Can women effectively learn self-defense online?

Yes. Research from the University of Oregon shows that women who complete empowerment self-defense training are both more likely to avoid assault if targeted, and less likely to be targeted in the first place. Online Krav Maga courses offer the same techniques taught in person, with the advantage of learning at your own pace and rewatching techniques as needed.

Why is Krav Maga recommended for women's self-defense?

Krav Maga was developed by the Israeli military to be learned quickly and used effectively regardless of size or strength. It emphasizes leverage, technique, and situational awareness over brute force — making it particularly effective for women. Techniques focus on real-world scenarios including grabs, chokes, and ground attacks.

Do I need any martial arts experience to start?

No prior experience is needed. The course is designed for complete beginners. The system breaks down techniques into simple, repeatable movements that build muscle memory over time. Many women start with zero combat experience and report feeling significantly more confident within weeks.

She Prepared › Campus Safety

Self-Defense for College Women: A Complete Guide

Women aged 18-24 are three times more likely to experience sexual violence than women in any other age group. For many, university is the first time they live independently — navigating new environments, new social situations, and new risks without the safety net of home. Campus safety is not about restricting freedom. It's about equipping young women with the awareness and skills to enjoy their independence safely.

Higher risk of sexual violence for women aged 18-24

13%

Of female undergraduates experience rape or sexual assault

80%

Of campus sexual assaults involve alcohol

90%

Of campus rape victims know their attacker

The Campus Reality

The Association of American Universities' Climate Survey found that 13% of female undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation during their time at university. The highest-risk period is the first semester — sometimes called the "Red Zone" — when new students are most vulnerable.

Unlike stranger attacks, 90% of campus sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows — a classmate, a friend of a friend, a date, a study partner. This makes awareness skills different on campus: the threat is rarely the stranger in the shadows. It's the person who uses social pressure, alcohol, and isolation to create opportunity.

Understanding this reality is not about living in fear. It's about recognising patterns early so you can make informed decisions before situations escalate.

Party and Social Awareness

The buddy system works. Arrive with friends, check on each other throughout the night, and leave together. Designate one person each time who stays sober enough to maintain awareness. This is not about trust — it's about coverage.

Watch drink patterns, not just your own. If someone is pressuring you or a friend to drink more, that's a red flag — not hospitality. If someone you don't know well offers to "get you a drink," go with them or decline. Drink spiking occurs in 1 in 13 students' drinks according to some UK studies.

Know your exit. When you arrive at any social space, note the exits. If a conversation becomes uncomfortable, you should be able to leave within seconds. "I need to find my friend" is a complete sentence. You don't owe anyone your time or an explanation.

Walking and Transport Safety

Plan your route before you leave. Stick to well-lit, populated paths. Use your university's safe-walk or escort services — they exist for exactly this reason and are no one's business but your own.

Condition Yellow, always. The Cooper Color Code's "relaxed alert" state means awareness without anxiety: phone away, headphones out (or in one ear only), scanning your environment. This single habit — putting the phone in your pocket while walking at night — is the most impactful safety change any young woman can make.

Share live location. Modern phones make this effortless. Share your live location with one or two trusted friends whenever you're travelling alone at night. Normalise it within your friend group — it should feel as routine as locking your door.

What Every College Woman Should Learn

Self-defense training before or during university is one of the most valuable investments a young woman can make. The University of Oregon's research specifically studied college-age women and found that those who completed self-defense training experienced significantly lower rates of sexual assault in the following year compared to the control group.

Key skills: verbal assertiveness (the ability to say no clearly under social pressure), situational awareness (reading environments and recognising pre-attack indicators), escape techniques (breaking free from grabs and holds), and de-escalation (diffusing confrontations before they become physical).

The Be Prepared course covers all four skill areas with specific scenarios relevant to university life — from house parties to late-night walks to dorm room situations.

What Women Who Train Say

"I wish my university had offered self-defense as part of Freshers' Week instead of just a leaflet about consent. The leaflet told me what shouldn't happen. Self-defense taught me what to do if it does." — University student, age 20

"My flatmate and I did the Be Prepared course together over a weekend. We practise escape drills in the kitchen. Our other flatmates thought we were weird at first — now all four of us train." — Student, second year

"I bought my daughter the course before she left for university. She called me after the situational awareness module and said 'Mum, I've been walking around with my headphones in and my head down for three years. I'm done with that.'" — Parent

Ready to Be Prepared?

The Be Prepared course teaches everything on this page — and more — through expert-led video instruction by David & Eytan, certified Krav Maga instructors.

Get the Be Prepared Course

Sources

Association of American Universities — Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault (2019)

US Department of Justice — Sexual victimisation of college-age females

Hollander, J.A. (2014) — Does self-defense training prevent sexual violence? (University of Oregon RCT)

RAINN — Campus Sexual Violence Statistics

Krebs et al. (2007) — The Campus Sexual Assault Study (NIJ)

She Prepared provides self-defense education, not a guarantee of safety. Always seek professional in-person instruction alongside online training. Consult a physician before beginning any physical training programme.