Secrets of Women's Self Defense

Become your own bodyguard, discover the confidence that comes with self-reliance, separate real concerns from head noise, BE YOUR FAMILY'S HERO!

JOIN THE REVELATION!

Don't just say you can take care of yourself,
know you can!

You know how as women, many of us live with the fear of violence against us or our children and don’t know what to do about it?

Well, I teach Women and Moms how to be their own bodyguards by borrowing skills and strategies employed by law enforcement, the military and protection industry experts, to demystify the way criminals choose their victims and the way crime evolves, so women can empower themselves and their families to live safer, smarter, stronger.

...And I make it fun!

Women's self defense has been virtually unchanged
for decades, if not centuries...

JOIN US! and revel in the chess game of life, dismantle fear, use emotions wisely, see conflict as opportunity, raise informed, resilient children who won’t become victims or criminals and... even if it comes to the worst, know you can beat innumerable odds and come out on top!

“If every young female college student or mother-to-be took this course,
there would be a lot less for me to do."

Colin Ryan,
Special Investigations Unit
for a suburban PA Police Department

“OMG! you actually had me in stitches! I had kombucha come out my nose! …This is critical to all women, especially mothers…. It has motivated me to change for the better… I LOVE this!“

Deloris D, Student

“This is a college course in self-defense… so impressive in scope and depth and with such an acute understanding of women’s issues. It will be my gift to every woman I know.”

Belisa Vranich, Clinical Psychologist,
Author and Founder of The Breathing Class

Your Instructor

Teja VanWicklen

My name is Teja. I’m a 30-year veteran martial artist with a background in edged weapons, firearms and wilderness survival. I've studied martial disciplines from many cultures over the years. I have been a personal trainer and a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). I am also the ADHD Mom of an ADHD son.

I've been featured in magazines like Madmoiselle and Black Belt and interviewed on Television for ESPN, Nancy Grace, Good Day New York and Veria Living. I once leaped on a melon in a grocery store for a South West Air Super Bowl commercial.

For more than five years, I managed a martial arts production company that created and performed over one hundred staged stunt performances for major events, movie premieres, pharmaceutical conferences and film festivals worldwide. I’ve been involved in many areas of martial arts from stunt performance and choreography, to high-level training with elite military personnel. I’ve engaged in a number of training exercises I don’t necessarily recommend others try and had experiences I might have been happier (though not necessarily smarter) without - facing down live darts, fighting through pepper spray, feeling the full-body jolt of a Taser, but none of it kicked my ass the way motherhood did.

After months of nausea and sleep deprivation, a third trimester hernia surgery, a blood-born strep infection and post-partum depression, I surfaced in my new role as a mom. My injury and illness made me vulnerable and caused me to rethink everything I had learned about martial arts, self-defense and fighting. When had I ever trained with a baby attached to me or while pushing a stroller? How would kicking, punching or grappling even work with a kid in the mix? What were the survival answers to those disturbing scenarios and why had they never come up in thirty years of training?

I’ve been working those particular questions for more than ten years now. My quest is to find the place where self defense meets common sense, where self and situational awareness, strategy and high-speed problem solving coincide; to create a paradigm of empowerment for women who want to revel in the chess game of life, dismantle fear, use emotions wisely, see conflict as opportunity, raise productive, resilient children who won’t become victims or criminals, and who, even if it comes to the worst, can beat innumerable odds and come out on top.

GO! (Get Offensive) is for you if you want to become the hero of your family and of your own story.

"I for one am so glad I signed up... I'm learning so much and I love it! And it's not just the course content itself that is great, it's the interaction with everyone in the group, the discussions, the different points of views the feedback, the support...and the fun as well! ...This course...can benefit everyone, regardless of how strong or weak you think you are, regardless of your health, weight or physical ability or disability.... Thanks Teja!"

Alannah T., Student

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this physical self defense?

The SECRETS OF WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE course includes some targeted physical self defense instruction, but it is a 360 degree look at self defense beginning with how crime happens and how women in particular move through the world. The Secrets course began with the intent to help women protect themselves against a physical attack by moving like women rather than like men, while also honoring a woman’s very specific lifestyle. Because of the high risk a smaller or pregnant woman, or a woman with children faces in physically confronting one or more violent people, it puts mental self defense and pressured problem solving first. That said, lessons 9 and 9a, specifically, break down the principles of physical self defense so you have the ability to create or choose your own best physical strategies. It’s better to STAY out of trouble than to have to GET out of trouble! Not as sexy perhaps, but ultimately strategy and psychology go beyond safety and help us get ahead in life.

How do the courses work?

GO courses run online with video, audio, a group forum, quizzes, live Q&As and printable materials. Some courses run live during a specific period, others run evergreen, which means you can begin on your own schedule. The materials are easily accessible in one simple screen. SECRETS OF WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE is a live 8 week course. Assistance will be available throughout live courses and up to three months after they finish. It is always best to go through the course during the live period, but if you have extenuating circumstances you can always finish in your own time. There is a 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee on all full-length live courses. The 30 day period begins when the course begins (not when you pay!) So you will have plenty of time to see if the course is for you.

Who should take GO courses?

Anyone is welcome to take the course. But GO is built specifically for Moms with young kids and women 18 to 80 years old. We focus on moms because they have the next generation to raise and protect and we didn’t see any self defense options specifically for them. Founder Teja VanWicklen is a serious martial artist who had a rough pregnancy and realized how much of her training didn’t address situations in which she had her baby attached to her body or screaming in her ear. The beauty of self defense for Mom’s is that it easily translates to women in general. Some courses (like Stroller Self Defense – under construction) will be specifically for moms, some (Secrets of Women’s Self Defense) will be for Moms and women in general.

Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes! There is a 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee on all full-length live courses. The 30 day period begins when the course begins (not when you pay!), so you will have plenty of time to see if the course is for you.