Self-Defense for Survivors
Who We Serve
Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and abuse recovery programs.
What the Training Includes
Situational awareness, boundary setting, basic self-defense, karate fundamentals, confidence building, trauma-sensitive instruction.
Who Can Request Training
Shelters, safe homes, rescue centers, churches, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations.
Where We Serve
Plano, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Garland, Collin County, Dallas County, and DFW.
Why Trauma-Informed Self-Defense Matters
Explain how the program helps survivors rebuild confidence, body awareness, and a sense of agency.
Empty Hand Open Heart was created out of a desire to empower women who have experienced domestic abuse and/or sex trafficking.
Helping these women evolve from being a victim to seeing themselves as strong and whole through love, prayer, and self-defense training is our goal. We desire to not only help residents of our local rescue centers and shelters, but to expand into cities all over the country. We believe it’s important to raise community awareness - many people are unaware that there could be many people suffering in such situations in their own backyard. We need more volunteers to step up and help us bring healing to these women, both for their sake and for our society as a whole.
If you are a victim of abuse, please contact us for free training.
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Self-Defense for Survivors
We visit safe homes throughout DFW weekly to train survivors of abuse and sex trafficking in Karate and self defense. We are trauma-informed and survivor-centered. Click below to bring us to your shelter.

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Training for Trainers
Become a volunteer trainer and make an incredible impact! We’ll train you about the effects of trauma and pair you with a local safe home. Click the link below to contact us and learn more.
