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
https://www.amoreempoweredyou.com
251 233 0906
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ARKANSAS
Own Your Power ESD
IG: @ownyourpoweresd
FB: facebook.com/ownyourpoweresd
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CALIFORNIA
Kidpower
San Diego, CA
858 736 5580
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
FB: facebook.com/prettyhandshardpunches
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prettyhandshardpunches
TikTok: @prettyhandshardpunches
Jennifer Keller, she/her
851 Fremont Ave Ste 210
Los Altos, CA 94024
650 223 5640
Janet Gee, she/her
San Francisco, CA
415 252 7070
FEST- Female Empowerment & Self Defense Training
Laguna, CA 92637
917 623 9640
IMPACT Bay Area
PO Box 23831
Oakland, CA 94623
510 208 0474
IG: @impactbayarea
FB: facebook.com/IMPACTselfdefense/
IMPACT Personal Safety
722 N Hayworth Ave, #10
Los Angeles, CA 90046
310 876 2297
FB: facebook.com/ImpactPersonalSafety/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/impact-personal-safety/
TikTok: @impactpersonalsafety
Twitter/X: @impactglobal_
Carrie Slack, she/her
McKinleyville, CA 95519
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
213 955 9090
FB: facebook.com/PeaceOverViolence
Jay (Janet) O'Shea, she/they
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90025
213 453 7987
IG: @jayboshea
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jay-o-shea-32867982/
PowerUp Moves
San Francisco, CA
415 269 8126
IG: @powerup_moves
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanie-cyr-j-d-433274171/
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COLORADO
We Are Safer Together
Lakewood, CO
720 243 2698
Martha Thompson, she/her
3007 Stanford Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
773 771 1913
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CONNECTICUT
The Hive Women’s Empowerment Center
483 Spring St.
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
thehiveempowermentcenter@gmail.com
860 752 4645
FB: facebook.com/thehiveempowerment
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Defend Yourself
Washington, DC
301-608-3708
FB: facebook.com/thedefendyourself
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/defend-yourself
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Warrior Womxn Republic
Washington, DC
202 459 3934
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HAWAII
ElleLiveAction
3854 Mahinahina St.
Lahaina, HI 96761
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
773 472 7663
FB: facebook/com/thousandwaves
IMPACT Chicago
Chicago, IL, 60618
312 971 7119
FB: facebook.com/impactchicago
WellPower Coaching
2700 W Leland Ave, 1E
Chicago, IL, 60625
309 660 0161
Juli Brown, she/her
Bartlett, IL 60104
630 660 7162
PAVE Prevention Inc.
Chicago, IL, 60625
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
859 469 6506
FB: facebook.com/thriveempowermentcenter LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thrive-empowerment-center
MAINE
Wounded Healers International
1129 Broadway
South Portland, ME 04106
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
207 232 0484
IG: @pacmaine
FB: facebook.com/PreventionActionChange
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clara-porter-603b724
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MARYLAND
Defend Yourself
Washington, DC
301-608-3708
FB: facebook.com/thedefendyourself
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/defend-yourself
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MASSACHUSETTS
IMPACT Boston
89 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
617 597 4945
IG: @impact_boston
Twitter/X: @IMPACT_Boston
Empowerment Changes
Box 841
Stoughton, MA 02072
512 771 2622
FB: facebook.com/EmpowermentChanges
Labrys Empowerment Self Defense
35 Boylston St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413 499 8625
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MICHIGAN
Mejishi Martial Arts, Inc.
247 W Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, MI, 48220
248 895 5787
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MINNESOTA
Five Element Martial Arts
3743 Cedar AvenueSouth
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612 729 7233
FB: facebook.com/fiveelementmartialarts
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MONTANA
Pointing North LLC
3422 Banner Way
St. Charles, MO 63301
314 753 8280
FB: facebook.com/kay.moodylosciuto
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kay-losciuto-17b6343/
TikTok: @kaylosciuto
Twitter/X: @Mindfulness123
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NEW MEXICO
Resolve
PO Box 8350
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505 992 8833
IG: @resolvenm
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NEW YORK
Prepare Inc.
147 W. 25th St. Suite 801
New York, NY 10001
212 255 0505
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/prepareinc/
Feminist Self-Defense
New York, NY
booking@feministselfdefense.com
443 722 8801
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelpiazza/
TikTok: @feministselfdefense
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OHIO
Brieanne Beaujolais, she/they
The Torch Room, LLC
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
TheTorchRoomTraining@gmail.com
614 829 7509
IG: @the_torch_room
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erica-russell-averette-4b05a31a6
IMPACT Safety
(and the We are Worth Defending Initiative)
1699 W Mound St
Columbus, OH 43229
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
419 387 7686
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OREGON
Justine Halliwill, she/her
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
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
503 719 3381
Naga
8575 SW Birchwood Road
Portland, OR 97225
503 332 8909
IG: @nagacommunity, @silviasmart13
FB: facebook.com/nagamartialarts
LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/silviasmart
WildFire Self-Defense
Portland, OR
Jocelyn Hollander, she/her
University of Oregon
541 346 5510
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PENNSYLVANIA
SETpoint at Shaolin Studios
1115 S. Braddock Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
412 242 8773
IG: @setpointdefense
FB: facebook.com/SETpointSelfDefense
Women In Transition
718 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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
412 241 6519
FB: facebook.com/LionessMartialArts
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RHODE ISLAND
Lindsay Orchowski, she/her
Alpert Medical School of Brown University
35 Hamilton Drive
East Greenwich, RI 02818
412 559 2936
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TEXAS
Sun Dragon Martial Arts & Self Defense, NFP
4534 West Gate Blvd., Ste. 101
Austin, TX 78745
sundragon.org/self-defense-program/overview
512 416 9735
FB: facebook.com/SunDragonKarate
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VERMONT
The Safety Team
27 Rye Circle
South Burlington, VT 05403
802 654 7607
FB: facebook.com/TheSafetyTeamSelfDefense
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/the-safety-team-empowerment-self-defense-trauma-recovery/
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WASHINGTON
Strategic Living LLC
PO Box 23157
Seattle, WA 98102
206 202 0748
IG: @strategicliving
FB: facebook.com/strategicliving
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joannefactor/
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WISCONSIN
Chimera Self-Defense
2801 Coho St #301
Madison, WI 53713
608 960 9036
INTERNATIONAL
AUSTRALIA
ESD Australia - Wisdom For Women
+61 423 310 471
IG: @esd_australia
FB: facebook.com/esdaustralia.wisdomforwomen/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/antonella-spatola-347076104/
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BRAZIL
ESD BRASIL
Itararé street, 168 - Bela Vista
São Paulo, SP 013080-30
+55 11 97628 1149
IG: @esdbr
FB: facebook.com/pamelamussivaldez
TikTok: @esdbr
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BELIZE
SHE Thing Self Defense and Personal Safety
Belize City, Belize District
+501 630 5571
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CANADA
Sheila Watson, she/her
Victoria, BC
250 896 0107
Arise
Vancouver, BC
IG: @ariseprograms
FB: facebook.com/ariseprograms
Nellie's
Toronto, Ontario, M4M 1J8
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
514 206 0375
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COSTA RICA
RIA-LAC
Condominio Arizona
San Jose, San Jose 30101
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
+506 6272 9491
FB: facebook.com/mujeresfuertescostarica
Abya Yala Empodera
San José, San José
+506 7103 0233
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CZECHIA
ESD Czechia/ Sebeobrana pro všechny
Na dílcích 36
Prague 8, Czechia 18200
+420 606 458 061
IG: @linda_diversio
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindastucbartova/
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ESTONIA
Kaidsõq
Tallinn, Harjumaa 10128
IG: @lauramallene
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GAMBIA
Beyond Advocacy
No. 5 Fathermeehan Street
Serrekunda, Kanifing Municipality 00220
+220 222 6733
FB: facebook.com/modoulamin.davies
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/modou-lamin-davies-b3b396244/
TikTok: @ml.davies
Twitter/X: @daviezmolamin
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GERMANY
Frauen in Bewegung e.V. (Women in Movement, non-profit)
Baumweg 8
Frankfurt 60316
+49 1516 4609431
FB: facebook.com/fraueninbewegung
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KAZAKHSTAN
ESD Kazakhstan
23 Al Farabi Street, Apt. 84
Astana 010000
Kenzhegaliyevaainash@gmail.com
+7 701 482 0470
FB: facebook.com/ainash.kenzhegaliyeva
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NETHERLANDS
Dragonfire Dreams Unlimited
Nijmegen, Gelderland 6536AB
+31 6 53581440
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wendi-dragonfire-b7623911
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NEW ZEALAND
Kia Haumaru Personal Safety Education
6021
kaiwhakahaere@kiahaumaru.org.nz
IG: @kia.haumaru
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NIGERIA
Adanma Nwokoma Olowa
Apo vechanic village Abuja, FCT 900001
+234 701 569 2934
IG: @adanma_n
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adanma-nwokoma-184165165/
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ROMANIA
Romanian Women's Lobby
8 Lt Radu Beller St, Bloc 22, Entrance C, Apt 42, Sector 1
Bucharest 011703
+40 720 153 643
FB: facebook.com/daniela.draghici.792/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniela-draghici-4159961/
Twitter/X: @danielaromania
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SLOVAKIA
ZA SEBA
FB: facebook.com/zaseba.sebaobrana
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UZBEKISTAN
Sport school
korasu 6
Tashkent, Mirzo Ulugbek
+998 97 713 13 21
FB: facebook.com/katya.bliznecova
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GLOBAL
ESD Global
casandra.hitzman@esdglobalselfdefense.org
920 559 9190
No Means No Worldwide
443 878 5498
FB: facebook.com/NOmeansNOworldwide
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Girls Fight Back
866 769 9037
IG: @girlsfightback
FB: facebook.com/girlsfightback
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicolesnell/
TikTok: @girlsfightback