Founder Message

For over 10 years now, I have been involved in martial arts in some form or another – as a student, a teacher, a competitor, a referee, and a coach. However, for the majority of this time, I merely saw it as a way to stay active, unable to understand the importance of self-defense training.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, towards the end of 7th grade, I first became aware of the alarming surge in violence. This was when the tragic incident involving George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in police custody due to police brutality, took place and was all over the news. This event made me realize a harsh truth: being able to protect yourself instead of relying on others is essential in a world of power abuse. This realization was disturbing, yet it felt somewhat distant — much like most tragic events you see on the news. 

However, soon after, the news was flooded with reports of disturbing hate crimes against underprivileged and ethnic minorities, particularly within Asian communities — stories that resonated closer to home. Such incidents made these incidents feel very real. In January 2021, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man, was violently shoved to the ground during his usual morning walk in San Francisco. In March 2021, the Atlanta spa shootings resulted in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, in a series of attacks on massage parlors. Living close by and being Asian myself, the threats were no longer just news stories; they were potential realities for people like me and my family. These events started to consume parts of my life, and I began to question: what if these people had the ability to protect themselves? This question drove me to a deeper commitment to martial arts, not just as a physical activity, but as a means of empowerment and protection. 

During this time, I was still under quarantine, so I spent a lot of time researching and watching the news, trying to understand the social issue of violence and how self-defense could make a difference. The following year, when quarantine restrictions were lifted, I returned to my martial arts academy, not just as a student, but as a mentor to share my self-defense knowledge. Along the way, I helped Joseph, a student with Down syndrome, in achieving his goal of joining the U.S.A National Team at the Virtus Global Games. Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, I conducted the stretching sessions and adjusted the technique positions. I became the first to earn the presidential volunteer service award for my efforts in my academy. Looking back on my journey, learning self-defense training has not only provided me skills to protect myself and those around me but has also helped grow my confidence, mental strength, courage, determination, discipline, and much more. 

DefensEQ Gym holds my hope to expand my outreach and make self defense resources more accessible, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to feel safe and confident in their ability to handle any situation. On this platform, I create self-defense tutorials that aim to empower individuals by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves. By sharing my humble expertise as a 4th degree black belt in taekwondo, I hope to make the world a safer place for the youth. As a 4th degree black belt in taekwondo, I create self-defense tutorials that aim to empower individuals by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to defend the right way.

Jeongwoo Lee - Lambert High School