Self-Defense

Have you been thinking about trying self-defense training, but do not want a loud, aggressive, or overly competitive environment? This free intro class is a simple way to get started. Maryland Systema offers practical self-defense training for adults in Takoma Park with a focus on movement, awareness, breathing, posture, and calm under pressure. This class is designed for beginners and first-timers who want real-world self-defense training in a welcoming setting. You do not need experience. You do not need to be in top shape. You do not need a martial arts background. You just need to show up ready to learn. This is not a sport-based class built around winning points, memorizing routines, or trying to look impressive. It is a more practical approach to adult self-defense training that helps you stay balanced, aware, and functional when things feel uncertain. If you have been searching for self-defense classes in Takoma Park, beginner self-defense near you, or practical self-defense training for adults, this class is a good place to start. **What you will work on** * Breathing and staying calm under pressure * Movement that improves balance and mobility * Awareness and posture * Simple partner drills * Practical self-defense training for beginners **Who this class is for** * Adults new to self-defense training * Beginners looking for a low-pressure class * People who want practical self-defense instead of sport martial arts * Adults in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville, and nearby areas looking for realistic self-defense classes **What to wear** Please wear comfortable workout clothes. No uniform is required. **Why start with this class** This free intro class gives you a chance to experience the training, meet the group, and see whether Maryland Systema is the right fit for you before joining regular weekly classes. **RSVP** Reserve your spot and come try a beginner-friendly self-defense class in Takoma Park.

Learn practical self-defense skills in Herndon, VA using [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ), with beginner-friendly instruction focused on real-world positions and submissions. The **drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20** and can be **paid on-site**, or **[sign up for a week of training for free](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/).** This class is designed for **adults** who want a clear, **structured introduction to self-defense** with a focus on basic takedowns and [ground fighting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_fighting). Training emphasizes **foundational BJJ concepts**, including **positional control**, **escapes**, and **high-percentage submissions**. *No prior experience is required.* Instruction is paced for **beginners**, with an emphasis on **safety**, **understanding**, and building **confidence** on the mat. Classes run **Tuesdays** and **Thursdays** from **6:00–7:30 PM** at the [Pedro Sauer Academy of Self-Defense](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/) (PSA) in [Herndon, VA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia) serving students from nearby [Reston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Virginia) and surrounding [Northern Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia) areas. Come ready to **learn**, **move**, and **train** in a supportive environment. This [self-defense event in Herndon](https://nvma.group/2026/03/26/intro-to-self-defense-class-at-osma-in-herndon-va/) has been cross-posted on the NVMA website as well as on [Patch](https://patch.com/virginia/reston/calendar/event/20260402/85b3425c-6dfe-4840-b46d-87d129333c4e/introduction-to-self-defense-course-on-april-02nd-2026-at-osma-in-herndon-va).

Join Capital Hiking Club for a happy hour and free outdoors gear swap! This event will be hosted at Right Proper Brewery's brand new Kitchen location in the heart of the Brookland Arts Walk ([716 Monroe NE, Washington, DC 20017](https://maps.app.goo.gl/VypMKVrTaPt8CrHg7)), right next to the Brookland-CUA Redline stop! Enjoy $5 beer and discounted food until 7PM! Also, be sure to take advantage of this free opportunity to swap gear with other hikers and outdoors adventurers in the DMV (gear swap organized by [Climate Classes](https://climateclasses.org/)). Please bring quality, well-maintained items, with no or minimal stains. Heavily damaged items will not be accepted for swapping. Items brought to be swapped will be **capped at 20 items**. **Accepted swap items include, but are not limited to**: Clothing * Shirts * Pants * Shorts * Coats, Jackets, and rain ponchos * Scarves/Bandanas * Sweatshirts & Hoodies * Jumpsuits, wet suits, and dry suits * Gloves * Activewear * Boots, trail runners, snow shoes, climbing shoes, sandals * Socks * Gaiters * Spikes and non-slip footwear * Hats, beanies, and head bands * Unused hair ties * Sunglasses and goggles Gear (Inclusive of, but not limited to): * Tents and hammocks * Backpacks/dufflebags (hiking, backpacking, fannypacks, etc.) * Camping utensils and multi-tools (Please clean before swapping!) * Water bottles/Travel mugs (only twist-top, unless the item is brand new) * Sleeping bags and sleeping pads (Please clean before swapping!) * Camping pillows * Tarps * Yoga mats * Camping chairs * Flashlights, headlamps, lanterns * Portable chargers * Helmets and pads * Hiking poles * Camping stoves/ Miniature camping stoves (without fuel) * Climbing harnesses and accessories * Bungee cords * Rope * Unused, unopened, and non-expired dehydrated camping meals * Unused and unopened batteries * Unused sun block and hand sanitizer \*Please note that undergarments (including swimwear), camping fuel, used/ opened batteries, sun block, or hand sanitizer, and used, opened, and expired camping meals will not be accepted for swapping. Additionally, we will not\*\* accept large items at this swap, including bicycles, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, etc... All items that are not swapped will be donated to charities. We are excited to have you join us!

We start our new run on the intersection of Woodson Ave. and Soward Dr. promptly at 6:05pm. There is street parking on Soward and Woodson. This route will take us through the Rock Creek Palisades Neighborhood near Albert Einstein High School. STARTING AND ENDING POINT http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/7/d/9/600_457062969.jpeg FULL ROUTE: http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/7/e/7/600_457062983.jpeg

If you’ve already learned the basics of volleyball and want to keep improving your skills while having fun, this event is for you! **Skill Level:** Advanced Beginner (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details). **Reminders** 1. Attendance: We’ve noticed that the waitlist is growing, so please make sure your name is on the Going list if you plan to play. Our number of nets is limited so this helps avoid too many rotations. If your name is on the list but you don’t show up, it will count as an absence according to Smiley Social rules. Please update your RSVP at least 12 hours in advance if your plans change. 2. Injuries: Play safely and be mindful of others on the court. Respect positions and avoid risky moves that could lead to injury. If you’re not sure the ball is yours, call it before going for it to avoid collisions. 3. Game Rules: Let’s follow the basic volleyball rules, especially the three-touch rule so we can play properly and improve as a team! 4. Waitlist: The waitlist is not first come first serve. We prioritize regular attendees, and will fill empty spots with new faces closer to the event date. **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 3. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

Covid Alert: We will start having classes again at Canal Park on Wednesdays and the dojo on Saturdays. Please bring your own hand sanitizer, and a mask are a must! We'll practice from a safe distance from each other; and progress from there. On Saturdays, class is limited to the first 5 persons to rsvp (until further notice) "DC Kali" is an official training group for FCS Kali. Our curriculum includes knifes, swords, stick-fighting, striking, and grappling; but we place a special emphasis on edged weapons. Please come out and learn some Kali. Our aim is to train hard, learn some sound defense strategies, and make friends along the way. Although FCS Kali is a combat-oriented systems that involves edged weapons, we provide a safe environment for learning w/o sacrificing realism in our training. We teach in small semi-private groups, allowing each individual student to progress as quickly as he or she can absorb the info being taught. Hope to see you all there. Mosi K. Jack, Esq. Training Group Instructor · FCS Manong (under Tuhon Ray Dionaldo) http://www.fcskali.com/ ) Filipino Combat Systems is an organization dedicated the preservation and promotion of all Filipino Martial Arts. Filipino Combat Systems(FCS) is an organization/system with members from around the world. FCS is based on Tuhon Ray Dionaldo's over 35 years of practicing various FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles. He's combine elements of each, into one system that's efficient, fast, concise, and logical. FCS members have extremely diverse backgrounds, and Martial Arts systems. We’ve all come together because of our love of the Filipino Martial Arts, and our unwillingness to become involved in the politics that has so often stifled our growth. Please pick one of the following class and fee combos: Drop-In Fee: $25/per class (after 1st free Saturday class) Monthly fees: $80/month (Wednesday park classes included for free), or Quarterly fees: $210/every 3 months (which comes to $70/month; includes the Wednesday park classes), or Wednesday Park only: $50/month • Cash and Paypal are preferred method of payment (online payments via Square are available at: https://squareup.com/market/dc-kali ) • One free trial class is permitted (but must rsvp ahead of class) • Equipment: if you have training knives, rattan sticks, training swords, and/or mma gloves bring them. If not, we may have a few extra. Training Videos http://www.fcskaliphilippines.com/fcs-curriculum-videos.html http://www.bloodnbonesgear.com/id5.html

The Mission: Finding Your Strength It’s natural to feel intimidated by the idea of a self-defense class. At Kore, our “First Friday” sessions are designed to replace that hesitation with confidence. This isn’t about traditional “gym moves” or martial arts rituals—it’s about taking agency over your life. Taught by our Certified Female Instructors, this free workshop focuses on practical applications of the Kore Standard. We help you sharpen your natural intuition and provide a toolkit of effective, simple responses to common safety concerns. This is about building the confidence to navigate the world on your own terms.

⸻ Important Info 🎯 Please bring your own archery equipment if you have it. I do have a limited amount of beginner-friendly equipment available (enough for about 3 people), but it is first come, first serve. Feel free to bring snacks, drinks, and good vibes—we’re here to have fun, be social, and enjoy the experience together ✨

**Beyond Fear: How to Stay Calm and Strong in Today’s World** In a world filled with uncertainty, rapid change, and constant information, it’s easy for fear and anxiety to take hold. Yet within each of us lies a deeper source of stability, clarity, and strength that can help us navigate life with calm and confidence. This interactive workshop explores practical spiritual insights and meditation techniques that help transform fear into inner power. Together we will reflect on why fear arises, how it affects our thinking and wellbeing, and how reconnecting with our deeper awareness can restore a sense of peace and resilience. Through guided reflection, conversation, and meditation, you’ll learn simple tools to quiet the mind, strengthen your inner stability, and move forward with greater courage and clarity. Leave feeling calmer, more centered, and empowered to face today’s world with a renewed sense of confidence and hope. **(In person at the Meditation Museum in Silver Spring, MD)** Sat., May 2nd, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/QnHul](https://shorturl.at/QnHul)

Be there or get chubby. You decide. https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/b/7/2/600_364811122.jpeg RSVPs are required. The reason is that it should increase your own enjoyment. You see, the ideal number of players for a pickup soccer game is perhaps 6x6 - 8x8; some players won't attend if they think the turnout will be low, and others will just assume the game will be cancelled even though we always play. (As a practical matter, smaller games are less fun since the comics won't have the audience they need, but, they do have two hidden benefits: shorter, more intense games/workouts and fewer face kicks/yellow cards. So we play no matter how small or large.) So non-RSVPers are a little short sighted, since they don't seem to want to maximize their own enjoyment in the long run. Rational and sane players who have a good chance of attending RSVP a week early both here and at https://meetup.com/dcsoccer , the parent soccer group.

Join us as The Washington Area Roadskaters lead you on a different adventure every week, skating through and around our Nation's Capital! Skate description will be placed here as the route is published. For up to the minute details, check Facebook and Instagram. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WashingtonAreaRoadskaters/events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareskatedc/ We hope to see you Sunday!

We are a real world Martial arts group. \ Called DO JUNG ISHU (the art of fighting) \ Based off of Jeet kune do we just continued where Bruce Lee left off. \ We have been around a while. \ Every week we get together and work technical skills and full contact spar. \ Almost all of the instructors have been in everything from street fights to the ring and some still compete in cage fighting. \ If you want to take your skills up, improve your confidence, gain self defense skills, get in better shape, test yourself or just want to kill some time and possibly get hit a bit come on down. \ We will be located at 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 Outside in the grass between the playground and horseshoe area. our instructors are normally in a black and red art of fighting shirt \ if you can not find us call or text me at 6143570295 Saturday 1:30pm Wednesday 5:45pm From Age 16 and up. attendees under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them. \ Wear workout clothes. \ Bring a MOUTHPIECE! \ WE HAVE GLOVES. \ $10 per class $5 per class if you are wearing a club shirt Club shirts are $25 Hope to see you soon. \ let me know if you have any questions :)

We are a real world Martial arts group. \ Called DO JUNG ISHU (the art of fighting) \ Based off of Jeet kune do we just continued where Bruce Lee left off. \ We have been around a while. \ Every week we get together and work technical skills and full contact spar. \ Almost all of the instructors have been in everything from street fights to the ring and some still compete in cage fighting. \ If you want to take your skills up, improve your confidence, gain self defense skills, get in better shape, test yourself or just want to kill some time and possibly get hit a bit come on down. \ We will be located at 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 Outside in the grass between the playground and horseshoe area. our instructors are normally in a black and red art of fighting shirt \ if you can not find us call or text me at 6143570295 Saturday 1:30pm Wednesday 5:45pm From Age 16 and up. attendees under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them. \ Wear workout clothes. \ Bring a MOUTHPIECE! \ WE HAVE GLOVES. \ $10 per class $5 per class if you are wearing a club shirt Club shirts are $25 Hope to see you soon. \ let me know if you have any questions :)

This is an in-person meeting. Would you like to know the Real You, not just a shadow of yourself? Does your life energy feel somehow trapped within? Does your self-confidence get easily shaken? Do you get in the way of your own goals? We will discuss the real source of all this, what holds you back in life, and how to handle it so you can achieve more successful and happier living. Perhaps you get weighed down with negative emotions you can't seem to shrug off. Or find yourself doing strange and irrational things - not really being yourself. We will cover why that is and tools that work to help you unearth your self, your self-confidence and motivation. This meeting will help you learn about how to effectively overcome: -Out-of-control unwanted emotions -Low self-esteem -Anxiety -Negativity -Stress -Irrational fears -Traumatic or painfully emotional incidents -Breakups -Betrayals -Feeling like you're not really yourself -Self-doubt... We will discuss how to unleash the inner you and tap into your true potential. So come to this online meetup! This meeting is sponsored by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio

When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?

In the midst of life’s storms—whether in relationships, work, or within ourselves—it can be difficult to find clarity and calm. The “I” Of the Storm: Embracing Conflict, Creating Peace, based on the work of Dr. Gary Simmons, invites you to discover the steady center within—the part of you that remains grounded even when everything around you is in motion. Led by Brian Drafton-Griffin, this engaging workshop offers practical tools and meaningful insights to help you navigate conflict with greater awareness, compassion, and confidence. Through guided discussion and reflection, you’ll learn how to shift from reaction to response and transform challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.