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Leading the session will be Arantxa Mecca San Martin,a national Judo coach (5th Dan). The workshop will equip attendees with crucial skills to identify, prevent, and react to potential risk situations. Beyond basic self-defense techniques, the training will concentrate on building self-confidence, enhancing perception of the environment, and improving decision making during critical moments.
The primary goal of the workshop is to empower youth in Pamplona, providing them with both physical and emotional tools to address potential instances of harassment or gender violence. Organizers emphasize that self-defense is presented as a extensive self-protection strategy, encompassing more than just physical confrontation.
Arantxa Mecca will also focus on recognizing different forms of violence – physical,psychological,and emotional – and will teach participants how to utilize body language and their voice to establish firm boundaries,and also basic techniques to free themselves from grips. The session will also cover Action protocols and available help resources for those experiencing gender violence.
This workshop is part of a broader awareness initiative by the City hall targeting young people, aiming to make gender violence visible, foster egalitarian relationships, and contribute to creating safer spaces for the community, particularly for women and teenagers.
