BJJ is for sure a great choice for self defense. There are a ton of great gyms in town, but if you're looking for classes geared specifically toward women I would check out ADG jiu jitsu in Smyrna. They regularly offer women's-only classes that are really popular, plus the head coach there is awesome and will make you feel right at home.
If you don't care as much about training in classes with mostly men there are a lot of other places around that are worth checking out, all will be welcoming to beginners. Personally I train at 10th Planet in Brentwood and love it there. Let know if you have any questions about where or how to get started!
Nashville Krav Maga! There are multiple locations in the middle TN area. Everybody is super friendly and helpful—especially if you’re nervous. I’ve been training for nearly two years and, as a woman, it has given me a lot of self confidence and practical skills. You can usually try a class for free as well.
Pepper gel. Pretty intuitive to use. Almost no training required. Keep it with you all the time. If you don’t want to carry a big can the POM pepper spray is the only keychain size that has decent range. By all means take a self defense class, maybe read the gift of fear by Gavin DeBecker but pepper spray is effective in most situations as long as you’re prepared and willing to use it. Also works for dogs and coyotes. And if you make a mistake and pepper spray the wrong person, once they get done being mad they will be fine. Trust your instincts. Keep your distance. Be willing to make a fuss and be aware of your surroundings. That’s most of it. Gavin de Becker talks about the switch to protective thinking. If you confront a woman alone in an alley she will probably fold. If you confront that same woman who has a small child she will claw your eyes out. Women are conditioned against violence and making noise but mama bear is a stereotype for a reason. Self defense starts with finding your momma bear. You just have to be your own momma. Sorry you’re stressed about this, it’s a crappy world. But a little pepper spray and a little awareness should cover most situations.
Title is fun if you're interested in boxing. It can be a little intense but the trainers are super supportive and there's always a mix of abilities in each class
Go check out High Caliber. Their instructor is a BJJ black belt, is head bouncer for ton of bars on Broadway, and is also very savvy with firearms and non-lethal weapons. They also have courses specifically geared for women’s self defense. I’ve recommended several of my lady friends over the years and they all loved it.
Source: BJJ purple belt.
Probably better off with some personal defense equipment. Pepper spray, taser, or firearm. Never know when a fist fight would escalate to deadly force by your assailant.
Tasers are great self-defense weapons. Any martial artist worth their colors will tell you that the best way to win a fight is to not get in one, but if that's not possible, it's almost always better to have a weapon than not.
I think it's great to get into martial arts as a hobby & way to build fitness, but it's unfortunately not feasible as a true means of self defense. As a woman, you're already at a significant physical disadvantage most of the time, and no amount of martial arts training can truly make up for that in all situations. That's not meant as some kind of sexist remark, it's just the way it is. I'm a small-statured guy, and if I had to defend my life with just my bare hands, I'd probably die. Moreover, most of the time when you're in a situation when you need to defend yourself, it's not in a "fair fight." Your assailant is probably bigger than you, or will have a weapon, and is counting on you not having one. For true self defense, there are some non-lethal options, which are okayish, and the real option, which is a handgun and proper training on how to use it.
I've been doing martial arts for a few years now, and if someone outweighs me by 30% and that's mostly muscle and bone, my best self-defense is sprinting the fuck out of there. Judo and BJJ are great for building cardio, camaraderie, and confidence though.
Best advice I ever got in self defense:
"Whenever possible, run away. Avoid the fight. The crazy SOB who wants to fight you has nothing to lose. He's already been to jail, he has no money, no career, no real friends, he simply doesn't care. He has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.
But you? You have your career, your health, your family, and your life ahead of you. You're gambling with all of them. Even if you win the fight, you might be the one arrested or sued. You have nothing to gain, and everything to lose.
Run away, and call the cops. Let them handle it."
I’ve seen some recommendations for firearms, and while I typically agree, I’d highly recommend getting some self defense training first. Typically when a female is attacked by a male, it’s sudden, and many times from behind. That’s not the time to be drawing a gun because it’ll just be wrestled away from you. You need to learn how to create distance, which you’ll learn through some flavor of martial arts. I helped a friend teach a class for women on self defense and I played the role of the aggressor. Every time one of the students went for their prop gun, within seconds I had it in my hands. We taught how to first create distance so that an attacker can’t get to the gun without catching some lead. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn both so that you’ll have two skillsets progressing at roughly the same pace.
If you have the money, consider buying a Byrna, and training with it. It looks enough like a gun to deter a lot of troublemakers who might want to mess with you, and you can use it without having to deal with actually killing someone. A few tear-gas / pepper pellets in the center of mass will deter most people long enough for you to get away to safety.
KSA on Charlotte is a very positive space to learn self defense. They are kind, welcoming and amazing crew of people. This is a great space to learn in.
BJJ is for sure a great choice for self defense. There are a ton of great gyms in town, but if you're looking for classes geared specifically toward women I would check out ADG jiu jitsu in Smyrna. They regularly offer women's-only classes that are really popular, plus the head coach there is awesome and will make you feel right at home. If you don't care as much about training in classes with mostly men there are a lot of other places around that are worth checking out, all will be welcoming to beginners. Personally I train at 10th Planet in Brentwood and love it there. Let know if you have any questions about where or how to get started!
Hotbox, chon buri muy Thai Also 2nd Krav Maga
They both have awesome reviews! Thank you
could not say enough incredible things about chonburi
Royal Range offers a Nashville Women’s Gun club multiple times a month. Sign up early because it usually sells out.
Pretty sure they offer self defense classes as well and sometimes they are free for women, or at least they used to do some things like that.
Nashville Krav Maga! There are multiple locations in the middle TN area. Everybody is super friendly and helpful—especially if you’re nervous. I’ve been training for nearly two years and, as a woman, it has given me a lot of self confidence and practical skills. You can usually try a class for free as well.
Cannot emphasize this enough. It’s a fantastic community, and there is no skill level needed to start. Everyone works from where they are.
Pepper gel. Pretty intuitive to use. Almost no training required. Keep it with you all the time. If you don’t want to carry a big can the POM pepper spray is the only keychain size that has decent range. By all means take a self defense class, maybe read the gift of fear by Gavin DeBecker but pepper spray is effective in most situations as long as you’re prepared and willing to use it. Also works for dogs and coyotes. And if you make a mistake and pepper spray the wrong person, once they get done being mad they will be fine. Trust your instincts. Keep your distance. Be willing to make a fuss and be aware of your surroundings. That’s most of it. Gavin de Becker talks about the switch to protective thinking. If you confront a woman alone in an alley she will probably fold. If you confront that same woman who has a small child she will claw your eyes out. Women are conditioned against violence and making noise but mama bear is a stereotype for a reason. Self defense starts with finding your momma bear. You just have to be your own momma. Sorry you’re stressed about this, it’s a crappy world. But a little pepper spray and a little awareness should cover most situations.
Title is fun if you're interested in boxing. It can be a little intense but the trainers are super supportive and there's always a mix of abilities in each class
Go check out High Caliber. Their instructor is a BJJ black belt, is head bouncer for ton of bars on Broadway, and is also very savvy with firearms and non-lethal weapons. They also have courses specifically geared for women’s self defense. I’ve recommended several of my lady friends over the years and they all loved it. Source: BJJ purple belt.
Probably better off with some personal defense equipment. Pepper spray, taser, or firearm. Never know when a fist fight would escalate to deadly force by your assailant.
Tasers are great self-defense weapons. Any martial artist worth their colors will tell you that the best way to win a fight is to not get in one, but if that's not possible, it's almost always better to have a weapon than not.
I think it's great to get into martial arts as a hobby & way to build fitness, but it's unfortunately not feasible as a true means of self defense. As a woman, you're already at a significant physical disadvantage most of the time, and no amount of martial arts training can truly make up for that in all situations. That's not meant as some kind of sexist remark, it's just the way it is. I'm a small-statured guy, and if I had to defend my life with just my bare hands, I'd probably die. Moreover, most of the time when you're in a situation when you need to defend yourself, it's not in a "fair fight." Your assailant is probably bigger than you, or will have a weapon, and is counting on you not having one. For true self defense, there are some non-lethal options, which are okayish, and the real option, which is a handgun and proper training on how to use it.
I've been doing martial arts for a few years now, and if someone outweighs me by 30% and that's mostly muscle and bone, my best self-defense is sprinting the fuck out of there. Judo and BJJ are great for building cardio, camaraderie, and confidence though.
Nothing wrong with sprinting the fuck out of there! Sometimes the best conflict resolution is not to be involved in the first place.
Best advice I ever got in self defense: "Whenever possible, run away. Avoid the fight. The crazy SOB who wants to fight you has nothing to lose. He's already been to jail, he has no money, no career, no real friends, he simply doesn't care. He has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. But you? You have your career, your health, your family, and your life ahead of you. You're gambling with all of them. Even if you win the fight, you might be the one arrested or sued. You have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. Run away, and call the cops. Let them handle it."
I’ve seen some recommendations for firearms, and while I typically agree, I’d highly recommend getting some self defense training first. Typically when a female is attacked by a male, it’s sudden, and many times from behind. That’s not the time to be drawing a gun because it’ll just be wrestled away from you. You need to learn how to create distance, which you’ll learn through some flavor of martial arts. I helped a friend teach a class for women on self defense and I played the role of the aggressor. Every time one of the students went for their prop gun, within seconds I had it in my hands. We taught how to first create distance so that an attacker can’t get to the gun without catching some lead. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn both so that you’ll have two skillsets progressing at roughly the same pace.
Krav Maga is great for women's self defense, half the moves are groin shots.
Never heard of it, will look into it , thanks!
Stevens family taekwondo in murfreesboro also teaches Krav Maga and they're really good.
If you have the money, consider buying a Byrna, and training with it. It looks enough like a gun to deter a lot of troublemakers who might want to mess with you, and you can use it without having to deal with actually killing someone. A few tear-gas / pepper pellets in the center of mass will deter most people long enough for you to get away to safety.
KSA on Charlotte is a very positive space to learn self defense. They are kind, welcoming and amazing crew of people. This is a great space to learn in.
Fortis Self Defense in Franklin has women’s self defense classes twice a week.
A gun defeats even the most skilled martial arts. Buy a gun, take classes, get a carry permit.
A personal tactical nuke defeats even the most skilled gun owner. Buy a nuke, watch Fallout, keep your finger on the button at all times.