Women* of Color Basics is designed to address gender-based violence as experienced by cis and trans women of color ages 18+. This class is open to all women of color as well as non-binary and gender-nonconforming BIPOC who have lived experience of misogyny and are comfortable in a space that centers the experience of women. With the intention of creating a safe space to discuss our unique experiences with safety and violence in our community while learning and practicing boundary setting and self-defense skills, we also hope to create meaningful connections, provide opportunities for shared learning, and welcome more women of color into the IMPACT community.

Women* of Color Basics covers IMPACT's comprehensive adult curriculum:

• Personal safety skills including intuition, threat assessment, and assertive body language.
• Self-defense voice to alert yourself, the attacker, and bystanders.
• Techniques for verbal and emotional boundary setting and de-escalation.
• Adrenaline management skills for acquaintance and stranger interactions.
• Bystander intervention strategies to safely help others and mobilize community assistance.
• Powerful, effective, and accessible physical self-defense techniques—no athletic ability required!

This 24-hour course focuses on preventing and defending against attacks by a single, unarmed assailant—the most common form of assault—and includes self-defense against sexual assault, as well as the opportunity to practice custom scenarios based on your own life and/or concerns for the future. The course is led by a woman Whistle Instructor, who leads the introduction of new skills, and creates a safe and competent space for students from diverse backgrounds to have a positive and powerful experience. Skills are practiced in safe, realistic role-play scenarios against highly trained Suited Instructors, who play the role of the mock assailant.

IMPACT understands the emotional nature of dealing with violence, and our courses are designed to be trauma-sensitive. Basics can be emotionally demanding, so we recommend building in self-care before and after your course. During class, instructors and class assistants are there to support with self-care and adrenaline management tools, and to generate a supportive learning experience in each group. IMPACT's method of training all techniques in full-force, scenario-based practice provides each student with the felt experience of your own strength and power, and the confidence of your body's muscle memory.

IMPACT Bay Area COVID-19 Policies

Click here for the most up-to-date information for our classes, and review carefully before signing up for a class.

Schedule

This 24-hour course takes place over 3 days, and students must be available for each day and all hours of your course. For maximum individual instruction, courses are limited to 16 students. The schedule for the next course is:

Sunday, February 18, 10am-6pm
Sunday, February 25, 10am-6pm
Sunday, March 3, 10am-6pm

Sliding Scale

• Full-Force ($1,045): For those with more than enough financial resources and a desire to support access for others.
• Regular ($695): For those with sufficient financial resources and who can pay fair value for the experience.
• Supported ($345): For those with currently limited financial resources who will benefit from access supplemented by the community.
  
  

Scholarships

At IMPACT we believe self-defense is for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. If you have financial need and want to request a scholarship space, email [email protected] with the name and date of the class you are interested in. If there is space available, we will provide info on how to register. There will be a required minimum copayment of $50 to confirm your commitment to the class.

Payment Plans

Email [email protected] to learn more about our flexible payment plans.

See the schedule and sign up for a Women* of Color Basics Course below:

Intro to IMPACT, now for teens ages 12-16! 

From street safety and awareness to full-force self-defense techniques, this 3-hour class lays a foundation of skills including intuition, situational awareness, body language and voice proven effective at increasing safety and confidence. Participants practice de-escalating dangerous situations, and get the unique and powerful experience of practicing physical techniques at full force in safe and age-appropriate scenarios against a padded mock assailant.

This class is led by a Whistle Instructor, who is the lead coach, and a Suited Instructor, who plays the role of mock assailant and wears a padded suit to allow students to hit full force. Physical techniques include defending against attacks from the front, being grabbed from behind, and an introduction to fighting from the ground. Participants leave this class feeling strong and maybe surprised by their own power and courage!

Open to youth of all genders ages 12-16.

IMPACT Bay Area COVID-19 Policies

Click here for the most up-to-date information for our classes, and review carefully before signing up for a class.

Sliding Scale Rates

• Full-Force ($140): For those with more than enough financial resources and a desire to support access for others.
• Regular ($95): For those with sufficient financial resources and who can pay fair value for the experience.
• Supported ($50): For those with currently limited financial resources who will benefit from access supplemented by the community.
  
  

Scholarships

At IMPACT we believe self-defense is for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. If you have financial need and want to request a scholarship space, email [email protected] with the name and date of the class you are interested in. If there is space available, we will provide info on how to register. There will be a required minimum copayment of $15 to confirm your commitment to the class.

Payment Plans

Email [email protected] to learn more about our flexible payment plans.

Sign up for a Teen Intro to IMPACT below:

This page has the most up-to-date information for our classes. Our priority, as always, is to provide a safe and healthy class environment for you to learn powerful and empowering self-defense skills, with consideration for higher risk individuals in our classes and on our staff. Review the below policies carefully before signing up for a class.

Effective starting in October 2023:

• Masks are required for all public classes.
• Proof of vaccination is not required.
• Rapid testing is not required. However, if you have COVID-19 symptoms or a known recent exposure, we strongly encourage you to take a rapid test at home before coming to class. If you test positive, do not come to class; contact IMPACT for rescheduling options.
• During class, all participants are encouraged to wash hands or use hand sanitizer before drills and practice fights. Sanitizing wipes will be available if you wish to sanitize shared equipment before using it.
• We invite you to take any additional precautions that feel safe for you, such as social distancing and hand washing during class.

We're so excited to share our new Mission, Vision, and Values, and to invite you to help us make them a reality!

We need your support to get to 100 donations by August 31, 2021! 

Your generous donations enable us to make IMPACT support:

• Continuing our "pay what you can" model for in-person classes
• Recruitment and training of instructors from the community
• Expanding programs for those who need us most