Underground Self-Defense

Name: Underground Self-Defense
Address: 532 State Street, Madison, WI, 53703, US
Telephone: (608) 251-7755
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.2

Practical, empowering self-defense training for everyday safety.

4.2(5 reviews)

gym

Directions Call Website

About

Underground Self-Defense in Madison, WI, at 532 State St, offers practical self-defense training through a gym-style setting. Instructors like Trisha and Ali lead programs such as the Women’s Self-Defense series, balancing discussions on boundaries with hands-on skills. The flexible format blends online and in-person sessions with post-class resources, and reviews highlight clear communication, empowerment, and applicability to all genders.

Photos

1 / 1

Location

532 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Get directions

Information

532 State Street

Madison, WI, 53703

(608) 251-7755 undergroundselfdefense.coop/

Is this your business?

Claim Underground Self-Defense to manage your storefront, respond to reviews, and receive customer leads.

Services

Women's Self-Defense Series

Multi-week courses combining online materials with in-person classes, covering verbal boundary-setting and physical techniques in a supportive environment.

Private Custom Workshops

Tailored self-defense sessions for groups, nonprofits, or teams, with flexible scheduling and practical, empowering content for all genders.

Mixed-Format Training

Blended learning with videos and articles for self-paced review, followed by in-person discussions and hands-on fighting skill practice.

Practice Attacker Feedback

Realistic scenario training with feedback from practice attackers to enhance the effectiveness of self-defense moves in real-life situations.

Boundary and Verbal Defense Coaching

Instruction on setting boundaries and using verbal self-defense strategies to de-escalate conflicts and improve personal safety.

4.20 · 5 reviews

Overall rating

Houa Yang

via Google

· 10 months ago

The Underground Self-Defense class with Trisha was fun, informative, and a great learning experience. Trisha was encouraging and met the needs of our diverse team's concerns and questions. The session allowed for conversations and demonstrations on equipment that left staff feeling more confident. The communication before, during, and after sessions was great and many resources were shared on top of their own. We highly recommend them for your self defense needs!

Katherine Pinkert

via Google

· 10 months ago

Trisha did an amazing job leading the Women's Self-Defense series! I went into it assuming it was going to be mostly hands on but roughly half the time was spent talking- how to set boundaries, what to do in certain situations, etc. This discussion was great and Trisha did a nice job of finding the perfect balance between humor and seriousness on such a tough subject.

Ashley Baez

via Google

· 11 months ago

I’ve been looking for a women’s self defense class and was excited about this place until reading about them and learning that the women’s class is not just for women, but also for those who have been socialized as women regardless of gender identity. This is NOT a safe zone for women. We need to protect our rights and safety. This will never be ok.

Sturgeon

via Google

· 1 year ago

Outstanding!!! I booked a private custom self defense workshop for the volunteers at my nonprofit, and the entire experience was great. They were very responsive and helpful with the booking/scheduling process and very flexible with all our needs, and the in-person class was super well done. It was all very practical and empowering, and very applicable to people of all genders. Thank you for making our whole team feel so safe! :)

Rae S. Ng

via Google

· 1 year ago

I recently took the 2-week Women's Self-Defense course, taught by Ali and Trisha. First of all, I appreciated the flexible format of this course. It's part online and part in person- we had videos and articles to review at our own pace prior to attending the in person classes. The in person class included a discussion in the first half and learning fighting skills in the second half. I found the discussion portion to be highly valuable for sharing methods of boundary setting and verbal self defense. I also appreciated that we could practice our fighting skills on practice attackers as they provided feedback on how effective our moves would be in a real life scenario. I feel safer and stronger in my everyday life now that I am equipped with new skills in verbal and physical self defense.

Pat's Gym in Madison offers personal training and varied programs that adapt to goals and even injuries. Reviewers highlight a welcoming, supportive environment with knowledgeable staff, tailored programming, and a tight-knit community. From online and outdoor Friday sessions to in-person coaching, clients report real progress and motivation.

Directions Call