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Holly Ng Forrette

@hollyempowered

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💫Innovative Problem Solver
Martial arts/self-defense that meets you where you’re at mentally & physically
Ready to see what you can do? Let’s DM!

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I have some news, friends.

After 4 years and 45+ workshops, I’m pausing my monthly pay-what-you-want community workshops until further notice.

This wasn’t an easy decision. Teaching this community has been a privilege - I’ve learned as much as I’ve taught. But between needing more family time and the growth of low- and no-cost self-defense options in town (which honestly makes me so happy), it’s a good time for a break.

What’s NOT changing:
🥋 Weekly Cohort Jiu-Jitsu (Fri + Sun — fall registration still open)
🇵🇭 Sunday Kali drop-in class
🤓 Private lessons & workshops for groups and organizations — I’m still booking!
💜 Two free cohort spots for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members

Thank you for 4 years of workshop memories. This isn’t goodbye — just a pause.

DM me your questions or concerns! This is still the place to get updates on my offerings. Stay tuned!

Full letter at the link in bio 💌 by @hollyempowered

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5 days ago

Hi y’all! For our Oct event, we’re teaming up with Holly Ng @hollyempowered to offer a Safe Together Workshop specifically for our group! ✨

What: A self-defense workshop
When: Sun 10/18 1-3p
Where: The Marie Equi Center @marieequi.center
4434 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97202

Cost: Pay-What-You-Want ($0-$25 sliding scale)
🎟️ Tix link in bio 🎟️

Masks are required 😷

This is an affinity event for folks who self-identify as queer & Asian 🌈🪷

Safe Together workshops provide a safe & inclusive environment as we discover how to make effective self-defense techniques work naturally with our bodies. We’ll learn how to use biomechanics, leverage, & knowledge of human anatomy to protect ourselves—regardless of body attributes, athleticism, & strength.

Dress for movement.
Bring questions, curiosity, & water 💦

It’s a rough world, especially for us as queer people of color 😔 So let’s come together and learn ways to help keep ourselves and each other safe 💞

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Holly Ng has been an instructor since 2015, teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kali to kids & adults. She’s studied Kali/JKD for 17 years and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu for over 13 years. She’s a trauma-informed instructor & has successfully completed Gracie University’s Women Empowered Program. As an uncoordinated non-athlete for most of her life, Holly’s superpower & passion are showing people what their bodies are already capable of & breaking down techniques in an engaging & encouraging way for everyone 💗 by @hollyempowered

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19 days ago

September workshop flyer now with the correct date! (Thank you to one of my followers for spotting the error in my previous post!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, 9/6, 11-1pm, for September’s community self-defense workshop! As usual,this event is 2SLGBTQIA+ centered, pay-what-you-want, mask required, and trauma informed. Come solo or with your people!

Register at tinyurl.com/safetogether-sep2026 or via link in my bio! Hope to see you in 4 weeks!

The Marie Equi Center is ADA compliant with accessible spaces. taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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2 months ago

Got plans this Sunday?

Come be in community and learn some personal safety techniques at the Marie Equi Center this Sunday, 8/2, 11-1pm. Workshop is 2SLGBTQIA+ centered, mask required, and pay-what-you-want. Come solo or with your people and spend a couple hours discovering what your body can do already. You might be pleasantly surprised!

More info and registration in bio or https://tinyurl.com/safetogether-aug2026.

Pre-registration is not necessary but is greatly appreciated! It helps me plan the workshop and start on time.

Can’t make this one? Workshops happen the first Sunday of every month. Swipe next to see flyers for the next two.

The Marie Equi Center is at 4434 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, and is an ADA compliant and accessible space.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/safetogether-sep2026

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/safetogether-oct2026 taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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2 months ago

Workshop tomorrow on 7/12! Come with your questions and let’s find some solutions that work for your body!

Pay-what-you-want. Masks required. 4434 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97202.

The Marie Equi Center is ADA-compliant. Link in bio to register or visit https://tinyurl.com/safetogether-jun2026. by @hollyempowered

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3 months ago

June workshop is coming up!

Spend two hours in a safe and inclusive environment learning how to make effective self-defense techniques work naturally with your body. All bodies and all orientations are welcomed, and no prior skill or experience is required. This workshop is centered on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; allies and friends are also welcomed. Masked required. Pay-what-you-want / NOTALOF. Event space is ADA-accessible with all user bathrooms.

Register with link in bio or https://tinyurl.com/ safetogether-jun2026 taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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4 months ago

Happy May Day!

Come to my workshop this Sunday, 5/3, from 11-1pm at the Marie Equi Center! I’ll be teaching defense against chokes and neck holds and answer whatever burning self-defense questions you have.

Link to register in bio or at https://tinyurl.com/safetogether-may2026. Registering ahead of time will greatly help me check participants in and start the workshop on time. Thank you!

The Marie Equi Center is an ADA-compliant facility. Masks are required for all participants while in the building. On a dark/light blue and orange background with white text that details an upcoming "Safe Together Workshop" and where/when it is taking place; there is also an image of two people partaking in self-defense lessons, along with a picture of the instructor on the bottom left corner. Image contains workshop date (May 3rd, 2026), time (11am to 1pm), and address.address (4434 SE
25th Ave., Portland, OR 97202). taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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5 months ago

What are you doing on Sunday?

I’m holding workshop next Sunday, 4/5, at the Marie Equi Center, 4434 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97202. Last month, we covered escapes against common holds, such as bear hugs and chokes/pins against the wall. We will continue with this topic for this month and in May.

Workshops are 2SLGBTQIA+ centered, trauma-informed, and pay-what-you-want. All bodies welcomed; no prior experience required.

Drop-ins are welcome but it would be immensely helpful for planning purposes if you can pre-register. Link for workshops in bio or www.safetogether.space/quicklinks.

The Marie Equi Center is an ADA accessible facility. On a dark/light green and orange background with white text that details an upcoming "Safe Together Workshop" and where/when it is taking place; there is also an image of two people partaking in self-defense lessons, along with a picture of the instructor on the bottom left corner. Image contains workshop date (April 5th, 2026), time (11am to 1pm), and address.address (4434 SE
25th Ave., Portland, OR 97202). taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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6 months ago

Registration for March, April, May workshops now open! We had 15 people at last month’s workshop where we cover how to respond to threatening situations when we have someone we need to protect and how to effectively pull an attacker off of someone and pin them until help arrives. Recent events show how much we need to rely on our communities for safety.

The next workshop is on Sunday, 3/1, at the Marie Equi Center, 4434 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97202. Drop-ins are welcome but it would be immensely helpful for planning purposes if you can pre-register. Link for workshops in bio or www.safetogether.space/quicklinks.

The Marie Equi Center is an ADA accessible facility. taken in The Marie Equi Center by @hollyempowered

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8 months ago

[Image description pinned in comments.]
Our monthly first Sundays self-defense class with @HollyEmpowered is this weekend!

Join us for a queer-centered, pay-what-you-can self-defense workshop led by instructor Holly Ng.
You'll learn essential safety tools like:
- Risk assessment & safe distance management
- Mental preparation for self-defense
- Survival & escape strategies from common attacks

This workshop is for all bodies and all abilities, and it’s happening Sunday, Feb 1 | 11am–1pm at The Marie Equi Center.
Masks are required, and accessibility is a priority: our space includes all-user restrooms and is ADA accessible.

Sliding scale ($0-$25) — register now with the link in Holly's bio!
Let’s keep each other Safe Together. 💜
#SafeTogether #MarieEquiCenter #QueerSelfDefense Flyer for Safe Together Workshop on Sunday, Feb 1, 11am–1pm at The Marie Equi Center, led by Holly Ng. Queer-centered, pay-what-you-can self-defense event. Masks required. by @hollyempowered

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9 months ago

[Image description pinned in comments.]
Start 2025 feeling empowered with @HollyEmpowered !!!

Our first public event of the year is all about protecting ourselves and each other.
Join us for a queer-centered, pay-what-you-can self-defense workshop led by instructor Holly Ng.
You'll learn essential safety tools like:
- Risk assessment & safe distance management
- Mental preparation for self-defense
- Survival & escape strategies from common attacks

This workshop is for all bodies and all abilities, and it’s happening Sunday, Jan 4 | 11am–1pm at The Marie Equi Center.
Masks are required, and accessibility is a priority: our space includes all-user restrooms and is ADA accessible.

Sliding scale ($0-$25) — register now with the link in bio!
Let’s keep each other Safe Together. 💜
#SafeTogether #MarieEquiCenter #QueerSelfDefense Flyer for the Safe Together Workshop, a queer-centered, pay-what-you-can self-defense class on Sunday, January 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marie Equi Center, featuring a photo of masked participants practicing a self-defense move, instructor Holly Ng, a registration QR code, and notes that masks are required and the venue is ADA accessible. by @hollyempowered

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10 months ago

[Image description in comments.]
Self-defense workshop this Sunday, 11/2, from 11-1pm at The Marie Equi Center.

Price: Pay-What-You-Want ($0 - $25)

From the instructor:
"Sign up, tell a friend, bring a friend.
Safe Together workshops are not just opportunities to learn self-defense techniques in an inclusive, trauma-informed and accessible space, but a space where people find like-minded, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks and allies looking for safety and community find each other. In the 2 hours we spend together, attendees learn what they are capable of with the bodies they have."

Scan QR or contact @hollyempowered for more info and to sign up. Masks required for all attendees.

*The Marie Equi Center is ADA-compliant and features an ADA parking space, four gender-neutral ADA restrooms, and accessible facilities.
#SafeTogether #MarieEquiCenter #QueerSelfDefense Flyer for the Safe Together Workshop on Sunday, Nov 2nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marie Equi Center. Queer-centered, pay-what-you-can self-defense class led by Holly Ng. Includes QR code to register. Masks required. by @hollyempowered

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a year ago