What is Women’s Self Defense?
We hear it a lot.
“Do you teach women’s self defense?”
It’s a question that makes sense for the uninitiated. Women tend to be smaller, less athletic, and not as strong as someone who would attempt to attack them.
Surely, there must be specific techniques for women.
The thing is, while size and strength matter when it comes to self defense, they aren’t the only factors. Beyond your physicality is leverage, tactics, decision making, and mindset. These are useful for men and women alike. There is no special set of techniques that are exclusively for women.
So, what is “women’s self defense”?
Marketing and buzz words
While teaching “women’s self-defense” is not exactly a red flag, it’s a sign to pay close attention to what is being taught and why. In a very honest way, the term “women’s self defense” is a marketing term and currently a buzz word in the industry.
It looks good and sounds good. It gives women the idea that there are certain things they should do and that someone else should teach it to them.
But self defense that “only works for women” is not real. Anyone purporting that’s what they are teaching either does not understand violence or is selling snake oil and betting you’ll never need to use it.
What should women learn?
Something that is unique to women are the types of attacks that may be common to experience. If you only have a limited time to train, there are attacks that are more likely for women to experience.
However, this is not the only factor to consider and another reason why the term “women’s self defense” is not accurate or even the whole picture.
How old are you? Where do you work? Do you park in a garage or take public transportation? Are you responsible for young children or maybe an older relative?
Self defense is a very personal thing. Group classes allow you to learn in a community that will help you develop and grow, but only you can picture what your day-to-day life looks like and how to make the decisions you need for your safety.
Self defense should help you understand your surroundings, how to problem solve under pressure, and answer two foundational questions in any situation:
➡️ Am I in the safest possible place?
➡️ What’s my next problem to solve?
is there a women's only class?
We occasionally run classes or seminars that are only open to women, but we strongly believe co-ed training is the best option for truly learning self defense. It’s not for everyone and we understand that. However, we have created and maintained a community that focuses on growth, encouragement, and safety.
We encourage students to choose who they’d like to work with, decide when to step out of their comfort zone, and use their voices to express what they need in training.
Stepping on the mats for your first class is a difficult first step. Hopefully it brings you comfort to know that once you get on the floor, it’s our job to support you along your unique journey. From day 1, we’re invested in you. It’s up to you to pick your day 1.
About the Author
Amber Hoover is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Modern Krav Maga™ and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. She holds numerous coaching certifications through Fit to Fight® and Scientific Wrestling.
Amber is passionate about helping new students build a strong foundation from day one. She enjoys connecting with people, breaking down complex concepts, and finding the right explanations that help skills click, making training feel more approachable and achievable.