#4: Kenisha Coy: Breaking boards and binaries

Kenisha Coy (she/her) is a creative encourager who believes in the value of second chances. She is a taekwondo practitioner and researcher at Lesley University curious about the interplay between art, board breaking, trauma informed martial arts and theatre. She is passionate about applying the power of data, narrative, and martial arts to helping others connect with the best versions of themselves.

To connect with Kenisha:

Website: https://mycareinitiative.org/

Email: kc@mycareinitiative.org

Instagram: @write1kc @mycareinitiative @breakthroughsilence

Georgia and Kenisha discuss:

• How Kenisha got started in Taekwondo
• Board breaking as art therapy
• Binaries in life and martial arts
• Being BIPOC in martial arts
• Trauma informed practice as person centred practice
• The magic of creating characters
• Intersectionality as a spectrum
• How to be a good bystander in martial arts
• Kenisha's PhD thesis
• Collaboration between trauma informed martial arts practitioners

To get involved with the Conscious Combat Club:

• Visit our site https://www.consciouscombat.club/
• Join the waitlist for Melbourne classes https://www.consciouscombat.club/naarm
• Join our online kickboxing classes https://www.consciouscombat.club/online
• Become a conscious combat coach https://www.consciouscombat.club/coaching
• Join our mailing list "Mat Chat' https://www.consciouscombat.club/mat-chat
• Join our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/640626287248147

SUPPORT LINKS:

Some listeners might find parts of this conversation distressing. Please take care, link in your support networks, or refer to one of these organizations if you need:

Mental health support: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support

Domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support https://www.1800respect.org.au/

Sexism in sport https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/

DirectLine (Alcohol & Drug Support) – 1800 888 236 (24/7)

http://www.directline.org.au/

QLife (Queer-Specific Peer Support) – 1800 184 527 (3pm – midnight) – https://qlife.org.au/

Lifeline (Crisis Support & Suicide Prevention) – 13 11 14 (24/7)

http://www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp

Thank you so much to Nari for the beautiful song "Shape Me" heard at the beginning and end of this episode. Nari wrote this song about Shape Your Life, a boxing program for self-identified female survivors of violence in Canada. She wrote this song using the words and experiences shared by participants with Cathy Van Ingen. You can find out more about Shape Your Life in my interview with Cathy in Episode 8. You can hear more of Nari's work by going to her Instagram: @narithesaga