Joining a self-defence club can be a big decision for a woman – not for all women, but some will certainly question whether it’s actually a good idea or not. Some will make it through the door and discover it’s not as scary as they allowed themselves to believe. Others will talk themselves out of it and not even get anywhere near that door.

I firmly believe that a woman is more likely to come back and become a regular member if they see other women participating. This was certainly true of one student I know. Some years ago Eva (not her real name) mustered up the courage to go to a self-defence class. It was full of men. Men scared Eva – unfortunately, that was just the way it was for her, she’d had a bad experience in the past.

But these men made Eva feel welcome, they didn’t try to belittle her. Instead, and to her surprise, they empowered her. In that first class they showed Eva that it didn’t matter if she was physically small, she could take them down as quickly and effectively as a well-built man could. A penny dropped, Eva didn’t have to feel scared any more. She faced her fear and realised that she was no longer a victim of crime – she was a survivor.

Self-defence training has the power to change lives

Eva began to value herself. She discovered how capable she was, just how much inner strength she possessed and how resilient she could be. She kept going to that  class and her self-confidence grew. Other women started attending the same class. They got the same warm welcome, but Eva’s presence enabled them to quickly and clearly see that they could achieve what she had achieved – they had a tangible goal. Eva empowered these women and they, in their turn, empowered the women who joined after them.

Equality can be a hard-fought battle. Let’s face it, going to the gym can be challenging as many women are reporting. And even in the workplace women can struggle to have the same rights (even salary!) as men. It’s wonderful then that, within a self-defence class, we are all equal regardless of gender, age or physicality. That’s because, together, we are a supportive community. When a woman surrounds herself with supportive people – both men and women – she is more likely to succeed. Why? Because her mindset will change, she will keep moving forward, she will feel valued and worthwhile.

That’s exactly what happened to Eva. Only Eva is actually Laura, the founder of Krav Generation. She was that scared, small woman who became confident to train with men physically bigger and stronger than herself and she’s been empowering other women ever since. Why not try a self-defence class yourself – ignore that negative internal voice, you really can do it!