Inside the Girls Who Fight gym youth self-defense program, a group of girls line up shoulder to shoulder on the mat.
“Stand like a champion,” instructor Gemma Sheehan tells them.
Across the room, chins lift and shoulders square.
It’s the first lesson of every class, and it has nothing to do with punching or grappling. Instead, the girls practice confident body language: standing tall, looking people in the eye, and carrying themselves with purpose.
“If you walk slouched with your eyes down, bullies see you as an easy target,” Sheehan says. “But when you walk tall, look where you’re going, and speak clearly, you’re setting the tone for how you should be treated.”
At Girls Who Fight, confidence begins long before the first self-defense technique is taught.
Founded by Sheehan in 2017, the academy focuses on self-defense training designed specifically for girls and women. But the program extends far beyond martial arts. Students learn how to recognize danger, resist peer pressure, trust their instincts, and advocate for themselves in everyday situations.
Instead of learning how to score points in a competition, girls ages 6-14 years old practice practical scenarios like escaping wrist grabs, getting away from someone pinning them against a wall, or creating distance from an attacker.
“We teach jujitsu and kickboxing, but only what’s applicable to real-life situations,” Sheehan says. “In competition, the goal is to win. In self-defense, the goal is to survive.”
In addition to physical training, students complete weekly assignments focused on responsibility and leadership—reading books, helping with chores at home, and developing healthy habits. Girls also participate in leadership discussions where they present ideas and practice speaking confidently in front of their peers.
“Speaking skills and leadership skills are things every girl needs to succeed in the world,” Sheehan says. “Those are skills they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
Parents say the biggest changes happen outside the academy.
“Both of my daughters, sixth grade and high school, have been training here for about a year, and it’s honestly one of the best decisions we’ve made as parents,” says parent Adrienne Dever. “My youngest is learning how to handle bullies and peer pressure. The belt requirements include completing chores, reading, and healthy habits, so the confidence boost is real. It’s practical and empowering.”
Josh Scoggins has watched his daughter grow through the program as well.
“My daughter has grown tremendously since joining the Girls Who Fight program,” he says. “I’ve seen improvements in my daughter’s focus, confidence, and self-discipline both in class and at home.”
While many martial arts gyms are overwhelmingly male, Sheehan says that creating an environment specifically designed for girls, providing a safe place for character development, was intentional.
“Usually when a girl walks into a martial arts academy, she might be one of only a few girls in the room,” Sheehan says. “We wanted to create a place where they could train together and support each other.”
Today, more than 100 students train at Girls Who Fight, and a few of the instructors began as students themselves.
However, creating this unique space didn’t happen overnight. Sheehan’s path to opening the academy started long before the gym existed. She began training in martial arts at 14, and for years, she envisioned a future as a professional fighter. But injuries forced her to step away from fighting competitively.
“I realized the most valuable thing I got from martial arts wasn’t becoming a fighter,” she says. “It was the ability to protect myself and the huge confidence that came from that.”
That realization became the foundation for the Girls Who Fight curriculum.
If your daughter is ready to stand tall, be confident, and remember she is a champion, enroll in a free two-week trial at girlswhofight.com.