Women’s Only Self-Defence Classes: Why We Don’t Run Them
At Rebel Martial Arts, one of the most common enquiries we get is for women’s only self-defence classes. And here’s the blunt truth: we don’t run them — and we never will.
Why? Because they don’t work.
False Confidence Is Dangerous
Women’s only self-defence courses often sell the idea that a handful of “tricks” will keep you safe against a determined attacker. The reality? They breed false confidence. A few choreographed moves practiced against a compliant partner in a friendly environment won’t prepare you for the raw chaos of a real confrontation. In fact, it can do the opposite — it can make you feel “ready” when you’re not, which is far more dangerous.
A Money-Grab Industry
Let’s be honest: women’s only self-defence classes are a business model first, and a self-protection method second (if at all). They’re marketed heavily because fear sells. They’re short, flashy, and easy to package as “empowerment.” But they don’t produce lasting skills, resilience, or confidence in real-world situations. They’re designed to make money — not to make you safer.
Real Threats Aren’t Gender-Specific
An attacker isn’t going to respect your gender. They’re not going to hold back because you trained in a “safe space.” The truth is brutal: violence doesn’t discriminate. If you want to prepare, you need to train against the kind of people you may actually face. That means working with men and women, larger and stronger training partners, unpredictable resistance, and realistic pressure.
The Benefits of Mixed Training
When you train in a mixed environment:
You learn how to deal with different sizes, strengths, and aggression levels.
You test your techniques against realistic resistance, not compliant partners.
You develop resilience, awareness, and adaptability — skills that actually transfer to real-world self-defence.
You build confidence that’s earned, not handed to you in a workshop with padded mats and scripted drills.
Our Philosophy
We’re not here to sell you a fantasy. We’re here to make you genuinely stronger, more capable, and more prepared for whatever life throws at you. That takes time, pressure, and honest training. It doesn’t come from a 6-week crash course in a bubble-wrapped environment.
At Rebel Martial Arts, we won’t insult you with watered-down “women’s only” self-defence. We’ll give you the same tough, functional, effective training we give everyone else — because your safety, strength, and confidence deserve nothing less.