NWMAF - Connect ∙ Empower ∙ Grow

women martial artists lined up in a fighting stance

Our Mission

Building personal and collective strength, safety, and well-being through martial arts, self-defense, and healing arts, to empower women, transgender and non-binary people and everyone affected by gender-based discrimination.

two people sparring, the t-shirt that one person is wearing reads, Sisterhood is Powerful

Molly Sacco Hale, martial artist in wheelchair demonstrating a judo move

You Belong

We affirm each person’s warrior spirit and actively work for a world in which each of us is empowered, free from oppression, and whole.

Join today!

We Are

Olympic medalists and grandmasters, brand new white belts and seekers on an empowerment journey.

Learn about our history

Jill Shames leading a group of youth attendees learning Judo

We Are Leaders

in our communities, dedicated students, passionate instructors, visionary business owners, psychologists, social workers, researchers, activists, advocates, and allies.

Learn about our Memberships

All women, transgender and non-binary people, and their allies are welcome regardless of age, race, color, religion, class, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or physical condition.

Attendees of the 2022 Rise Conference in a group class

Our Voices

I have spent my life training in martial arts and it wasn’t until I found NWMAF that I felt the sense of community I had been needing for so long. These women are an inspiration to us who strive to create a better world for the next generation. Thank you for all you do for women in the arts.

–Elicia Ybarra

I have always loved practicing karate in a traditional mixed dojo. However, the NWMAF gave me opportunities my home dojo could not: colleagues and mentors whose life experiences reflected my own and the freedom to try on different ways of being a Martial Artist without inter-art and inter-style spats getting in the way.

–Jill Baker Shames

NWMAF has provided a safe place to explore, take risks, sisterhood, and personal growth. It’s a gathering that I look forward to every year

–Tih Penfil

When I joined the NWMAF I expected to find a place where I could learn and grow and meet the standards for a self-defense instructor. But it turned out to be so much more than that. I found inspiration, passion, purpose, compassion, empowerment, and, after attending only one conference, more growth, support, and resources than I ever expected.

–Danielle Cenotti

Here’s What We Do

The Annual Conference

The NWMAF’s signature event is a multi-style training conference, held each summer, that features opportunities to learn from veteran martial artists from across the country and around the world, as well as a professional Empowerment Self-Defense instruction track.

Marina Petric demonstrates a Jujutsiu takedown

Choose from a variety of classes throughout the multi-day event

“Hard” or “soft” style classes, mat arts, self-defense techniques and technology, healing arts, sparring sessions and weapons practice.

Expert Instructors

Our Instructors tailor their teaching for a wide range of students—from beginners to experts.

Attendees come from all over the United States, Canada, and beyond

Learn more about the NWMAF Annual Conference.

Martial Arts

We cherish martial arts as a path of self-discovery and transformation and as a means of transforming ourselves and the world in which we live.

Some of us have been training over many decades, others just a few months. We find strength in one another’s challenges and promote an awareness and appreciation of our differences.

Meet our award-winning martial artists

Healing Arts

How do we reconnect with our innermost Self, where our strength and our truth lives?

Whatever your art, experience, or skill level, come and be a part of our amazing community!

Learn more about Healing Arts

Instructor demonstrating a massage technique.

person in a wheelchair practicing setting a boundary with instructor

Empowerment Self-Defense

The NWMAF is the leader in Empowerment Self-Defense and has formed an extensive network of skilled instructors in the US and Canada and across the world. We offer ongoing professional development and credentials to self-defense instructors.

From cutting-edge research and best practices in classroom management, to non-profit programming and running an effective business, we work to bring this critical tool of violence prevention to the world.

Learn more about Empowerment Self-defense

Benefits of Membership

Our organization offers many benefits to members, including our signature annual summer conference as well as our comprehensive empowerment self-defense certification and training for self-defense instructors.