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Find an Empowerment

Self-Defense Class 

This is a list of Individuals and organizations that identify as offering empowerment self-defense (as of 10/23).

Through posts on listservs and Facebook pages serving self-defense instructors (such as Self-Defense Discussion Group, ESD Global, National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, IMPACT International), we invited individuals and organizations identifying as empowerment self-defense instructors to provide their contact information. Inclusion doesn’t equal endorsement. Please do your own vetting before signing up for a class. For more on what to look for in a class or an instructor, go here. ​

If you're an empowerment self-defense instructor or program and would like to be listed here, please fill out this form. We reserve the right to not list an instructor or program at our discretion. 

UNITED STATES

ALABAMA

A More Empowered You

Fairhope, AL 36532

breeclemmons@yahoo.com

https://www.amoreempoweredyou.com

251 233 0906

IG: @amoreempoweredyou

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ARKANSAS

Own Your Power ESD

ownyourpoweresd@gmail.com

ownyourpoweresd.com

IG: @ownyourpoweresd

FB: facebook.com/ownyourpoweresd

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CALIFORNIA

Kidpower

San Diego, CA

stefany@kidpower.org

www.kidpower.org

858 736 5580

IG: @kidpowersandiego

FB: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070050761264

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stefany-reed-34388a158/

 

Pretty Hands, Hard Punches

11905 Cresson St.

Norwalk, CA 90650

elicia@prettyhandshardpunches.com

www.prettyhandshardpunches.com

951 532 4069

IG: @prettyhandshardpunches

FB: facebook.com/prettyhandshardpunches

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prettyhandshardpunches

TikTok: @prettyhandshardpunches

 

Jennifer Keller, she/her

851 Fremont Ave Ste 210

Los Altos, CA 94024

drjenkeller@gmail.com

empowerhealthrive.com

650 223 5640

 

Janet Gee, she/her

San Francisco, CA

janetgee1@gmail.com

415 252 7070

 

FEST- Female Empowerment & Self Defense Training

Laguna, CA 92637

zgorbaty@gmail.com

zujitsu.net

917 623 9640

FB: facebook.com/zujitsu

 

IMPACT Bay Area

PO Box 23831

Oakland, CA 94623

linda@impactbayarea.org

www.impactbayarea.org

510 208 0474

IG: @impactbayarea 

FB: facebook.com/IMPACTselfdefense/

 

IMPACT Personal Safety

722 N Hayworth Ave, #10

Los Angeles, CA 90046

impactla@aol.com

ImpactPersonalSafety.com

310 876 2297

IG: @impactpersonalsafety

FB: facebook.com/ImpactPersonalSafety/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/impact-personal-safety/

TikTok: @impactpersonalsafety

Twitter/X: @impactglobal_

 

Carrie Slack, she/her

McKinleyville, CA 95519

carrieslackesd@gmail.com

707 296 0111

 

Empowerment In Self Defense

Los Angeles, CA 90019

empowermentinselfdefense@gmail.com

510 499 7468

IG: @empowermentinselfdefense

 

Peace Over Violence

1541 Wilshire Blvd., Third Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

patti@peaceoverviolence.org

peaceoverviolence.org

213 955 9090

FB: facebook.com/PeaceOverViolence

 

Jay (Janet) O'Shea, she/they

UCLA

Los Angeles, CA 90025

j.b.oshea@gmail.com

janetoshea.com

213 453 7987

IG: @jayboshea

FB: facebook.com/jay.oshea.31

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jay-o-shea-32867982/

 

PowerUp Moves

San Francisco, CA

Contact@powerupmoves.com

powerupmoves.com

415 269 8126

IG: @powerup_moves

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanie-cyr-j-d-433274171/

​

COLORADO

We Are Safer Together

Lakewood, CO

wearesafertogether@gmail.com

wearesafertogether.com

720 243 2698

 

Martha Thompson, she/her

3007 Stanford Road

Fort Collins, CO 80525

thompson.martha.e@gmail.com

773 771 1913

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CONNECTICUT

The Hive Women’s Empowerment Center

483 Spring St.

Windsor Locks, CT 06096

thehiveempowermentcenter@gmail.com

thehiveempowerment.com

860 752 4645

IG: @thehiveempowerment

FB: facebook.com/thehiveempowerment

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Defend Yourself

Washington, DC

classes@defendyourself.org

301-608-3708

www.defendyourself.org

IG: @thedefendyourself

FB: facebook.com/thedefendyourself

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/defend-yourself

X: @1defendyourself

​

Warrior Womxn Republic

Washington, DC

angelacmeyer@gmail.com

warriorwomanrepublic.com

202 459 3934

IG: @warriorwomanrepublic

​

HAWAII

ElleLiveAction

3854 Mahinahina St.

Lahaina, HI 96761

elleliveaction@gmail.com

elleliveaction.com

808 707 9424

IG: @elleliveaction

FB: facebook.com/ElleLiveAction

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tashainachurch

TikTok: tiktok.com/@elleliveaction?_t=8fpkK600gDS&_r=1

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ILLINOIS

Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, NFP

1220 W. Belmont Ave.

Chicago, IL 60657

rlibel@thousandwaves.org

www.thousandwaves.org

773 472 7663

FB: facebook/com/thousandwaves

 

IMPACT Chicago

Chicago, IL, 60618

info@impactchicago.org

impactchicago.org

312 971 7119

FB: facebook.com/impactchicago

 

WellPower Coaching

2700 W Leland Ave, 1E

Chicago, IL, 60625

metshel@yahoo.com

wellpowercoaching.com

309 660 0161

 

Juli Brown, she/her

Bartlett, IL 60104

juli_brown@att.net

630 660 7162

 

PAVE Prevention Inc.

Chicago, IL, 60625

arlene@paveprevention.com

paveprevention.com

703 209 2349

IG: @paveprevention

FB: facebook.com/PAVEPrevention

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arlene-limas-oly-414a657b

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KENTUCKY

Thrive Empowerment Center

226 West Pike Street

Covington, KY, 41011

lauren@thriveselfdefense.com

thriveselfdefense.com

859 469 6506

IG: @thriveempowermentcenter

FB: facebook.com/thriveempowermentcenter LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thrive-empowerment-center

 

MAINE

Wounded Healers International

1129 Broadway

South Portland, ME 04106

nuna@woundedhealersintl.org

www.woundedhealersintl.org

351 277 9324

IG: @freespirithuman

FB: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011614267368

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nuna-gleason-gga-01683a77/

 

Prevention. Action. Change.

15 Casco Street

Portland, ME 04101

info@pacmaine.com

pacmaine.com

207 232 0484

IG: @pacmaine

FB: facebook.com/PreventionActionChange

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clara-porter-603b724

​

MARYLAND

Defend Yourself

Washington, DC

classes@defendyourself.org

301-608-3708

www.defendyourself.org

IG: @thedefendyourself

FB: facebook.com/thedefendyourself

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/defend-yourself

X: @1defendyourself

​

​

​

MASSACHUSETTS

IMPACT Boston

89 South Street

Boston, MA 02111

info@impactboston.org

impactboston.org

617 597 4945

IG: @impact_boston

FB: facebook.com/impactboston

Twitter/X: @IMPACT_Boston

 

Empowerment Changes

Box 841

Stoughton, MA 02072

empowermentchanges@gmail.com

empowerment-changes.org

512 771 2622

FB: facebook.com/EmpowermentChanges

 

Labrys Empowerment Self Defense

35 Boylston St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

labrys.selfdefense@gmail.com

413 499 8625

FB: facebook.com/LabrysESD

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MICHIGAN

Mejishi Martial Arts, Inc.

247 W Nine Mile Road

Ferndale, MI, 48220

mejishimartialarts@att.net

mejishimartialarts.com

248 895 5787

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MINNESOTA

Five Element Martial Arts

3743 Cedar AvenueSouth

Minneapolis, MN 55407

shifukg@femamartialarts.org

femamartialarts.org

612 729 7233

IG: @5elementmartialarts

FB: facebook.com/fiveelementmartialarts

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MONTANA

Pointing North LLC

3422 Banner Way

St. Charles, MO 63301

kaylosciuto@yahoo.com

314 753 8280

IG: @pointingnorthmindfulness

FB: facebook.com/kay.moodylosciuto

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kay-losciuto-17b6343/

TikTok: @kaylosciuto

Twitter/X: @Mindfulness123

​

NEW MEXICO

Resolve

PO Box 8350

Santa Fe, NM 87507

info@resolvenm.org

resolvenm.org

505 992 8833

IG: @resolvenm

FB: facebook.com/resolvenm

​

NEW YORK

Prepare Inc.

147 W. 25th St. Suite 801

New York, NY 10001

info@prepareinc.com

prepareinc.com

212 255 0505

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/prepareinc/

 

Feminist Self-Defense

New York, NY

booking@feministselfdefense.com

www.feministselfdefense.com

443 722 8801

IG: @feministselfdefense

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelpiazza/

TikTok: @feministselfdefense

​

OHIO

Brieanne Beaujolais, she/they

briesistance@gmail.com

 

The Torch Room, LLC

Canal Winchester, OH 43110

TheTorchRoomTraining@gmail.com

Thetorchroom.com

614 829 7509

IG: @the_torch_room

FB: facebook.com/thetorchroom

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erica-russell-averette-4b05a31a6

 

IMPACT Safety

(and the We are Worth Defending Initiative)

1699 W Mound St

Columbus, OH 43229

jharmon@impactsafety.org

Impactsafety.org

614 437 2884

IG: @impactcolumbus

FB: facebook.com/IMPACTSafetyOhio

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/impact-safety-columbus

 

Women's Personal Safety

722 W. Findlay St.

Carey, OH 43316

gusdunn23@gmail.com

419 387 7686

​

OREGON

Justine Halliwill, she/her

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR 97403

justine@uoregon.edu

selfdefense.uoregon.edu/

 

Rose City Self-Defense

Portland, OR

Sara.k.johnson@portlandoregon.gov

portland.gov/community-safety/rose-city-self-defense

503 793 6862

FB: facebook.com/RoseCitySelfDefense

 

Voice of a Warrior

Portland, OR 97232

roseoh631@gmail.com

voiceofawarrior.org

503 719 3381

 

Naga

8575 SW Birchwood Road

Portland, OR 97225

Silviairenesmart@gmail.com

nagacommunity.com

503 332 8909

IG: @nagacommunity, @silviasmart13

FB: facebook.com/nagamartialarts

LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/silviasmart

 

WildFire Self-Defense

Portland, OR

info@wildfireselfdefense.com

wearesafertogether.com

 

Jocelyn Hollander, she/her

University of Oregon

selfdefense@uoregon.edu

selfdefense.uoregon.edu

541 346 5510

​

PENNSYLVANIA

SETpoint at Shaolin Studios

1115 S. Braddock Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

michele@set-point.org

www.set-point.org

www.shaolin-studios.com

412 242 8773

IG: @setpointdefense

FB: facebook.com/SETpointSelfDefense

 

Women In Transition

718 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

mszeder@helpwomen.org

helpwomen.org

215 564 5301

IG: @wit.philly

FB: facebook.com/WomenInTransitionPhilly

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/women-in-transition1971/

 

Lioness Martial Arts

PO Box 8310

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

info@lionessmartialarts.com

www.lionessmartialarts.com

412 241 6519

FB: facebook.com/LionessMartialArts

​

RHODE ISLAND

Lindsay Orchowski, she/her

Alpert Medical School of Brown University

35 Hamilton Drive

East Greenwich, RI 02818

lindsay_orchowski@brown.edu

412 559 2936

​

TEXAS

Sun Dragon Martial Arts & Self Defense, NFP

4534 West Gate Blvd., Ste. 101

Austin, TX 78745

info@sundragon.org

sundragon.org/self-defense-program/overview

512 416 9735

FB: facebook.com/SunDragonKarate

​

VERMONT

The Safety Team

27 Rye Circle

South Burlington, VT 05403

christine@thesafetyteam.org

thesafetyteam.org

802 654 7607

IG: @thesafetyteamesd

FB: facebook.com/TheSafetyTeamSelfDefense

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/the-safety-team-empowerment-self-defense-trauma-recovery/

​

WASHINGTON

Strategic Living LLC 

PO Box 23157

Seattle, WA 98102

jifactor@strategicliving.org

strategicliving.org

206 202 0748

IG: @strategicliving

FB: facebook.com/strategicliving

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joannefactor/

​

WISCONSIN

Chimera Self-Defense

2801 Coho St #301

Madison, WI 53713

chimera@theRCC.org

thercc.org/chimera

608 960 9036

 

INTERNATIONAL

AUSTRALIA

ESD Australia - Wisdom For Women

info@esdtraining.com.au

wisdomforwomen.com.au

+61 423 310 471

IG: @esd_australia 

FB: facebook.com/esdaustralia.wisdomforwomen/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/antonella-spatola-347076104/

​

BRAZIL

ESD BRASIL

Itararé street, 168 - Bela Vista

São Paulo, SP 013080-30

pamela@esdbrasil.com

esdbrasil.com

+55 11 97628 1149

IG: @esdbr

FB: facebook.com/pamelamussivaldez

TikTok: @esdbr

​

BELIZE

SHE Thing Self Defense and Personal Safety

Belize City, Belize District

shethingsd@gmail.com

+501 630 5571

FB: facebook.com/SHEThing

​

CANADA

Sheila Watson, she/her

Victoria, BC

sheilawatson@telus.net

250 896 0107

IG: @sheila_frances_watson

 

Arise

Vancouver, BC

hello@ariseprograms.com

ariseprograms.com

IG: @ariseprograms

FB: facebook.com/ariseprograms

 

Nellie's

Toronto, Ontario, M4M 1J8

ariana@nellies.org

Nellies.org

416 461 1909

IG: @nellies_shelter

FB: facebook.com/nelliesshelter/

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/nellie's-shelter

Twitter/X: @nelliesshelter

 

Strong Orange Violence Prevention

Pierrefonds (Montreal), Quebec

bill@strongorange.org

strongorange.org

514 206 0375

FB: facebook.com/safeorange/

​

COSTA RICA

RIA-LAC

Condominio Arizona

San Jose, San Jose 30101

gabriela.rojas@ria-lac.org

ria-lac.org/

539 292 6323

IG: @esd_latinoamericaycaribe

FB: facebook.com/esd.latinoamericaycaribe/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ria-lac

 

Mujeres Fuertes Autodefensa

San Jose, San Jose, 10101

mujeresfuertescostarica@gmail.com

mujeresfuertes.org

+506 6272 9491

IG: @mujeresfuertescostarica

FB: facebook.com/mujeresfuertescostarica

 

Abya Yala Empodera

San José, San José

daniela.lizano@ria-lac.org

+506 7103 0233

​

CZECHIA

ESD Czechia/ Sebeobrana pro všechny

Na dílcích 36

Prague 8, Czechia 18200

Linda@stucbartova.cz

sebeobranaprovsechny.cz

+420 606 458 061

IG: @linda_diversio

FB: Sebeobrana pro všechny

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindastucbartova/

​

ESTONIA

Kaidsõq

Tallinn, Harjumaa 10128

kaidsoq@gmail.com

IG: @lauramallene

FB: facebook.com/kaidsoq/

​

GAMBIA

Beyond Advocacy

No. 5 Fathermeehan Street

Serrekunda, Kanifing Municipality 00220

daviesmodoulamin@gmail.com

+220 222 6733

IG: @daviesmodoulamin

FB: facebook.com/modoulamin.davies

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/modou-lamin-davies-b3b396244/

TikTok: @ml.davies

Twitter/X: @daviezmolamin

​

GERMANY

Frauen in Bewegung e.V. (Women in Movement, non-profit)

Baumweg 8

Frankfurt 60316

sunny.graff@t-online.de

www.fraueninbewegung.de

+49 1516 4609431

IG: @fraueninbewegung

FB: facebook.com/fraueninbewegung

​

KAZAKHSTAN

ESD Kazakhstan

23 Al Farabi Street, Apt. 84

Astana 010000

Kenzhegaliyevaainash@gmail.com

+7 701 482 0470

IG: @esd_instructor_kz

FB: facebook.com/ainash.kenzhegaliyeva

​

NETHERLANDS

Dragonfire Dreams Unlimited 

Nijmegen, Gelderland 6536AB

wdshuri@chello.nl

wendi_dragonfire.com

+31 6 53581440

FB: facebook.com/wdshuri

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wendi-dragonfire-b7623911

​

NEW ZEALAND

Kia Haumaru Personal Safety Education

6021

kaiwhakahaere@kiahaumaru.org.nz

www.kiahaumaru.org.nz

IG: @kia.haumaru

FB: facebook.com/kiahaumaru

​

NIGERIA

Adanma Nwokoma Olowa

Apo vechanic village Abuja, FCT 900001

nwokomaadanma@gmail.com

+234 701 569 2934

IG: @adanma_n

FB: facebook.com/adanma.olowa

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adanma-nwokoma-184165165/

​

ROMANIA

Romanian Women's Lobby

8 Lt Radu Beller St, Bloc 22, Entrance C, Apt 42, Sector 1

Bucharest 011703

daniela.draghici@gmail.com

+40 720 153 643

IG: @daniela.draghici2453

FB: facebook.com/daniela.draghici.792/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniela-draghici-4159961/

Twitter/X: @danielaromania

​

SLOVAKIA

ZA SEBA

bianka.urbanovska@zaseba.sk

www.zaseba.sk

IG: @zaseba.sebaobrana

FB: facebook.com/zaseba.sebaobrana

​

UZBEKISTAN

Sport school

korasu 6

Tashkent, Mirzo Ulugbek

moon_2204@mail.ru

+998 97 713 13 21

FB: facebook.com/katya.bliznecova

​

GLOBAL

ESD Global

casandra.hitzman@esdglobalselfdefense.org

www.esdglobalselfdefense.org

920 559 9190

 

No Means No Worldwide

hessayegh@nmnw.org

www.nomeansnoworldwide.org

443 878 5498

IG: @nomeansnoworldwide

FB: facebook.com/NOmeansNOworldwide

​

Girls Fight Back

nicole@girlsfightback.com

nicolesnell.com

866 769 9037

IG: @girlsfightback

FB: facebook.com/girlsfightback

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicolesnell/

TikTok: @girlsfightback

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