Multi-week courses combining online materials with in-person classes, covering verbal boundary-setting and physical techniques in a supportive environment.
Tailored self-defense sessions for groups, nonprofits, or teams, with flexible scheduling and practical, empowering content for all genders.
Blended learning with videos and articles for self-paced review, followed by in-person discussions and hands-on fighting skill practice.
Realistic scenario training with feedback from practice attackers to enhance the effectiveness of self-defense moves in real-life situations.
Instruction on setting boundaries and using verbal self-defense strategies to de-escalate conflicts and improve personal safety.
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!
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.
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.
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! :)
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.

Empowering self-defense for all, building confidence and safety through practical skills.
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Underground Self-Defense in Madison offers inclusive, empowering self-defense classes and workshops for individuals and groups. We specialize in women's self-defense series, private custom workshops, and flexible formats blending online learning with in-person training. Our experienced instructors, like Trisha and Ali, focus on both verbal boundary-setting and physical fighting skills, using practice attackers for realistic feedback. We cater to diverse needs, including nonprofits and teams, fostering a safe, supportive environment to help you feel stronger and more secure in everyday life.
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