photo by Catrina Marchetti
As one of the oldest continuously operating self-defense training centers in the United States, Hand to Hand is a supportive and professional environment for learning skills that enable anyone to live more safely. We specialize in practical, comprehensive women’s* self defense that relies on effective physical, verbal, and emotional strategies.
In a highly supportive environment, students learn to protect themselves from invasive and dangerous situations including physical assault. They will gain insight into the complexities of violence in our culture and become aware of how we are all impacted by sexism, racism, and gender oppression, regardless of our personal identities. Hand to Hand classes explore the links between personal safety and community wellness because seeing this connection provides an opportunity for healing and encourages every individual to walk fearlessly in their lives.
Explore our upcoming classes:
Level 1 Self Defense: January 24, 2024 6pm to 8:30pm
In a highly supportive environment, students will practice ways to defend themselves when confronted with dangerous situations. This class will cover the basics of Empowerment Self Defense (ESD): Awareness, Assertiveness, Technique and Recovery. This class is appropriate for all levels, including those with no previous experience with self defense.
Level 2 Self Defense: February 07, 2024 6pm to 8:30pm
This class will provide an opportunity to take a deeper dive into each of the four areas of ESD. We will work with scenarios that include weapons, some ground defense work and defense against multiple attackers. This class is designed for folks that have some previous self defense training and will be a great fit for those with many years of experience, too!
Please email our director at selfdefense@
Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self-Defense Center | 5680 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA 94608 | 510-428-0502