More than 40 women participated in the self-defence seminar coordinated by head instructor and three-time world champion Elisa Au of the United States.

Aimed at empowering girls and women to fight gender-based violence through karate, the project saw Olympians Sakura Kokumai of the US, Irina Zaretska of Ukraine and three-time world champion Douglas Brose of Brazil take part.

Participants learnt several effective and useful self-defence techniques to face situations of physical and mental gender-based violence.

The initiative was created by the World Karate Federation (WKF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF).

A mental health session was also held after the seminar.

Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Kenko Sone, KIF global co-founder Shin Koyamada, UNFPA chief strategic partnership Mariarosa Cutillo, WKF general secretary Toshihisa Nagura and WKF President Antonio Espinós were in attendance.

"The Guardian Girls Karate project is one of the most far-reaching programmes that the WKF has implemented in its recent history," Espinós said.

"We are proud and honoured to have launched this project here in Los Angeles and we are pleased to note that the official presentation yesterday and the seminar today have been a sound success.

"It marks a before and an after in the connection of our sport with society, using karate values to fight gender-based violence and thus becoming a key tool against this social blight.

"We are very much looking forward to seeing this project come to life at all the Karate 1-Premier League events starting January 2023.

"I would like to thank our partners in this project UNFPA and KIF for their fantastic cooperation and their help to make this ambitious initiative a reality."