El Alto, Bolivia – Lidia Mayta, a Bolivian woman, turned to the practice of taekwondo after surviving a violent robbery attempt three years ago. Motivated by her own experience, Mayta now plays a crucial role in training Indigenous women in Bolivia to defend themselves against the prevalent gender-based violence in the South American country.
Mayta’s journey into taekwondo began when she was attacked outside her home, with neighbors coming to her rescue. In response to this traumatic incident, she decided to join a women-only taekwondo class at the Warmi Power studio in El Alto, Bolivia. Warmi, the Quechua word for “woman,” serves as a safe space for Indigenous women to learn self-defense techniques.
With her newfound skills and determination, Mayta quickly became an integral part of the training team at Warmi Power, helping to translate instructions into Aymara, another Indigenous language in Bolivia. Her goal is to empower women and help them overcome the fear of violence, emphasizing the importance of violence prevention.
Gender-based violence remains a significant issue in Bolivia, with government data indicating that eight out of ten women and girls in the country experience physical violence at least once in their lives. Women’s rights advocacy groups highlight the normalization of gender-based violence in Bolivian society, where many men view women as property.
To combat this deep-rooted issue, Bolivians Laura Roca and Kimberly Nosa established Warmi Power in 2015 to teach women taekwondo for self-defense. As experienced taekwondo practitioners, Roca and Nosa have trained over 35,000 women across Bolivia, empowering them to protect themselves and break free from cycles of violence.
In classes at El Alto, Indigenous women engage in taekwondo training, many of whom are involved in informal trade. Through rigorous physical exercises and self-defense techniques, these women learn to identify assailants’ weak spots and gain the confidence to defend themselves in threatening situations.
The significance of taekwondo goes beyond physical training, as it instills a sense of empowerment and unity among women. By fostering a supportive environment and teaching practical skills, programs like Warmi Power aim to equip women with the tools necessary to resist and combat gender-based violence in their communities.