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Our Approach to Teaching Women's Self Defense at Girls Who Fight
Our mission is to provide the best possible training program for a woman who wants to learn how to defend herself against a physical...
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HIGHLAND VILLAGE, TX
Transforming Young Women Into Skilled, Confident Protectors
With combat skills, protection strategies, and super-hero confidence through The Girls Who Fight Self Defense Curriculum for girls age 13-17
Transforming teens into confident young women who are ready, willing, and capable of defending their lives and fighting for themselves in all domains
Adolescence is a woman's most vulnerable decade. Our teen girl MMA & Self Defense Program is designed to give teens the precise combat skills, character strength, and street smarts that will protect and empower your daughter through her teenage years and for the rest of her life.
Every parent wants to equip their daughter with effective skills to protect herself. So why are so few girls in martial arts? Because 99.9% of martial arts programs are designed for adult men— not girls. Girls show up eager to learn but they're de-prioritized and too intimidated, self-conscious, and bored to enjoy training, so they quit (and rightly so). This is a tragedy because the people who need effective self defense skills the most, and the confidence that ensues, are teen girls.
Girls deserve an exceptional self defense program that's 100% tailored to their objectives and experience. We created Girls Who Fight so girls could learn the most effective self defense techniques from Mixed Martial Arts for threat situations women actually face — in a completely positive, professional, and friendly environment— while gaining the physical, mental, and character strength that will help her overcome challenges and succeed in life.
Girls Who Fight Classes
Beginner Self Defense Course
Our 16-class beginner self defense course teaches you the techniques, strategies, and mindset required to master the basics of women's self defense.
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Master fundamental techniques to defend being hit, grabbed, pulled away, picked up, pinned down, choked, and lured
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Master deterrence and detection strategies that make you a nightmare target
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Develop the reflexes, confidence and fighting spirit needed to act quickly and survive an attack
Class Times
Saturday 3:15-4:15pm & Sunday 10-11am
Advanced Self Defense Program
The Girls Who Fight Advanced Program is like a university degree that prepares girls with the physical, mental, and self defense skill mastery to defend yourself in any situation and succeed in all areas of life.
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Master the complete Girls Who Fight self defense curriculum and earn your self defense black belt
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Gain the mental and emotional strength to persevere and overcome any challenge
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Gain the physical strength, fitness and agility to fight with ease
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Gain unbreakable confidence with all the tools necessary to achieve excellence in all areas of life
Class Times
Friday 6:30-7:30pm & 7:30-8:30pm
Saturday 3:15-4:15pm & Sunday 10-11am
We Build Skilled, Strong, Confident Nightmare Targets. Here's How
Master The Combat Skills To Defend Yourself in Any Situation
You don't need a billion fancy techniques. You need to master the basics. Our training makes girls an expert in the precise skills to deter, detect, defend, and survive violence. You'll learn how to defend punches, grabs, hair pulls, chokes, being dragged to a car, pinned to the ground, and more, with techniques from Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, and kickboxing– the most effective combat sports in the world.
Master The Strategic Skills To Never Become A Target
The height of strategy is to defeat your enemy's strategy. We teach girls what to do so that no predator ever sees you as an easy target. Through video analysis and class discussions, the GWF Strategy Sessions teach you how to identify early danger signs with strangers, acquaintances, and intimate partners; how to be a nightmare target at all times; and how to attack a predators weaknesses if they make the mistake of choosing you.
Master The Mental and Emotional Strength To Prevail In Self Defense and Life
Technique means nothing without the courage to use it. An essential part of our program is preparing girls with the mental and emotional strength to overcome fear and adversity in both self defense and in life.
Gain The Character Traits To Achieve Excellence In All You Do
Our program helps girls develop positive habits and a positive attitude that transform their identities and improve their lives in every domain
Trial
Join A Free Intro Lesson!
next intro starts this saturday
To get started, join our next free semi-private intro lesson where you'll learn the basics with other beginners. Afterwards you'll be invited to join a free group training!
Only 10 spots per intro lesson– the next one is this Saturday!
Free Semi-Private Intro Lesson Schedule:
Saturday's 1:30-1:55pm
Learn From Girls Who Fight Founder & Head Instructor Gemma Sheehan!
Hello, I’m Gemma! I'm a former MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt with 15+ years experience training and competing in mixed martial arts. I achieved an MMA record of 5-1 and was ranked the best female fighter in Ontario. In 2017 I retired as a fighter (I was scared of emerging head trauma), but even though I stepped away from my dream I felt like I could do anything.
My martial arts journey gave me immense confidence, significance, community, physical and mental strength, and conviction in my ability to fight for myself and what I want in life. Combat skills are a highly useful vehicle for personal growth, so why do so few women stick to it? Because 99.9% of schools are exclusively focused on men who want to win competitions, not women's self defense.
Gyms serve the male mass market > females quit > gyms are re-affirmed they shouldn’t serve women = almost no women ever acquire the life-changing benefits of legit combat skills.
When I left competition I knew I was the person to change this. I created Girls Who Fight because women and girls deserve an exceptional program 100% dedicated to their needs, growth, and experience. More About Gemma >
"it's not about teaching girls to fight.
but to be so confident, capable, and aware
that they never have to"
Watch the Girls Who Fight Origin Story (2019)⚡️
Training Pillars
"My daughter now has confidence that will help her in *all* areas of her life, not just self defense"
Mixed Martial Arts Training
"My daughter loves Girls Who Fight - the coaches care about the girls and expect them to rise to the occasion with humour and inspiring leadership to support them. They work hard, develop confidence, and have a lot of joy doing it together. We've really loved our experience with GWF"
-Emily G.
Physical Self Defense Skills
"The instructors are encouraging, supporting and knowledgeable. It's a welcoming space, even for less athletically inclined girls. My daughter has loved it from day one, and I have seen her confidence and poise soar. She has learned a lot over this past year and is always excited to share her knowledge. I would absolutely recommend this for any girl or young woman."
-Katherine H.
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Start learning about girls self defense on our blog!
Give your daughter priceless strength, wits, and courage that she’ll take with her everywhere she goes for the rest of her life
We strive to be the #1 best investment that parents can make in their children.
Aside from powerful martial arts skills and improved personal safety, we guarantee that every girl in our program gains priceless character attributes that will guide her faithfully for the rest of her life. Every year invested into GWF training results in 10+ years of positive life outcomes from increased confidence, courage, discipline, focus, patience, self-respect, assertiveness, mental, physical, and emotional strength, and an unshakable belief in her ability to overcome and succeed. These virtues are discussed regularly in our training and our parents notice life-changing social-emotional improvements in their daughters.
"Girls Who Fight is one of the best things I've ever done for myself"
Girls Who Fight Self Defense Articles
The Girls Who Fight SELF DEFENSE PROGRAM FOR GIRLS 8-12
Confidence, Anti-Bullying, Self Defense
If there's anything girls need today it's confidence, awareness, and the ability to defend themselves from bullies and predators. Our fun, empowering program combines self defense and martial arts, bully-proofing and street smarts, and the undeniable confidence building that comes along with gaining these life changing skills.
"My daughter loved the GWF class. Beforehand she was very nervous, but immediately felt comfortable and had a wonderful experience. Gemma is a very gifted instructor and leader! I was so impressed with how she put everyone at ease, as well as her ability to inspire and motivate. I look forward to all the great things my daughter will learn in the weeks ahead. Thank you so much for the warm welcome!"
-Emily L.
The Girls Who Fight Self Defense & Mixed Martial Arts Program unlocks the hidden super-powers within every girl
So that by the time she reaches her most vulnerable decade of adolescence she's equipped with the confidence, courage, and most incredible fighting skills that will protect and empower her for the rest of her life.
Every parent wants to equip their little girl with effective skills to protect herself. So why are so few girls in martial arts? Because 99.9% of martial arts programs are designed for adult men— not girls. Girls show up eager to learn but they're de-prioritized and too intimidated, self-conscious, and bored to enjoy training, so they quit (and rightly so). This is a tragedy because the people who need effective self defense skills the most, and the confidence that comes with it, are young women.
Girls deserve a top quality martial arts program that's 100% tailored to them. At Girls Who Fight, girls learn relevant self defense skills in the most fun, positive, and confidence-boosting way possible!
Girls Who Fight Students Become:
"My daughter now has confidence that will help her in *all* areas of her life, not just self defense"
Join A Free Intro Lesson!
next intro starts this saturday
To get started, join our next free semi-private intro lesson where you'll learn the basics with other beginners. Afterwards you'll be invited to join a free group training!
Only 10 spots per intro lesson– the next one is this Saturday!
Free Semi-Private Intro Lesson Schedule:
Saturday's 1:30-1:55pm
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