About this episode
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