Global Aikido Project for Women's Safety Makes U.S. Debut in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 23, 2026 – In a powerful display of international cooperation aimed at empowering women, the Guardian Girls Aikido project made its United States debut this week at the Terasaki Budokan in downtown Los Angeles. The initiative, which teaches practical, non-violent self-defense, brought together a unique coalition of partners including Japanese consulting firm rYojbaba Co., Ltd., Guardian Girls USA, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), marking a significant step in a growing global movement.

Women from across the greater Los Angeles area gathered for the inaugural session, which focused on enhancing situational awareness, building self-confidence, and learning self-defense techniques rooted in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. The program's arrival in the U.S. signifies a new chapter for an initiative that has already seen success across several continents.

A Global Movement for Empowerment

The Guardian Girls Aikido (GGA) project is far from a new concept. Managed by the non-governmental organization Guardian Girls International, the initiative was first launched in Bogotá, Colombia, in February 2024. There, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan and UNFPA Colombia, it established a successful model. Its impact grew exponentially in 2025 through a strategic alliance with Colombia’s Ministry of Sport, which expanded the program to major cities nationwide.

Since its inception, the movement has demonstrated remarkable international growth, extending its reach to Japan, Peru, and Turkey before landing in the United States. In each country, the core mission remains the same: to advance gender equality and combat violence against women through the empowering discipline of Aikido. The program’s methodology emphasizes harmonizing with an attacker's movements to redirect force, a principle that distinguishes it from more aggressive martial arts. This focus on non-violent conflict resolution is a cornerstone of its philosophy.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been a consistent and crucial partner in this global expansion. As a UN agency dedicated to preventing gender-based violence and empowering women, its involvement lends significant institutional weight. In GGA seminars worldwide, UNFPA representatives often provide expert presentations on gender-based violence, contextualizing the physical training within a broader framework of social awareness and advocacy.

The Art of Non-Violent Self-Defense

The Los Angeles session was led by Lia Suzuki, a formidable figure in the Aikido world. A seventh-degree practitioner with over 45 years of teaching experience, Suzuki founded Aikido Kenkyukai International USA, a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles. Her extensive training, which includes a decade in Japan under the renowned Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan, provided participants with world-class instruction.

The training itself moved beyond simple physical techniques. Participants were guided through exercises designed to sharpen their situational awareness and de-escalate potentially dangerous encounters before they turn violent. The Aikido principles taught were practical, focusing on using an attacker's momentum against them rather than relying on brute strength. This approach makes the techniques accessible to women of all ages and physical abilities, fostering a sense of capability and confidence.

The event was a collaborative effort, with cooperation from local and international organizations including Aikido Kenkyukai International USA, Geocity Media, and Southern California Sister Cities, highlighting a strong community-based approach to the project's U.S. launch.

Corporate Values and Global Impact

The participation of rYojbaba Co., Ltd., a publicly traded Japanese consulting and health services firm, underscores a growing trend of corporate involvement in global social initiatives. For rYojbaba, whose business includes labor consulting and operating osteopathic clinics across Japan, the partnership is a direct extension of its corporate values and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.

“The strong alignment between rYojbaba and Guardian Girls’ missions continue to fuel our partnership forward,” said Company CEO Ryoji Baba in a statement. “Our shared commitment to creating meaningful ESG impact opens valuable opportunities for us to support Guardian Girls’ diverse portfolio of global events and seminars.”

Baba also noted that the Los Angeles event served as a crucial entry point into the U.S. market for social impact, stating, “Beyond contributing to the successful execution of this event, we also began cultivating meaningful relationships with potential partners and community organizations in the U.S., laying the groundwork for future collaborations.” This move aligns with the company's stated goals of expanding its ESG-driven services internationally and promoting health, stability, and education.

Amplifying the Message to a Global Audience

To ensure the project's message reached beyond the walls of the Terasaki Budokan, Guardian Girls International Chair Nia Wright appeared on Telemundo, one of the largest Spanish-language television networks in the United States. This strategic media outreach was designed to leverage Telemundo's vast platform, which reaches an estimated 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households and draws millions of viewers, particularly within the younger 18-49 demographic.

The broadcast provided a powerful platform to advocate for women's safety and empowerment to a diverse, multicultural audience. By communicating the GGA's social mission through influential Spanish-language programming, the organization significantly boosted international awareness and recognition of the Guardian Girls movement, ensuring its impact resonates on a national and global scale.

The successful launch in Los Angeles, built on a foundation of international partnership and shared values, represents more than just a series of self-defense seminars. It is a testament to how cultural diplomacy, corporate responsibility, and grassroots action can converge to address critical social issues, empowering women one community at a time.