History
IMPACT Bay Area teaches self defense using specially trained instructors in a padded suit so students can learn to defend themselves at full force through the adrenaline freeze response. In our more than 35 years teaching these techniques, we have heard from former students who were able to prevent attacks using the verbal boundary setting techniques they learned from IMPACT. Many also tell us that in a worst-case scenario where an attack becomes physical, their bodies remembered the skills they learned in class, and they successfully defended themselves. IMPACT understands the emotional nature of dealing with violence, and our courses are designed to be trauma-sensitive. Our instructors receive intensive training in creating a safe, supportive environment. Students with histories of abuse or assault have told us that learning to defend themselves this way is a powerfully healing experience.
Specialties
Self-defense workshops that help you become prepared, aware and ready to defend yourself. Learn and practice verbal and physical skills against padded assailants, working through the adrenaline freeze response and training your muscle memory to hit full-force. Become more confident and prepared on the streets and in life! Impact Bay Area is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that teaches effective boundary setting, personal safety, and physical self-defense skills. Our classes are taught in a safe, supportive environment and tailored to meet the needs of different ages, genders, and communities. Our method is to teach full-force self defense using instructors in fully padded suits. This allows students to learn to fight through their natural adrenaline freeze response and to train their muscle memory to hit full-force. We do this work in service our vision, which is for a community where everyone has the personal safety tools to live a fuller, more confident life. We offer public classes, as well as teaching private self-defense and personal safety classes to groups and nonprofit organizations. Our private class offerings range from 1-3 hour Introduction courses to our 20+ hour Basics curriculum. Details on both public and private classes can be found at www.impactbayarea.org.