10251 Little Brier Creek Lane Suite #107, Raleigh NC, 27617
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Self-Defense That Works! Women Empowered is the official Gracie self-defense program designed specifically for women. This comprehensive empowerment program is based on the principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) which provides the essential readiness to use scalable defense strategies based on the level of threat. The focus of this unique training is to offer viable options to defend against both strangers, and non-strangers.
In 15 dynamic lessons, you’ll learn how to neutralize the 20 most common types of attacks, from hair grabs to ground pins by a weapon-bearing assailant. Each one-hour class covers two essential techniques, making it accessible and impactful regardless of your experience or fitness level.
before but were left feeling uncertain or intimidated, our supportive approach and commitment to safety might be exactly what you need to feel empowered
and confident on the mat.
Launching December 2024! Join Us for an Exclusive Grand Opening Offer
December 2024 Launch Plan
- Free Classes for Family Members: Throughout December, family members of current students train free of charge, and all new students enjoy up to 4 complimentary classes!
- Special 2-Hour Free Seminar on January 11th: Join us for a deep dive into foundational techniques, open to all levels. Save your spot now!
- Regular Classes Begin January 13th: Start your journey to empowerment in a welcoming environment with other like-minded women.
Help Us Serve You Better
To ensure our classes fit your schedule, we invite you to fill out a quick survey about your preferred days and times.
Ready to take control of your safety? Give Women Empowered a try and experience how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can help you feel strong, safe, and confident.
How do I complete the program?
Step 1: Learn the Techniques
We have divided the 20 Women Empowered® techniques into 15 one-hour classes so that you can complete the course at your own pace. We designed each lesson so you can start the program at any time and complete the 15 lessons in any order. Upon enrolling, we will issue you a Women Empowered® attendance card on which we will track your progress every step of the way. For every 15 lessons completed, you will earn your belt stripes.
Step 2: Develop Your Reflexes
Once you complete each of the 15 Women Empowered lessons once, you will qualify to participate in the Reflex Development (RD) classes where you will learn how to combine the 20 techniques to address the most common occurrences in a real self-defense situation.
Step 3: Earn Your Pink Belt
Once you complete each of the Women Empowered® lessons four times (have earned 4 stripes), and you’ve completed at least 8 Reflex Development Classes, you are eligible to test for promotion to pink belt! During this 30-minute test, we will assess your execution of all 20 essential techniques. If your performance meets Gracie University standards, you will qualify for promotion to pink belt. Please note that there is an evaluation fee each time you take a test, and when you pass the test, you will receive your official Women Empowered® Pink Belt and promotion certificate at no additional cost. As a pink belt, you will be more than ready to move on to the Gracie Combatives program should you choose to continue the jiu-jitsu journey!
What is the Pink Belt
In most martial arts systems, awarding belts is the traditional way to acknowledge progress and accomplishment. With the development of the Gracie Women Empowered® program, the course featured so many unique strategies, objectives, techniques, and psychology tailored to a special set of circumstances, that the standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt system did not apply. So, we decided to add an entirely new belt, and since pink was one of the only colors not used in the existing BJJ belt system, we introduced the Women Empowered® Pink Belt! It not only symbolizes dedication to the techniques of the program, but also an understanding of the philosophy that is essential for survival in life-threatening scenarios. We hope that this reflexive understanding of both the philosophy and techniques will instill a confidence in women that reduces their risk of ever becoming a target in the first place. Since the program was created we have watched women dedicate countless hours to earning their pink belt, and with every pink belt earned, the value and prestige of this belt has become undeniable.
Bonus: FREE CLASSES for the rest of your life! Yes. Once you have been promoted to Pink Belt you will be able to continue taking classes to maintain/improve your skills at no further cost. In addition, if you so desire, you can continue your journey by helping to empower new students by being their training partner on the mat.