Jim Gardner
KTO, DSA, SMA
International Program Director

Although one of our primary aims will be to encourage participation in a regular program of martial arts training and instruction among the communities we specifically target, we realize that many people will, for a variety of reasons, be unable to commit to regular training and classes.  As such, TMAA will establish a variety of outreach programs to make individuals within and outside of our specifically targeted communities aware of TMAA and our association's goals and objectives.

Community outreach efforts that we have undertaken, and look forward to engaging in again include:

  >  SF Community Self-Defense Seminars - Once a quarter we provide a community self-defense seminar in association with the LGBT Community Center of San Francisco. This is a free seminar with a donation requested, but no-one is turned away for lack of funds.

  >  SF - Young Womens Health Conference - We have provided self-defense seminars to this annual event that takes place in the San Francsico / Bay Area and reaches hundreds of young women with lectures and seminar information.

  >  SF - Gay Day Celebrations - We have provided lecturers and panel members for a number of high-school gay day celebrations within the San Francisco School district. These are important activities as they provide invaluable information, support, and resources to many youth from all communities.

  >  SF - Gay Pride Celebrations - We annually host an information booth and march in the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco. Our information booth reaches hundreds of thousands of visitors to San Francisco during June every year and our participation in the parade has garnered us television coverage and interviews. This all helps to provide a positive voice and representation of LGBTQQI martial artists to the community in general.

We engage in many other outreach efforts too numerous to mention here.  If you would like us to speak at your school, put on a demonstration at your workplace, or offer a self-defense seminar for your friends, please feel free to contact your local chapter or e-mail us at info@TriangleMAA.org.