On Sunday 18 October, 40 women and girls stepped onto the mats at the CombatAUS National Performance Centre in Melbourne for our very first CombatAUS x Play Like a Girl workshop. They came in all ages, all backgrounds and all levels of experience, and they left with new skills, new friends and a whole lot of confidence.
For most of the group, it was the first time they had ever set foot on a mat. That was exactly the point. This free workshop was built to break down the barriers that so often keep women and girls out of sport, and to show that combat sports are a space where every one of us belongs.
The day kicked off with Judo, led by international athletes and Olympians. Participants learnt how to fall safely, find their balance and land their first throws, and you could see the confidence grow with every attempt.
Then it was time to swap grips for kicks and punches in the Taekwondo session. With a DJ spinning tunes and a coffee stand on hand, the centre felt more like a celebration than a training hall. There was laughter, there were cheers, and there were plenty of proud faces.
To finish, Sydney 2000 Olympic Taekwondo gold medallist Dr Lauren Burns OLY hosted an athlete panel. Our Olympians and high performance athletes opened up about resilience, self belief and life both on and off the mat, and answered every question the group threw at them. Lauren spoke about how martial arts build so much more than physical skill, giving women and girls the courage to surprise themselves with what they can do.
Wrestling World Championships athlete Victoria Chhen summed up the feeling in the room perfectly. She said the workshop took away the nerves many women and girls feel when they first approach combat sports, and replaced them with joy and connection.
This day simply would not have happened without Taekwondo dual Olympian Stacey Hymer. Stacey was the driving force behind the workshop, from the first idea right through to the final bow on the mat. Her belief that sport can bring women together and create real community shone through everything. As Stacey put it, "An event like this can move a mountain." Stacey, thank you for dreaming this up and for bringing so many people along with you.
A huge thank you to the current and former CombatAUS athletes who planned, organised and ran the day: Stacey Hymer, Aoife Coughlan, Maeve Coughlan, Juliet Lahood, Reba Stewart, Tinka Easton, Saffron Tambyrajah, Maria Swan, Ryley Rametta, Alannah Joyce and Kristy Harris. You gave your time, your knowledge and your warmth, and you made every single participant feel welcome, supported and capable. Watching you share your sports with women and girls who were brand new to them was something special.
Thank you also to Dr Lauren Burns OLY for hosting the panel, to Victoria Chhen, and to the whole CombatAUS team for opening your doors and partnering with us. And to every woman and girl who stepped onto the mat and out of her comfort zone, thank you for your courage and your energy. You were the heart of the day.
Beyond the throws and the kicks, Sunday showed us what sport can do for self belief, connection and a sense of belonging. It is exactly why Play Like a Girl exists: to empower women and girls through sport, across every code and at every stage of their journey.
We are so proud of this first workshop, and the good news is it will not be the last. CombatAUS and Play Like a Girl are already looking forward to bringing more women and girls to the mat soon.
Feeling inspired to give it a go? Visit Judo Australia, Wrestling Australia or Australian Taekwondo to find a club near you. We cannot wait to see you on the mat.
.png){kind=icon}
.png)
