WOMEN EMPOWERED®
You are worth defending!
Women empowered is so much more than self-defense
In this 15-lesson program, we will teach you how to neutralize the 20 most common attacks carried out by perpetrators. This program addresses scalable self-defense options ranging from verbal boundary setting to lethal force techniques, so you feel prepared for any potential threat.
Get 10 days of Women empowered Classes completely Risk Free!
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Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the perfect self-defense system for women, but only if it is taught correctly. If you’re unsure about learning BJJ for fear of injury, embarrassment, or any other reason, then the Women Empowered program is perfect for you! If you’ve tried BJJ at another school and had a negative experience, give Women Empowered a chance, and we guarantee it will win you back to the mat!
Self-defense that actually works
It’s not just a workout - it’s a life-saving skillset. Learn time-tested self-defense techniques based in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to protect yourself and your loved ones, even if an attacker is bigger and stronger than you.
Come start your martial art journey in a safe, fun, empowering environment!
Tap into your power. Unleash your potential.
For our Women Empowered students, learning to defend themselves not only enhances their physical confidence, but also their sense of freedom to live life to the fullest.
Learning to set verbal and physical boundaries plays an important role in our safety and our ability to purse what we want out of life. This is one of many reasons women choose Women Empowered for their martial arts training.
Join our tribe
In Women Empowered, we work with each other, not against each other, on our journeys of empowerment. Our instructors and students love helping newcomers who may be experiencing nerves on their first day!
Come for the jiu-jitsu, stay for the community of women supporting one another.
Meet Your Instructors
Hannah McGuin
Hannah McGuin is a Certified Gracie Jiu Jitsu Women Empowered Instructor and one of the head instructors of the Women Empowered self-defense program at Gracie Jiu Jitsu South Bend. Hannah began training Gracie Jiu Jitsu in early 2019 and loves spending as much time on the mats as possible. Though she loves jiu jitsu in its entirety, she is most passionate about sharing it with women.
Sarah McGuin
Sarah McGuin is a Certified Gracie Jiu Jitsu Women Empowered Instructor and one of the head instructors of the Women Empowered self-defense program at Gracie Jiu Jitsu South Bend. Sarah began training Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 2018 and loves making jiu jitsu a fun experience for everyone. She loves watching confidence and empowerment grow in women through their jiu jitsu journey.
The Gracie Difference
Building a Strong Foundation for a Lifelong Journey
Step 1: Learn The Techniques
Law enforcement officials and survivors of sexual assault helped us identify the20 most common attack strategies that a male assailant is likely to use on a woman. From hair-grabs and chokeholds, to bear hugs and weapon defenses, the Women Empowered program covers it all.
Step 2: Develop Your Reflexes
Once you complete each of the 15 Women Empowered lessons once, you will qualify to participate in the Reflex Development (RD) classes.
In Reflex Development classes, you will learn how to combine the 20 techniques to address the most common occurrences in a real self-defense situation.
Step 3: Earn Your Pink Belt
Once you complete each of the Women Empowered lessons four times, and you’ve completed at least 8 Reflex Development Classes, you may be ready to test for promotion to pink belt! This is to test your understanding of the techniques and philosophies that are essential for survival in life-threatening scenarios. Once you earn your pink belt, you can attend WE classes for free, for the rest of your life!
Get the Gracie University® advantage.
In addition to live classes, every student receives a subscription to Gracie University Online, which gives you unlimited online access to the Women Empowered streaming instructional video archive.
Use this resource to review past lessons, learn new techniques, and prepare for future belt tests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any computer or mobile device!
Take advantage of this powerful tool and take your technique to the next level!