Karate sessions to help women victims of violence rebuild their lives

This Thursday in May, five women in kimonos are attending a karate session at Maison Calypso in Plaisir (Yvelines), a place where women who are victims of violence are welcomed, listened to, and cared for, and is one of 13 women's shelters supported by the Ile-de-France regional health agency . The new premises of Maison Calypso have just been opened.

The workshop is offered by healthcare staff, which is integrated into the care pathway. It was created by the Fight for Dignity association , created in 2017 by Laurence Fischer, a three-time world karate champion. Its goal: to support women who are victims of violence through adapted sports practices that respect their bodies and their stories.

Let us remember that one in three women will experience physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence during their lifetime, according to figures from the World Health Organization . The consequences on mental health (with increased risks of depression or post-traumatic stress, in particular) and on physical health are numerous.

In one of the brand-new rooms, three newcomers and two regulars are on the tatami mats. The session, which takes place every Thursday, is led by Sophie Manuguerra-Aillaud, a karate instructor. No performance is expected here, only progression, each at their own pace. The session begins with a warm-up, walking slowly, then jogging. The exchanges are made through codified gestures: each tries to place a hand on a shoulder or stomach, with the other's consent. Little by little, faces relax, smiles appear.

The blows, or rather the tsuki , from the Japanese name, are delivered only to foam targets. "You are free to do or not to do the exercise," reminds the teacher. "This bodywork often allows you to reconnect with sometimes forgotten bodily sensations, in particular through breathing or engaging the perineum," emphasizes Sophie Manuguerra-Aillaud, also a sophrologist. Particular attention is paid to the vocabulary used: no words associated with violence are uttered. No "blow", no "attack". The framework is fixed, benevolent.

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