The next Guard Her Ground sessions are now live and take place weekly Jan-Feb 2026 - click here to book your place!
Written by Siarka ‘Simeon’ Murisanga
My name is Simeon, and for more than twenty years I’ve been coaching boxing, teaching self-defence, and helping people step into their physical and mental strength. But for the last few years, as the father of an energetic five year old girl, community work had taken a back seat.
Becoming a dad reshaped my life in ways I never expected. Suddenly time felt shorter, responsibilities heavier, and the space I once gave to community programmes wasn’t so easy to find.
But it also sharpened my purpose.
Finding My Way Back to Community Work
Raising a daughter has deepened my commitment to women’s safety in a way that feels both personal and urgent. I’ve always spoken up for women’s rights, but it started to feel essential that I use my skills to offer more than just moral support, to create a platform that genuinely equips women with tools to protect themselves. So when the opportunity came to help build a series of self defence classes, tiled Guard Her Ground – it felt like everything in my life was pulling me back to community work at exactly the right time.
Rekindling a Legacy I Grew Up With
Guard Her Ground sits within the Rekindling Nello James, a project that means more to me than I expected, because it reconnects me with a piece of my own childhood.
I attended Saturday school at the Nello James Centre in the mid-90s, not long after moving from Derby to Manchester. It was one of my very first memories of the Caribbean community here: a place where I learned, laughed, explored, and made my earliest Manchester friends. Years later, as a teenager, I went back for birthday parties and community events… and then, almost suddenly, it was gone. Closed but not forgotten.
Those memories stayed with me. They shaped the way I see community, the way I treat people, and the belief that we preserve our heritage not just in buildings, but in how we live, speak, and support one another. Being part of Rekindling Nello James feels like stepping into a legacy that I have a responsibility to continue, understanding our past, honouring the people who built it, and carrying that energy into the future.
I first learned about the project from Bianca Danielle, a long time friend and also Rekindling Nello James Project Manager. We met in Coffee Nubia, a Black-owned local coffee shop and what was meant to be a simple chat turned into a powerful conversation about heritage, community, and the history of CLR “Nello” James. The passion in her voice made it clear that she wasn’t just running a project – she was reigniting a flame. I felt that spark immediately, and without hesitation said, “I’m in.” From that conversation, Guard Her Ground was born.
Strength, Sisterhood & Serious Joy
When I pictured Guard Her Ground, I imagined a space where women could learn real, practical self-defence in an environment filled with warmth, music, laughter and empowerment. And honestly, the classes turned out exactly the way I imagined.
Over four weeks, a group of women showed up with energy, openness, and an eagerness to learn skills that could support their safety and wellbeing. We blended boxing fundamentals with self-defence techniques, wrapped in the joy of lovers rock, reggae, and soulful disco-funk. What made the sessions special wasn’t just the training, it was the sisterhood that formed in the room.
There was teasing, encouragement, deep focus, and moments that made all of us laugh. But there were also serious conversations, emotional reflections, and a shared understanding of why this training matters. Watching the women grow in confidence and seeing them support one another, reminded me exactly why I returned to community work.
By the final session, a few people were genuinely sad to see it end. More than one person asked, “When’s the next one? Can we keep this going?” And that, for me, is the biggest sign that something meaningful happened in that room.
What’s Next
Guard Her Ground has only just begun. The demand, the energy, and the impact are clear — and I’m already planning how to continue this work, expanding the programme so more women across Manchester can access the self-defence tools they deserve.
Being part of Rekindling Nello James hasn’t just reconnected me with my past, it’s given me a renewed sense of purpose for the future. We honour our community by carrying its values forward, and I’m grateful to play my part in preserving its legacy through movement, empowerment, and collective strength.
This is only the beginning.
