WHO WE ARE
LEARN MORE ABOUT US
About us.
We offer a full kickboxing curriculum using a trauma-informed and neuro-inclusive approach to training for the recreational and competitive athlete.
We are also a member club of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Canada, an organization committed to the safety of its athletes and to building a positive community in the sport. Learn more here.
What is kickboxing?
According to WAKO Canada, kickboxing is,
“A physical activity involving two players engaged in a tactical game of strikes, in which each player attempts to outscore the opposing player by utilizing defensive and offensive strategies according to established rules and procedures.”
In our programs, you will learn punching and kicking techniques, strikes with knees, clinching, sweeps and more according to the Low Kick and K1 disciplines of kickboxing.
Our Story
Inclusive Connection Martial Arts and Counselling Ltd. was founded by Nicole Sawin in response to barriers to participation in martial arts training experienced by folks marginalized by society. Nicole had watched many people come and go at the gyms she trained at - people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder; those struggling with complex trauma, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses; 2LGBTQ+ folks; and others with intersectional identities. They were people who could really benefit from what a martial arts community had to offer, but they did not feel welcome in the mainstream gym cultures.
So, Nicole decided to create an inclusive, accessible, and accountable training space. It started in her basement in January 2023 with one class of six people (see picture below). Inclusive Connection Martial Arts and Counselling Ltd. was born on February 10, 2023.
