If you’ve looked at the Portland self defense classes available, you’ll find the same issue in numerous places: Lots of choices, but few clarity about what will help you when you need it. Parts of the programs are based on punches and kicks. Then others spend an hour on theory and 5 minutes on practice. Very few actually show you how, prepare you for it – a grab from behind, a hand at your wrist, and a stranger who won’t take no for an answer.
We have over 30 years’ experience at Instinct Defense Academy in Bethany, Portland to have an answer for what really works for women and what is just noise. This is an explanation of what to expect from a real women’s self defense class, why the right class is more important than the number of classes, and strategies for determining if a class is the right one for you.
Why Portland Women Are Choosing Self-Defense Training
The city of Portland is a walkable, transit-oriented city, and that’s why there are more and more self defense classes for women; there are women’s self defense classes near me every month. Late shifts, solo rides, parking garages, and evening runs – this is not a glamorous facet of those in their profession here; it’s often not enough to be aware of it.
The women we bring into our classes are just not seeking to become fighters. They want something that they can see a threat before it happens, are confident they can draw a line without hesitation, and have a few methods that help them in any size and strength. That is what the right idea of self defense for women is about, well, becoming ready to use their self defense skills at an instinctive level and not learning a martial art.
What to Expect in Women’s Self Defense Classes
So that’s the question many people want to know and let’s answer it here and now. The purpose of women’s self defense classes that would actually be practiced on the street is way different from a fitness-kickboxing class. Here are the features that you can expect to find in a legit program:
- Situational awareness training – Understanding and recognizing risks before they become critical or beyond our control – not after they happen
- Practice in setting boundaries – Verbal and physical strategies to avoid engaging in an interaction
- Eight core physical techniques – Just a few that you could actually remember and perform under pressure
- Scenario-based drills – Not only air punching, but also practicing against grabs, holds and ground situations
- Mindset and stress training – Fear impacts performance more than skill does
The ideal women self defense class isn’t going to load your noggin with 50 techniques you’ll have forgotten by next week! It adds a few select responses that stay in muscle memory so that they can be retrieved when adrenaline takes over and the fine motor skills kick the bucket.
Practical Self Defense for Women: What Actually Works
Here is where a lot of programs fail: They are preparing for a sparring bout; they’re not actually preparing for reality. There are a number of realities to consider when it comes to practical self defense for women – attackers are typically larger, stronger, confrontations occur within seconds and most women have received no physical training prior to their first class.
This is why our Empower Her program is about timing, distance and leveraging and not strength or aggression! You’ll see that the principle of ours and every class we run, is technique beats size, every time, if trained well. This includes:
- Optimal defense against the most frequent in the real world attacks
- How to throw opponents using their own strength to attack them
- De-escalation & awareness skills that keep a situation from getting started
- Easy and routine actions without athleticism or previous experience
The ability of our women’s self defense to teach sure methods being taught is what sets us apart from a run of the mill self defense seminar – every technique has been selected because it is effective at defending against a stronger woman – not to impress.
Beginner Women’s Self Defense Classes: No Experience Needed
The fear we hear the most is, “I have never done anything like this before. Good news – you don’t need to have. Beginner Women’s Self Defense Classes – These classes are created for a woman who has never taken a self defense class before. A lifetime of fitness is not required, nor does the athlete have to have any athletic background or martial arts experience.
The only thing that’s important is to listen for learning. Walking fast or running longer is not important, but positioning, redirecting the energy and timing are equally important for a brand-new student to a long-time student. If you’re wondering if you need to “get in shape first” before getting trained you are thinking backwards. The class is a means of developing that readiness, it is not required prior to the beginning of the class.
Women-Only Self Defense Classes: Why the Setting Matters
The learning environment is as important as the content taught. We don’t fit women in with men in any co-ed classes because of this, which is why we have Empower Her classes which are dedicated to women only self defense. Generally, a space allotted to women will reduce the intimidation factor, particularly for novices seeking to tackle scenario exercises with grabs and/or holds or close contact.
It also makes it possible to concentrate on circumstances where women are more likely to be exposed – a bit of an overstatement for the self-defense curriculum designed for an average adult class. For a mixed-group martial arts atmosphere, we also offer our Adult Class – open to all skill levels, and includes reality-based self-defense.
How to Choose the Best Self-Defense Classes for Women
Not all programs are designed the same and it’s essential to know the difference between the best self-defense class for women and a quick workout. If you are considering any program – ours included – check out:
- Working practice based as opposed to sports-based competition rules
- Trainers who have taught classes, not just obtained personal training certificates
- Carefully structured learning from awareness to response
- A non-judgemental supportive environment particularly for absolute beginners
- Continuing services, such as advanced refreshment classes, not one and done
- Ongoing options, like advanced or refresher courses, not just a single session
Our instructors’ backgrounds and training philosophy will be available on our Instructors page and what our past students experienced will be available on our Testimonials page.
Women’s Self Defense Training in Portland: The Empower Her Program
We don’t get more focused than Empower Her, which focuses specifically on all of the above – mindset, movement, and real world power. It is designed in 2 levels, allowing you to work through it at your own speed:
Empower Her – Core is a 4 week, 8 hour course of ($225) designed to bring to every woman the basic principles of awareness, how to not be a target, and mental skills that make it possible to fight back for oneself – even against someone stronger.
Empower Her – Force Multipliers expands upon scenario training for Back Strikes, Ground Escapes, and Restraint situations, as well as how to use tools such as keys, flashlights, pepper spray, and stun guns.
If you’re unable to attend a class – or missing a week or two, we are also offering a self paced women’s self-defense seminar technically – that will be accessible online for lifetime learning – that’s based on the key principle taught in our live women’s self defense classes in Portland that we teach every week.
Finding Self Defense Classes for Women Near You in Portland
When you’re looking for “self-defense classes for women near me” or “women’s self defense classes near me”, you want a local class that is effective and face-to-face, right? Since 1991, our Bethany, Portland location has been training the community and these credentials are incredibly satisfying.
See the schedule for upcoming session times, learn about program costs on our Pricing page, and learn more about what a class is really like first-hand, in our Women Self Defense Gallery.
FAQs: self defense classes for women
1. What should I look for in the best self-defense classes for women?
Identify a method that’s rooted in reality, has qualified instructors, a well-established curriculum and scenario training and not a single session. The best programs nurture skills over time and do not try to pack it all into one program.
2. What can I expect in women's self-defense classes at Instinct Defense Academy?
You’ll go through situational awareness, mindset training and then techniques for the most common scenarios you will find yourself in will be taught and then scenario-based drills will take you through the skills so that when you find yourself in the real world, those techniques stick.
3. Are there beginner women's self-defense classes if I've never trained before?
Yes. Beginner women’s self-defense classes are designed for women having no previous self-defense experience. There is no fitness requirement or previous athletic experience necessary – only a willingness to learn is needed.
4. Do you offer women-only self-defense classes?
Yes, via our Empower Her program. For many students, training in an all-female environment allows them to be more comfortable in practical exercises such as close contact scenarios – typically grabs or holds – particularly in the initial stages.
5. How do I find self-defense classes for women near me in Portland?
We have been training the local community since 1991 in our Bethany, Portland studio. See class schedules on our Schedule page and or contact us on the Contact page for a time that works for you.
6. What's the difference between your women's self-defense course and a general martial arts class?
Our women’s self defence course caters to those situations that women are more likely to be involved with and is held in a Women’s Only class. These are similar principles presented from a reality-based approach, but presented in a mixed group, in our general Adult Class.