Everyone has different experiences of life, and you have to acknowledge that LGBTQI+ folks often have a different journey than cisgender, straight people.

We as LGBTQ+ people, have had our existence questioned from the day we're born. It doesn't matter what point you become aware of your sexual orientation, gender identity or your general queerness. All of history to that point, and all that goes forward from it, has told you that ‘normal’ is straight and cisgendered and that whatever else is going on, is not normal.

So we’ve had to acknowledge those questions and live through the experience of that doubt.

A straight, white, non-disabled person might never have questioned their identity, and might have no motivation to understand why someone else has suffered through the questioning of their identity.

So cis-straight run martial arts clubs often don't see why they should do more.

And people don't want to say, “What I have been doing is wrong.”

Until all sports clubs question themselves, they won't come up with the answer that they probably won't like.

The answer is: you're stopping other people from training, you are stopping other people from participating, and you're stopping other people from enjoying what your sport is.

Martial arts offers so much in physical wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, community, and communication and negotiation skills.

I want everyone to have these opportunities. I don't just want everyone to have them, I want everyone to want these opportunities. I want everyone to enjoy them and get something from them.

If you asked most sports clubs or martial arts clubs what their motivation is, I’m not sure that many of them would conclude that they ultimately want people to be happy.

They'd probably say, “To win, to be stronger, to be fitter to be more this to be more this or less that.”

[As told to Ragi Gupta — continued]