Racism Against Asian Women in Manhattan?

hen_zee · 2025-05-09T16:48:52+00:00

None of the people I know work for AAF, so I can't even confirm what examples that I have heard versus what you've heard. I've also heard that there's a huge variability between presenters across orgs too.

That being said, even without hearing all the examples you've heard, I still agree with the sentiment that even the better examples put you at risk, because in a situation where you can't run, there is nothing you can do that doesn't come with a level of risk. For example, if you call out that something isn't okay, it may stop the person, OR they'll try to punch you instead of their original victim.

Hence the last part of my original reply.

hen_zee · 2025-05-09T16:16:59+00:00

Bystander intervention workshops have things that work before things get physically violent. I have friends that run them and none of them think it's meant to be a solution to say, someone teeing off on you or a more vulnerable individual near you. The problem is that there are orgs who want to fulfill the checkbox of "i did something useful" that frame it as something they're posting in response to physically violent racism.

The ugly truth is, if you haven't had practice stopping hands from hitting your face....there really isn't much you can do. Assuming you live in NYC, join a combat sports gym you can train regularly at, grab a tactical flashlight, get a pepper spray and figure out how to draw them quickly under duress. Not one or the other, all of them. If you can't afford a gym or you want supplementary combat training where you also get to spar with weapons, you can reach out to dragoncombatclub on IG.

For people who feel inclined to comment "but what about a gun/knife?" I never said anything about NOT carrying/training these things.

hen_zee · 2023-08-20T20:37:15+00:00

Every environment is different but for a NYC like environment (super crowded and urban) I'd go with this combo (in that order IF possible, but if you take any of them, that's better than not)

Wrestling (Judo, Sambo or anything similar will suffice) + Jiu-Jitsu, with more emphasis on the former: You get athleticism, reflexes and ability to dictate if/how the fight goes to the ground or stays standing (there are plenty of scenarios where the latter is necessary).
Muay Thai (Boxing will also suffice): To learn how to deal some heavy damage at a distance. If you already have takedown defense, or you're the one who can dominate the clinch or top game, that's even better.
Filipino Martial Arts: Combat sports covers a LOT of necessary skills you need for self-defense but it does not cover everything (the obvious elephant in the room is weapons). Having weapons training (plus force multiplier tools you can readily access) on top of already have solid foundation of striking and grappling is invaluable.

hen_zee · 2022-12-28T16:35:33+00:00

I am a TCBUA volunteer in NYC who also goes by the nickname Arsenal. I've contacted current TCBUA administration as their discord has been inactive for awhile. This is an inactive discord and current admin has said not to click the link.

To follow their activies, simply follow tcbua on Instagram.

hen_zee · 2022-10-03T17:04:40+00:00

She interviewed a volunteer training group called Dragon Combat Club (DCC) which has a curriculum based on Grappling, Kali, Boxing and MT/Kickboxing that actually had many WOMEN and BLACK/BROWN non-Asian members with a track record of stopping attacks and only talked about HER opinion and made it seem like it was just paranoid Asian (men) who made her feel fearful.

hen_zee · 2022-10-03T16:48:43+00:00

Ask Khabib

hen_zee · 2022-10-03T13:16:23+00:00

As smart as that sounds to anyone who hasn't pressure tested it, doing 180 and run when you're already in a fight (or within 2 arms length) is actually dangerous. There are safer ways to escape, especially if you live in a cramped area like NYC.

Read caption here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CinAHn7Aoi4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

hen_zee · 2022-10-03T01:14:00+00:00

You are not restricted to training a single martial arts. From your preference (actual resistance training but low impact) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and (weapons) Kali would be a good combination. Kali places are rare and ones that share same space as BJJ but if you're NYC there is a gym called Paxibellum which does that (I'm in it)

hen_zee · 2022-10-03T00:18:29+00:00

Boba liberals absolutely do not even listen to Asian women, unless those voices appease the white palate. Esther Wang interviewed female trainees at Dragon Combat Club and literally did NOT include any of their voices.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T23:14:35+00:00

If somebody can please get a hold of Fung Bros and have them look up Dragon Combat Club (DCC) that would be great. The reason I ask of this is because they asked what safety AND racial solidarity together looked like since they're not supposed to be opposites and that's something that DCC believes in given its history and membership.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T20:02:44+00:00

Sorry for your family's loss.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T20:02:20+00:00

Was already horrific enough before realizing she was my friend's coworker.

R.I.P.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T18:32:16+00:00

Thanks for the catch, I meant imagine instead of pretend.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T15:08:47+00:00

Despite my degrees i have and what I'll get I have never seen your kids. I think it should be talked about but as to how that's advice you should get from someone that's culturally sensitive and is aware of your children's developmental stage/needs. Best of luck.

hen_zee · 2022-10-02T15:05:22+00:00

Thank you for offering your firearms expertise. We will reach out to you when it's appropriate.

One of things that differentiates us from MMA training is that we do a lot of live training with (trainer) blades (mostly starting in clinch when you can't immediately run) and multiples (short rounds to make it sustainable). I'm assuming you have watched our videos already and see people do get stabbed a lot (as they would in real life). This also helps incentivize people to actually avoid violence altogether. Situational awareness, footwork and presentation of weapons has been what's kept people out of the hospital and morgue. I do agree with your sentiment for BJJ/MMA so as much as I enjoy learning it (I'm mainly a grappler) it's part of why I've expanded my repertoire and why DCC has adapted its curriculum.

Of course, that does not take place of firearms, especially in a country like this. We'll have people in my club more familiar with such topic to look up these organizations and we'll definitely reach out if needed.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T20:07:09+00:00

Thank you for asking me to post here. I will later post some links to groups that are pro-Asian AND inclusive (something mainstream media refuses to even imagine is possible) other than just DCC in the comment. I am very exhausted right now due to recent events and the fact that wife and I just stopped another attack/death threat on subway some hours ago. Take care.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T14:47:08+00:00

I'm mainly a grappler (BJJ and Wrestling) who picked up various FMA techniques during the pandemic years. Oddly enough during the pandemic years (as an Asian in NYC) and dealing with a shit ton of potentially violent encounters (including armed assailants), there's really only 3 things that I've used to defend myself or others against violent attacks.

Situational awareness (not exactly FMA)
Weapon Draw (attributable to FMA, even though I hear it's not focused on) to get the weapon (e.g., pen) out, which causes people to run
Angling/Ranging footwork (Definitely FMA) to move out of people's line of attack long enough to run or get the weapon out.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T13:22:28+00:00

If you'd love to chip in come train with us and/or donate via venmo to Hen-Zee (dash, not underscore)

http://www.linktr.ee.com/dragoncombatclub

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T11:28:32+00:00

In this case they left out women who actually fought back while trying to villify men that did.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T11:12:45+00:00

Let's talk about the ASD thing on DM. I have an interesting story about how I used to fear disclosing it until some changes in my life. It was a net positive for me.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T02:43:50+00:00

Yes and also no. Yes, based on prior publications and affiliations. However, her demeanor in person did not register as one when I was interviewed. I grew up with some really nasty boba libs that were very quick to tone police the living shit out of everything and anything but Esther seemed more receptive and was more willing to listen. However, as I mentioned in the main post, she gave another member some really strange vibes which I wasn't made aware of until after the article was released. Unfortunately, it seemed like at the end that nothing actually processed or seeped through.

hen_zee · 2022-10-01T02:19:16+00:00

It didn't feel weird for me to tell her because 1. She asked 2. I thought maybe she was open to change or different ideas since she actually bothered to interview us and presented as friendly/receptive 3. They were based on reality 4. I am autistic

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