Arise Programs

10/20/2026

Would you let your daughter say "no" to you? New post for the parents out there 💜 Let me know what you think!

Why fear doesn’t keep kids safe, and what does

09/30/2026

Weekly Women & Teen Self-Defense in Vancouver ✨

Ever felt yourself go quiet, second-guess your gut, or plan your night around staying safe? This class is for you.

Arise is Empowerment Self-Defense: physical skills plus the mindset and verbal strategies that help you set boundaries, trust your instincts, and use your voice. Taught with a trauma-informed approach by a certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and ESD instructor with 15+ years of teaching experience.

📍 TUESDAYS, 7:30–8:45 PM, #170-809 W.41st Ave
📍 FRIDAYS, 6:30–7:45 PM, 1355 Kingsway

✔️ Drop in anytime
✔️ Beginner-friendly, no experience needed
✔️ Women & teens, LGBTQ2+ welcome

Come for the skills, stay for the community of women doing this work together.

🎟️ First class? Use code FIRSTCLASS for 25% off
👉 https://www.ariseprograms.com/self-defense-classes

08/31/2026

I just uploaded the first episode of a new monthly book club series. It's a deep dive into Meditations on Violence by Rory Miller, with a friend and ESD counterpart of mine, Maya from The Power Project in London, UK.

We talk about the stuff that actually matters: social vs. asocial violence, why women's self-defense needs different frameworks, personal policies, embodied intention, and why we learn to fight so we don't have to.

If you've ever wondered why traditional self-defense training misses half the picture, or if you're curious what shapes how we teach, this is for you.

If you'd like to join in on the next discussion, we'll be reading The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker and meeting online on Sept 27th. Message me for details.

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/22pNJaJVDXI Enjoy!

In this first episode of The Self-Defense Book Club, Jess Gordon an...

08/07/2026

Be Your Own Hero || Registration for Sept is open

Why do I believe this program is invaluable? Because the pr***en years can be a tricky time. Friendships and bodies are changing, confidence can wobble, and girls are often figuring out how to speak up for themselves.

Be Your Own Hero is a girls' self-defense and confidence program designed to give them practical tools during this stage. Through games, discussions, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu–based self-defense, girls learn how to trust their instincts, set boundaries, stand up for themselves, and make friends.

The goal isn’t just self-defense. It’s helping them feel strong, capable, and confident in their everyday lives.

I created a quick quiz for you to see if it'd be a good fit for your child: https://www.ariseprograms.com/byoh-quiz

New location: 77 E.7th Ave, Vancouver
Times: Fridays, 4:30-5:45pm
Dates: Sept 18-Dec 18

Learn more here:
https://www.ariseprograms.com/girls-self-defense-classes

07/15/2026

FIGHT • Getting loud or blunt isn't losing control. It's your body handing you energy to work with.The skill isn't suppressing it — it's aiming it. One short line, rehearsed, out loud, before you need it.

Learn more about how your nervous system works. Get our FREE Nervous System Playbook — comment “playbook” and I’ll send you a copy 💌

07/10/2026

Most self-defense classes teach a bunch of strikes and ways to fight back, but what if that's not what actually keeps girls and women safe?

The truth? Most violence against women doesn't come from a stranger in a parking lot — it comes from someone known to them. And the moment that matters most isn't the physical attack. It's the boundary being tested, ignored, or slowly worn down long before anything physical happens.

In our latest post, we break down what a truly effective self-defense program actually looks like — trauma-informed instruction, real confidence-building, techniques built for a smaller body, and why role-play in a safe room matters more than you'd think.

Whether you're a parent raising a daughter, a young woman navigating college or travel for the first time, or someone who never got this training growing up — this one's for you 💛

Whether you're a parent, a teen, or a woman wanting to feel more confident, here are some things to consider when signing up for a self-defense class.

04/22/2026

Did you know Arise has a blog? Feel free to have a look https://www.ariseprograms.com/self-defense-blog 👀 A new post just went up!

Explore empowering resources, practical tips, and interactive tools to build confidence, self-esteem, and personal safety. Discover strategies to embrace their strengths, set boundaries, and thrive in everyday life.

01/16/2026

Arise is more than just a self-defense class...

Check out this video to learn more and get a sense of what our programs feel like in action... real skills, real people, real empowerment.Our programs are de...

12/12/2025

Be Your Own Hero is open for January registrations. If you have young pr***en girls in your life, this may be for them! Check out more information here: https://www.ariseprograms.com/girls-self-defense-classes