Why self-defence belongs in the workplace
When we talk about workplace wellbeing, we often think about the usual things: mental health, physical health, flexible working, financial wellbeing and creating a positive workplace culture.
And all of those things matter.
But there’s another side to wellbeing that we don’t always talk about: feeling confident, capable and safe in the world outside of work too.
For women in particular, that can be a bigger consideration than it should be.
Whether it’s walking to the car after work, travelling home in the dark, getting on a train, waiting for a taxi, travelling to a meeting or working somewhere unfamiliar, personal safety can sometimes sit quietly in the back of your mind.
That’s where a women’s self-defence workshop can offer something really valuable, because it gives women practical skills, knowledge and confidence that they can take away with them.
It’s about much more than fighting
One of the biggest misconceptions about self-defence is that it’s all about physical techniques, however in reality, physical self-defence is just one part of the picture.
Self Defence starts much earlier - It’s about awareness, recognising when something doesn’t feel right and trusting those instincts.
It’s about understanding your boundaries and feeling confident enough to communicate them, as well as knowing that you have options if a situation starts to feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
These are skills that can have an impact far beyond the workshop itself, helping women feel more confident, aware and empowered in all sorts of everyday situations.
Building all-round confidence
There’s something incredibly empowering about learning that you are capable of handling yourself in a difficult situation. For many women, self-defence can be a confidence boost that goes well beyond physical safety.
It gives them confidence that they can make decisions under pressure and that they don't have to automatically make themselves smaller, quieter or more accommodating when something doesn't feel right.
A big part of that is because in the workshops we talk about how your voice can be a tool.
Finding your voice
One of the things I love about self-defence is the focus on using your voice.
In the workshops we practise being clear, assertive and saying no. Sometimes at very loud volumes.
And we practise doing it without feeling that we need to apologise for taking up space. For a lot of women, that feels very powerful.
Because using your voice confidently isn't just useful if someone is making you feel unsafe.
It can help when you need to challenge something at work, when someone oversteps a boundary, when you disagree with something.
Or simply when you need to say no without feeling the need to soften it.
Becoming more comfortable with boundaries
Boundaries are a huge part of self-defence.
And again, this isn't just about physical boundaries.
It's about recognising what you're comfortable with and what you're not, and feeling confident communicating that. Women are often conditioned to be polite, helpful and accommodating, sometimes that means we ignore the little voice telling us that something doesn't feel quite right because we don't want to appear rude.
Self-defence gives us an opportunity to challenge that, because you don't need to wait until something becomes a serious situation before you're allowed to set a boundary.
You can say no at any time and you can change your mind - and you don't have to justify your decision to anyone else.
Trusting your gut
Self-defence workshops can help women understand the importance of instinct and awareness, rather than encouraging us to ignore those feelings until we have some sort of "proof" that a situation is unsafe.
You don't need to be able to explain exactly why you feel uncomfortable, feeling uncomfortable can be enough reason to remove yourself from a situation.
That can be a really powerful message for women.
Learning practical skills
Of course, there is also the physical side.
Women can learn simple, practical techniques designed to help them create space, break away from grabs and get themselves to safety if physical confrontation does occur.
The focus isn't on winning a fight, it's on creating an opportunity to get away.
And that's an important distinction my workshops aren’t about making women responsible for preventing violence.
They are about giving women knowledge and skills that may help them respond if they ever find themselves in a difficult situation.
A different kind of workplace wellbeing
This is why I think women's self-defence workshops can be such a great addition to workplace wellbeing programmes.
They're practical.
They're interactive.
They're help to build confidence.
And they create conversations around safety, boundaries, confidence and wellbeing that might not otherwise happen.
They can also be a brilliant option for women's networks, employee wellbeing programmes, team development days, conferences and events.
And perhaps most importantly, they send a message.
We want our women to feel confident, capable and supported, both inside and outside the workplace.
Because workplace wellbeing shouldn't stop when someone walks out of the office door.
Women deserve to feel confident travelling home, when they are travelling to meetings, at networking events or just having to stay in the office a bit later.
Giving women knowledge, practical skills and confidence can be a really positive part of creating a safer, more empowered workforce.
Interested in bringing Self Defence workshops to the women in your workforce?
Whether you’re looking for a meaningful addition to your workplace wellbeing programme, a session for your women’s network, a team-building activity or something a little different for an upcoming event, I’d love to have a chat.
Let’s give women practical skills, greater confidence and the tools to feel more comfortable using their voice, setting boundaries and trusting their instincts.
