Lauren believes that everyone should try martial arts at least once in their lifetime and is passionate about making this accessible to everyone! With a 2nd degree black belt in kempo karate and 10+ years training/teaching kickboxing, Lauren is an avid martial artist who loves helping folks find confidence and strength through striking. Lauren’s love for kempo karate stems from its focus on self-defence. In University she majored in Women’s and Gender Studies and studied gender-based violence. She runs intersectional self-defence classes using her expertise from both karate school and her academic schooling. When she’s not kicking things Lauren enjoys playing metal music, walking nature trails to discover new birds and plants, and finding the best baked goods in the city.