Smart Girl Self Defense Classes
The Smart Girl Self Defense™ Class was founded by Heather and Mike Winkeljohn. The American Institute of Kenpo, in association with Smart Girl Self Defense™, presents several classes yearly.
Distance, Time, Safety Class
This Smart Girl Self Defense™ Class, as presented by The American Institute of Kenpo, focuses on teaching women the importance of managing Distant and Time so that they will have the opportunity to take appropriate actions to get to Safety.
Your body will not go where your brain has not been. To help women work through the freeze that many people experience in a dangerous situation, participants in this class will have the opportunity to practice responses in a safe controlled environment.
Class Requirements:
This class is only for biological females
12 years old or older
Date:
October 11, 2025
Time:
1:00pm to 5:00pm
Location:
The American Institute of Kenpo
7320 N. La Cholla Blvd. #164
Tucson, AZ 85741
Class Registration:
$89.00 for the first class. Participants are welcome to attend (by reservation and space allowing) any future Distance, Time, Safety Classes hosted by The American Institute of Kenpo, as a refresher, for no additional cost.
One AIK Smart Girl Self Defense Bandana is included at no additional cost the first time you complete the class.
Additonal Class Information:
Please arrive on time since we will start right at 1:00pm, and we have so much to cover.
Please pack a light meal or snack for our short break.
Please limit jewelry and wear clothing you can move around in (gym attire). Jewelry can get lost or pulled out.
Standard Event Schedule
Frequency:
The American Institute of Kenpo hosts 3 Distance, Time, Safety Classes each year. See our schedule for this year below.
Our up coming Distance, Time, Safety Classes in 2025 are:
Saturday, October 11th, 2025
Saturday, Febuary 7th, 2026
Saturday, June 13th, 2026
Note: There is a minumum (5) and maximum (20) participant limit to each event!
If you are interested in attending, please fill out and submit a registration form to secure your spot!
Special Event Scheduling
If you are interested in details about scheduling a special class event for your organization or business Contact The American Institute of Kenpo for additional information.
Class Reviews
~ Briar Rose
June 14th, 2025
Excellent Class That
Every Woman Should Take
The Smart Girl Self Defense class was excellent and a great value for the money. The knowledge and training that you receive in this class are great. The instructors are very committed to ensuring that everyone learns important skills to protect themselves and to prevent themselves from becoming a victim. They explain and demonstrate things well and break everything down into an easy to understand format and steps. They are very helpful and supportive and give you the opportunity to practice using the different techniques that they teach you in a safe and comfortable environment so that you leave the class prepared and able to use the things they teach you with confidence if you were actually to find yourself in a situation where you would need to use them.
Amy, Jeremy, and Mr. Trujillo are all very understanding and helpful and do not push anyone to do anything that they aren't comfortable with doing. You can tell that they really care about what they do and are dedicated to everyone coming out of the class knowledgeable and prepared. They give you great tools to have in your tool kit to help keep you safe. Thank you for offering this class and thank you to them for teaching it in such a compassionate and professional manner. I will be recommending it to all the women I know.
~ Laurie L
June 14th, 2025
Ladies if it happens would you be
able to fight for your life?
Smart Girls Self Defense will get
you there!
From start to finish a clear and well presented class that you will finish knowing life saving information and how to fight back.
Instructors focus is to help each student leave with better tools to survive dangerous situations.
They are amazing!!!
~ Dalia C.
February 3rd, 2024
Amazing Class
As a 17-year-old girl, this class was very important to me, and I could not be happier that I took it. It was such a great experience, and I learned a lot. The Instructors did a great job going over all the concepts and teaching us the techniques. There were also about 10 of us women taking the class, which I think was the perfect amount. Overall it was a great class, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for some more support in making sure they feel safe.
~ Lori
February 1st, 2025
Amazing Skills and Knowledge!
This team is absolutely wonderful! They have a wealth of knowledge and present it in a way that is fun, approachable and easy to remember. This is my 3rd time attending the class and I pick up something new each time. I highly recommend for any and all women over the age of 12!!!! Invaluable information that literally could save your life.
June 8th, 2024
Amazing MUST DO Class!!
The instructors are absolutely amazing! Each one has so much knowledge and patience. This class is intense, but fun! I highly recommend this to any and all women - young and old alike. I will definitely have my daughter attend when she gets older, they give you so much valuable information and awareness. Highly recommend!!! Thank you AIK instructors!
February 3rd, 2024
Smart Girl Class is Amazing!
This class did not disappoint! It was tough but so rewarding. I feel better equipped and so much more confident that if something were to happen, I could successfully disengage and get to safety. Thank you so much to all the instructors for such a wonderful class. Will do again!
~ Elizabeth Seaton
February 3rd, 2024
Smart Girl Self Defense Class
Wow! What an incredible experience! The instructors were compassionate, knowledgeable, and so helpful.
The way they handled and explained everything was easy to understand and follow.
Practicing the moves was fun but most importantly, empowering; and they were patient and encouraging!
I feel so much more at ease now, knowing that I know what to do in case I fall into a situation where I need to defend myself.
Every woman and girl needs to take this class!
It is life-changing and it can literally save your life!
Thank you, Amy, Mario, Jeremy, Trinity and Mr. Pilch!