About Women Empowered
Women Empowered is the official Gracie self-defense program for women based on the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). In this 15-lesson program, we will teach you how to neutralize the 20 most common attacks ranging from having your hair grabbed to being pinned to the ground by a weapon-bearing assailant. Each one-hour Women Empowered lesson addresses two techniques. You can start the program at any time and participate in any class without previous experience. Unlike most self-defense systems that rely heavily on strength, speed, and coordination, the techniques in the Women Empowered program employ leverage, technique, and timing, so anyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, can make them work against larger opponents. Once you complete the Women Empowered program, you may test for promotion to pink belt!
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the perfect self-defense system for women, but only if it is taught correctly. If you’re unsure about learning BJJ for fear of injury, embarrassment, or any other reason, then the Women Empowered program is perfect for you! If you’ve tried BJJ at another school and had a negative experience, give Women Empowered a chance, and we guarantee it will win you back to the mat!
Instructors
ROBYN TAYLOR
With over 20 years training in a range of Martial Arts, it was only when she started Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 2011 she realised that until then she would not have been able to successfully defend herself against a much larger and stronger attacker. Knowing how important it is for women to learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu for self defence, she became passionate about encouraging more women to train. Through years of assisting with classes she worked towards her Women Empowered® Instructor Certification and proudly launched the program in South Africa in 2017.
Stephanie Graham
Her Martial Arts experience started with Karate and she is a Black Belt in KWF Shotokan Karate. She has been involved in Martial Arts all her life. After moving back to Johannesburg from Holland where she started in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, she found her training home at Gracie Jiu-jitsu® Fourways. She is a Trauma Informed Coach and her passion project is having the honour to coach the ladies and assist them with stepping into their power through the Women Empowered® Program.
Michael Palin
I graduated the ICP (Instructor Certificate Program) under the Gracie family at the Gracie Academy. In being a Gracie Jiu-jitsu certified instructor, I am proud to have personally received his instructors certification from brothers Rener and Ryron Gracie in Torrance California, the Global Head Instructors of Gracie University.
Reviews
LEANNE NAUDE
Women Empowered Seminar
Joining Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I regard, as one of the best life decisions I have ever made. I grow more confident in my abilities after every lesson. I feel empowered to know that should I ever find myself in a situation where I need to protect myself, I have substantial knowledge to enable me to do so. I enjoy the classes and the manner in which the instructors are both professional and compelled to provide me with the best possible training. I have a disability (I have Erbs Palsy in my right arm) and cannot lift or rotate my arm. Yet the instructors enable me to adapt the techniques into a move that I can execute. I look forward to every class. I love every class!
Minette Labourne
Women Empowered
Thank you!!! It was fantastic! So valuable! I enjoyed every second and I really recommend it to every woman!
CLAIRE DU PLESSIS
Women Empowered