Home / Empower Her
Women's Martial Arts and Self-Defense Classes in Portland
We weave ancient wisdom with modern insight, offering tools of awareness, prevention, and self-protection. Empower Her exists to help women reclaim their power, trust their intuition, and walk with clarity, resilience, and peace. The Empower Her Program Empower Her is a self-defense and personal safety training program designed to equip women with the mindset, movement, and tools they need to protect themselves with confidence. Our unique approach blends real-world techniques, situational awareness, and intuitive development — helping women feel safer, stronger, and more in control. We offer two course levels: Core and Advanced, each building toward empowered, embodied self-protection.
The Empower Her Program
Empower Her is a self-defense and personal safety training program designed to equip women with the mindset, movement, and tools they need to protect themselves with confidence. Our unique approach blends real-world techniques, situational awareness, and intuitive development — helping women feel safer, stronger, and more in control. We offer two course levels: Core and Advanced, each building toward empowered, embodied self-protection.
Empower Her Core Course
Build Your Foundation of Awareness and Strength The Core Course introduces foundational safety principles every woman should know. It focuses on developing the right mindset, understanding how to avoid becoming a target, and learning the mental tools that make real self-defense possible — even against a stronger attacker.
What You'll Learn:
- The 3 Dangerous Myths that put women at risk: — and how to break free from them.
- Kyojitsu — The secret principle of “truth and deception” that helps someone smaller prevail against someone larger.
- How to develop awareness and confidently navigate daily life.
- How to recognize and manage fear — transforming it into clarity and decisive action.
- How to build a grounded, strategic mindset that supports safety and calm in any situation.
Empower Her Advanced Course
This course is ideal for women of all ages and backgrounds — no prior experience required. Empower Her Advanced CourseTrain for Real-World Threats with Confidence The Advanced Course goes deeper into hands-on practice, scenario training, and the use of personal safety tools known as force multipliers. This class builds on the mindset foundation of the Core Course and trains your body and instincts for fast, effective response.
What You'll Learn:
- How to sharpen and trust your intuition — your natural early-warning system.
- Scenario-based training, including
- Defending against attacks from behind
- Escaping when taken to the ground
- Responding to grabs, holds, or restraint attempts
- How to effectively use force multipliers, including:
- Car keys
- Flashlights
- Stun guns
- Folding knives
- Pepper spray
- Byrna Launcher CL
Join the Movement
Ready to take the first step?
Our Other Courses
The Black Belt Master Class is an exclusive training program designed to elevate black belt practitioners to new levels of mastery. Our focus is the complete study of the Koto Ryu Densho, exploring its 58 katas with the depth and precision they deserve.
Kids are often glued to screens and surrounded by distractions, it’s more important than ever to provide them with opportunities to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Martial arts training offers a holistic approach to developing life skills that extend far beyond the dojo.
Our Adult Martial Arts class offers practical, reality-based self-defense skills that enhance not only your physical strength but also your mental resilience. We teach Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, commonly known as Ninjutsu, an ancient Japanese martial art that emphasizes battlefield skills used by the Samurai and Ninja.
Book Your Seat Now!
Sign up for our courses to secure your seat in the upcoming classes. For any queries or detailed information, feel free to contact us. It’s always better to learn than to regret later.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I live in Bethany, Portland. Are there martial arts classes for women near me?
Yes! Our instructors offer women's martial arts in Bethany, Portland, so nearby women who want to empower themselves and acquire skills beyond the physical realm need look no further. These classes develop strength, confidence, and some instinct to confront real threats in life; all within an empowering environment alongside wonderful people. The skills you gain here just might save your life someday!
2. Why should I take self-defense classes for women at Instinct Defense Academy?
We are considered the best self-defense classes for women, and our program name is Empower Her. It teaches women how to deal with the potential of real-life threats and escape harmful situations while also instilling a sense of belief in themselves to defend themselves. These classes cater to women of all backgrounds and skill levels, from those new to learning anything about it to casual practitioners to competitors.
3. Can I take self-defense classes even if I have no martial arts experience?
Definitely! Our self-defense classes for women in Portland are designed for beginners. No martial arts experience is required; our techniques work for everybody, regardless of age, size, or fitness level. It is the goal for the instructors to be able to teach you self-defense for real-world situations rather than a ring or tournament.
4. I work late and feel unsafe walking home alone. Will this class help me feel safer?
Absolutely! Our women's self-defense in Portland not only teaches physical techniques but also trains your instincts. You'll learn how to recognize danger beforehand, how to carry yourself with confidence to deter attackers, and what to do if conflict becomes unavoidable. This is real-life stuff for real-life situations. It's about increasing your sense of safety anywhere you go.
5. I do not have the time for years of training. How fast can I learn self-defense moves?
You don't need years of martial arts training to learn some helpful self-defense techniques that could save your life. Our self-defense classes for women in Portland are centered around efficient, practical techniques you can apply immediately. You'll gain useful skills in just one class, let alone a full program. Mastering isn't the aim—survival and empowerment are.