Hi all,
Last Saturday Neil and I attended the first TRAUMA INFORMED MARTIAL ARTS inaugural conference online, hosted in Australia.
It was led by Georgia Verry of the FightBack Project and the event bought together 20 or so martial artists, psychologists, sociologists and therapists from across the globe, all keen on developing ideas around how the Traditional Martial Arts (and to some extent MMA too) can help trauma survivors process their experiences in a safe setting.
There was a wealth of knowledge on display and a clear desire for everyone to share good practice and experiences.
The chat section of the day was buzzing with references and content, for attendees to explore further.
The day featured a group discussion of how Martial Arts have impacted us, followed by a deeper discussion of each of the related attributes that had been raised. It’s so clear that the many different styles of Martial Arts each has something unique to offer (and perhaps meeting different needs, which is a topic worth exploring in future).
There was plenty of time for questions, ideas, chatting and networking and there's talk of a dedicated WhatsApp group to afford further sharing going forwards.
Neil and I couldn't attend the second day but met some really interesting and dedicated practitioners and with whom we're keen to keep in touch.
Overall then, an important event to have attended. Watch this space as we'll share the wisdom that this group cultivates, over time.
Train well and be safe,
Syd and Neil