Impact Bay Area

Impact Bay Area is a nonprofit organization that prevents violence and promotes healing by teaching a unique form of full-force, realistic self-defense. Our Women's Basics course is over 20 hours of comprehensive training with lots of practice, covering the emotional, mental and physical aspects of self-defense. Since 1985, Impact Bay Area has given women, men and teens the skills to defend themselves against verbal, physical and sexual assault.

Impact's self-defense training is different from ordinary self-defense training in several ways. We teach full-force self-defense. By training students to fight full-force in an adrenalized state, we engrain our techniques in "muscle memory." This means that the body will remember - and respond appropriately - in a potential attack. We teach using realistic scenarios. Our instructors are trained to use real-life scenarios by playing the role of perpetrators so that students are prepared to counter an actual assault. Training is tailored to each individual. While our techniques utilize the strengths in most people's bodies, they can be learned by virtually anyone regardless of age or physical ability. Class size is limited to provide a maximum level of individual instruction. We understand the extremely emotional nature inherent in confronting the fear of violence. Our classes are taught in an extremely supportive, safe environment.