Our Empowered Self Defence (ESD) workshops support women and girls to feel safer, stronger, and more confident in everyday life. For women of all ages and abilities, the program is trauma-informed and grounded in the principles of Aikido — a non-aggressive martial art focused on balance, awareness, and inner strength.
These 1 day workshops combine practical self-defence skills with tools that help participants recognise risk, set clear boundaries, and communicate assertively. Workshops offered for school aged girls in school settings and for women in workplace and community settings.
Workshops include:
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Understanding personal rights, boundaries, and consent
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Recognising risk and early warning signs
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Assertive communication and boundary setting
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Awareness and de-escalation strategies
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Nervous system regulation and mind–body somatic exercises
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Respectful relationship practices
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Simple, effective physical self-defence techniques inspired by Aikido
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Strategies to build confidence, resilience, and personal safety
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Referrals to local support services
Research shows that women who understand their rights and feel confident asserting them are less likely to experience violence or coercion. Empowered Self Defence training strengthens these protective factors by building confidence, awareness, and practical skills for responding to unsafe situations.
Our past participants’ sense of empowerment and confidence in keeping themselves safe increases from an average of 48% before the workshop to 96% afterwards, and all participants said they would recommend the program to other women.
Our approach is based on empowerment rather than fear — helping women and girls reconnect with their voice, their boundaries, and their strength.