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 › Self-Defense Statistics

Women's Self-Defense Statistics Every Woman Should Know

The statistics on violence against women are stark. But the research on self-defense training is equally clear: it works. Women who train are dramatically less likely to be victimised — and when targeted, are far more likely to escape. These are the numbers that matter, from peer-reviewed research and national surveys.

1 in 5

Women experience sexual assault in their lifetime (CDC)

71%

Of women avoid activities they want to do out of fear

80%+

Reduction in completed attacks with self-defense training

Higher risk for women aged 18-24 (DOJ)

Violence Against Women: The Scale

Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) have been raped in their lifetime, and approximately 1.9 million women are raped in the United States each year, according to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). This represents one of the most pervasive public health crises facing women globally.

1 in 4 women (25.7%) have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. The World Health Organization estimates that globally, about 1 in 3 women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.

Female students aged 18-24 are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence, making college campuses one of the highest-risk environments for young women. This risk extends beyond campus to any environment where young women live independently for the first time.

The Fear Factor

47% of women avoid doing things they need to do because of fear of victimisation, according to safety research compiled by Gitnux. Even more striking: 71% of women avoid doing things they want to do — running alone, walking at night, travelling independently — because of safety fears.

This fear is not irrational. It is a rational response to lived experience and statistical reality. But it represents an enormous constraint on women's freedom, mobility, and quality of life. The question is not whether fear is justified — it's whether anything can be done about it.

The answer, according to six decades of research, is yes. Self-defense training doesn't just teach women to fight. It fundamentally changes the fear equation.

Self-Defense Training: What the Research Proves

80%+ reduction in completed assaults. A meta-analysis published in ScienceDirect found that resistance using self-defense training reduces the likelihood of completed rape by over 80% compared to no resistance. Trained resistance was the single most effective protective action studied.

Trained women are less likely to be targeted at all. Six major studies — including a large randomised control trial conducted at the University of Oregon — found that women who complete self-defense training are both more likely to escape if attacked and less likely to be selected as targets in the first place. Training changes body language, posture, and spatial awareness in ways that predators detect unconsciously.

Victims with pre-assault training stopped their attacker. Research from the University of Oregon's Empowerment Self-Defense programme found that victims with prior self-defense training were significantly more likely to report that their resistance stopped the offender or made them less aggressive than victims without training.

89% feel confident they can defend themselves. After completing self-defense training, 89% of women reported feeling significantly more confident in their ability to protect themselves. This confidence persists well beyond the training period and extends to all areas of life — not just physical safety.

The Psychological Benefits

Self-defense training produces measurable psychological changes beyond physical skill. Research consistently shows that empowerment self-defense training decreases fear and anxiety while increasing self-efficacy and self-esteem. These benefits are independent of whether the woman ever faces a physical threat.

Women who train report feeling less constrained by fear in daily life. They run alone. They walk at night. They travel independently. The 71% avoidance statistic begins to reverse. Training doesn't eliminate risk — it eliminates the paralysis that risk creates.

Perhaps most importantly, self-defense training provides what psychologists call "response options" — the knowledge that you can act, not just react. This cognitive shift from helplessness to agency is the single most powerful predictor of resilience in the face of threat.

What Women Who Train Say

"I used to plan my entire day around avoiding situations where I might feel unsafe. After training, I still take precautions — but fear no longer dictates my schedule." — Self-defense student, age 34

"The statistic that changed everything for me: trained women are less likely to be targeted. It's not just about fighting back — it's about the way you carry yourself." — Be Prepared student

"My daughter is at university. I paid for her self-defense course before I paid for her textbooks. The 3x risk statistic for 18-24 year olds haunted me until she trained." — Mother, London

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

CDC/NISVS — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (lifetime prevalence data)

World Health Organization — Global estimates of violence against women (2021)

US Department of Justice — Sexual victimisation of college-age females (2014-2023)

Gitnux Safety Research — Women's avoidance behaviour and fear of victimisation

ScienceDirect — Meta-analysis of self-defense resistance and assault completion rates

University of Oregon — Empowerment Self-Defense: 6 major studies on training effectiveness

Hollander (2014) — Does self-defense training prevent sexual violence against women? (RCT)

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.