Private & Group Self-Defense Training
Practical personal safety skills for individuals, friends and families.
respond effectively under stress
Chances are you are looking at self-defense training because something happened to you and you never want to be in that position again. Or something happened to someone you know. Or you are a parent watching your teenagers grow up fast, wanting their independence, and you want to make sure they know how to stay safe before they need to find out the hard way.
Whatever brought you here, the decision to do something practical about it is the right one. These sessions give you the skills to recognise potential danger and move to safety.
The reason most people freeze in dangerous situations is not lack of courage. It is lack of preparation. When you're reacting from fear your thinking narrows, reaction time slows and the body does things that feel beyond your control. What you understood in a calm moment becomes very difficult to access in a frightened one.
These sessions are built around that reality. You learn how threat works, what your body does when it encounters it, and how to stay functional enough to make a decision and act on it. Physical techniques come last, once the foundations are in place.
What the session covers
These sessions are highly interactive and while the foundational content is the same these sessions are tailored according to what you need.
Threat recognition
What risk actually looks like before it becomes obvious. How to read an environment, read a situation, and trust what you are noticing before your conscious mind has caught up.
The fear response
What happens in your body when something feels wrong, why it slows you down, and how to stay functional enough to make a decision rather than freeze.
Boundaries under pressure
How attackers test boundaries before physical contact happens, what that looks like, and how to respond clearly and early before a situation escalates.
Body language and presence
How posture and physical presence affect whether you are noticed as a target. Small, practical adjustments that reduce risk before anything else is needed.
De-escalation
Verbal and non-verbal tools for managing a tense situation before it becomes physical. What to say, what not to say, and how to create distance safely.
Everyday defence
How to use space, movement and your environment to increase your safety in the situations you actually move through every day.
Physical techniques
Simple, effective responses that work regardless of size, strength or fitness level. Taught as a last resort, not a first option.
Scenario simulations
Guided practice applying what you have learned to real-world situations. This is where the skills go from understood to usable.
HOW IT WORKS
Duration: 1.5 - 3 hours, depending on group size
Location: Your venue. Hillcrest and surrounding Durban area.
Experience: Beginner-friendly. No fitness level or prior training required. Suitable for male and female participants.
Group size: Flexible - Individuals, couples, families and small groups are all welcome.
who this training is for
Sessions are tailored to the group in the room. Content adjusts to your specific situation and concerns.
Individuals
People who want to feel more confident, who have had a near-miss, or who have been through a dangerous situation and want to make sure it never happens again.
Friends and small groups
A practical session for people who want to look out for each other. Works well for friends booking together, or any small group with a shared safety concern.
Families
Parents and teenagers working through the same material together. Practical, age-appropriate, and useful for both the skills it builds and the conversations it starts.
Frequently Asked questions
Do I need any fitness level or prior experience?
No. These sessions are designed for complete beginners. The techniques work regardless of your size, strength or fitness level, and the content is paced for the group in the room. Nobody is pushed beyond what they are comfortable with.
Where do sessions take place?
Ann comes to your venue. Sessions are available in Hillcrest and the surrounding Durban area. Get in touch if you are outside that area to discuss options.
How many people can attend?
Sessions work for individuals, couples and small groups. Ann adjusts the content and pace based on who is in the room and what they want to get out of it.
Is this suitable for teenagers?
Yes. Teenagers attend alongside parents or in dedicated youth sessions. Content is adjusted to be age-appropriate and relevant to the real situations young people face.
How is this different from a martial arts class?
This is not ongoing martial arts training. It is a focused, practical session that gives you threat recognition, boundary skills and simple physical responses you can use in real life without years of practice.
Will one session actually make a difference?
Yes. One session gives you a meaningful foundation: how to read risk earlier, how to manage your own stress response, and how to act rather than freeze. As long as you continue to practice what you learn in your day-to-day life you are far more likely to stay safe. Ongoing private coaching is available if required.
Can I book a session for a specific concern or situation?
Yes. If you have a specific concern, route, context or situation you want to work through, Ann can tailor the session around that. Get in touch to discuss what you are dealing with and what you want to be able to do about it.
You can’t control the world, but you can control how you prepare for it. Safety is a skill, and everyone deserves to learn it.