June Self Defense Update

May recap and June dates

Author

Matty Merritt
June 13, 2025

Hi friends!

If we haven’t met, my name is Matty. I live in Logan Square and I’m the admin/secretary/treasurer/VP of marketing for Basement Self Defense Class. I started organizing these community self defense classes a few months ago with the help of our two brilliant instructors Chi and Aspen.

I’ll send these emails out once a month with class updates and notes from the instructors!

Designed by the genius Max Nutter

Our next class will be next Tuesday, June 17 @ 7pm. Each class is $15 and takes place at Grace Church of Logan Square (3325 W Wrightwood Ave). You are totally welcome to just show up to class and pay there or you can pre-register via the links below. As always, trans folks fight for free! Trans participants can fill out this form to reserve a free spot or just show up, truly whatever floats your boat. 

Pre-registering just helps us get an idea of how many people are attending, but isn’t necessary!

Here are the links for upcoming classes:

Notes from past class: Here are Aspen’s notes from May 20 and Chi’s notes from June 2. Feel free to share or get your friends together and teach them how to block a punch :) 

Special thank you to David Orlikoff and everyone from the 14th District Council Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability for sponsoring our last class!

What else, what else:

  • Chi is hosting a queer fight club on the north side THIS Sunday!

  • Gab! Magazine (a super cool indie press in the city) is hosting a field day at Koz park on Saturday.

  • If you’re out protesting this weekend, use this activist cybersecurity checklist and stay safe.

  • Some friends from Logan Square Mutual Aid have started hosting community meals at Paradise Garden in Logan. It’s the same time as queer fight club this Sunday, but swing by some time.

Song of the month: Hold On by Wilson Phillips.

Have a great week y’all and remember that isolation breeds radicalization and coming to a self defense class in a church basement builds friendships!!! See you Tuesday in the basement!