Hello NASPA Strategies!

I founded Feminist Self-Defense in 2014. As a Women's & Gender Studies Professor and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, l was frustrated to find that most self-defense classes were ineffective and potentially traumatizing.

In response, I created the Feminist Self-Defense curriculum based on the understanding that sexual violence is a social problem and that targets of violence are never responsible for the harm someone else causes.

Rather than focus on "stranger danger" alone, my workshops provide verbal and physical strategies to help participants navigate a range of interactions, from common situations to worst-case scenarios.

This approach, in combination with my approachable and fun instruction style catapulted my workshops’ popularity in New York City and caught the attention of a number of prestigious publications, including The New York Times, The Economist and ESPN.

Now, my research-based and trauma-informed empowerment self-defense (ESD) program is taught nationwide.

Feminist Self-Defense Workshops are fun, affirming and welcoming to people of all genders, ages and abilities. Sessions provide verbal and physical strategies based in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to navigate a range of threatening interactions.

Sessions are typically two hours (but can be shorter or longer!), and include a combination of interactive discussion, role-plays, boundary-setting exercises and hands-on physical self-defense instruction.

During the first half, students learn about power-based violence and gain skills to set verbal boundaries in their everyday lives.

During the second half, students learn physical boundary-setting techniques ranging from turning a hug into a handshake to defending themselves in worst-case scenarios.

Workshops do more than teach participants to fight off an attacker. Participants learn to build healthier relationships, navigate difficult interactions with more ease, and ultimately reduce their risk of sexual assault.

The CDC identifies empowerment-based training as an evidence-based approach to sexual violence prevention.

Participants who complete an empowerment self-defense (ESD)class like Feminist Self-Defense are:

At least 50%-60% less likely to be raped

1/3 as likely to be targeted at all

Significantly less likely to experience sexual harassment, sexual coercion, or any type of physical violence

In addition, participants who complete an empowerment self-defense class report:

Less fear and anxiety

More confidence

Higher Self-Esteem

More comfort in threatening interactions

Healing from trauma

Greater sense of community

The short answer: No.

This common criticism of self-defense stems from valid concerns that mainstream self-defense programs put the onus on targets to prevent sexual violence. Unlike Feminist Self-Defense, these programs are rooted in patriarchal ideology.

Feminist Self-Defense is founded on the belief that targets of violence are never responsible for the harm that someone else causes. They do, however, deserve access to skills and training proven to reduce their likelihood of victimization.

Workshops empower participants to take charge of their wellbeing, rather than rely on perpetrators not to perpetrate (or bystanders to intervene).

Learning to recognize harmful behavior (even when it’s socially acceptable), and to set verbal and physical boundaries with more confidence is an act of resistance against the unequal power dynamics that drive sexual and other forms of power-based violence.

To have Rachel come to your campus and teach Feminist Self-Defense directly to students, the cost is $1250/workshop hour. For example, one 2-hour workshop would cost $2500. Depending on travel from NYC, there may be an additional travel stipend of $1,000.

The Train-the-Trainer program is priced according to how many staff members will attend the week-long training and the size of the institution. Details can be found in the Train-the-Trainer info packet!