Tuff Love’s 2024 Year-End Fundraiser

At Tuff Love, we design our training to respond in real-time to the challenges of our era. We held safety and self-defense trainings for AAPI people and elders when they faced an escalation of racist attacks, organized LGBTQ+ safety workshops in response to rising hate crimes, and created a youth martial arts program after learning of the emotional and social consequences of the Covid shutdown on children and teens. Our ongoing martial arts and self-defense programming is also structured to emphasize community, inclusivity, and camaraderie. Training alongside like-minded peers creates a supportive environment where people can share their experiences, encourage each others’ progress, and build connections and friendships. The bonds formed through self-defense and martial arts programs extend beyond the gym and contribute to a network of empowered individuals of diverse ages, genders, cultures, and backgrounds. 

To make our services truly accessible, all our community self-defense workshops are offered for free . We recognize that cost is one of the most significant barriers to pursuing wellness-increasing practices, including training in self-defense, martial arts, and fitness. Meanwhile, those who can least afford expensive classes are the same people who need them most. The risk of mental health challenges is increased for people living in poverty ; likewise, people from marginalized populations–including people of color , LGBTQ+ people , elderly people , and young people –are at increased risk for anxiety and depression while having inequitable access to resources. To us, care and accessibility means making sure that cost is not a barrier to training. We ensure that all our public classes and workshops are low-cost for martial arts and no-cost for self-defense by working with partner organizations who share our mission, as well as our amazing community of supporters like you.  

Joining our community of donors is something you can feel great about . When you donate, you are contributing to a woman-of-color-run nonprofit. You are supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of youth through martial arts. You are manifesting your belief that safety and wellbeing are basic human rights, and that those rights should be available to all, regardless of income, race, age, ethnicity, or any other factor. You are taking powerful action to be part of the solution. 

Your tax-deductible donation funds free and low-cost self-defense and martial arts training for the Bay Area and beyond, including: 

• Tuff Love Self-Defense : Free and low-cost self-defense training opportunities for communities in need
• Tuff Squad Kids Program : Low-cost, empowerment-focused martial arts and self-defense for kids 5-16
• Four Elements Fitness : An inclusive, women-run martial arts and fitness gym in downtown Oakland
• Tuff Love Scholarship Program : Offering complete and partial scholarships for participants in our training programs, based on financial need

Your support will allow us to continue and grow these programs, giving our community an affordable and supportive gym to learn and thrive and a toolbox of skills to increase confidence and safety.