New Zealand / training and workshops by arrangement
Choose from our range of specialised programmes designed to empower you with practical self-defence skills and unwavering confidence.
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Our flagship Women's MINDSET Self-Defence Workshops provide practical, supportive and scenario-based training designed to build personal safety skills, awareness and confidence.
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MINDSET provides practical, hands-on self-defence and personal safety training for corporates and businesses, universities and educational institutions, schools, non-profit and charitable organisations, and community groups.
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MINDSET Close Quarters Combat training focuses on practical responses to threats at close range. Drawing on our existing training system, sessions can cover striking, ground defence, weapon defence, multiple attackers, and responses to common attacks on civilians. Avoidance, awareness and de-escalation remain important parts of the training. Specialist CQC training can be arranged throughout New Zealand, with instructor-led delivery at an agreed location by arrangement.
MINDSET provides practical, hands-on self-defence and personal safety training for corporates and businesses, universities and educational institutions, schools, non-profit and charitable organisations, and community groups.
Our flagship Women's MINDSET Self-Defence Workshops are specifically designed to empower women with practical, effective self-defence skills and the confidence to use them. These intensive workshops focus on real-world scenarios that women are most likely to encounter, providing techniques that work regardless of size, strength, or fitness level.
Each workshop covers situational awareness, boundary setting and verbal de-escalation, but the bulk of the workshop concentrates on the difficult part: physical defence techniques. We create a safe, supportive environment where women can practise realistic scenarios, build muscle memory and develop the mental resilience needed to respond effectively under stress.
These workshops typically run for one day, with a more comprehensive workshop running for two days. Both workshops include pad work, hands-on training, scenario-based practice and a Q&A session at the end. They are ideal for individuals, groups or organisations looking to provide comprehensive self-defence training for women.
Workshop content can be tailored to the organisation's needs, participants and operating environment. This may include relevant workplace or community scenarios, such as responding to aggressive behaviour, navigating potentially threatening situations and considering personal safety during business travel.
Instructor-led training emphasises practical skills, awareness, confidence, personal safety and appropriate responses to threatening situations. Our instructors adapt the training to the circumstances of each group while maintaining a practical, engaging and supportive approach.
Workshops can be arranged throughout New Zealand at a location agreed with your organisation. Our instructors can travel to deliver larger organisational training programmes by arrangement.
MINDSET Self-Defence instructors have delivered workshops and training programmes throughout New Zealand by arrangement, supporting and empowering thousands of men, women and teenagers with practical, effective self-defence skills. Our instructors have had the privilege of working with a wide range of communities, organisations and venues. We’re always happy to share a full list of where we’ve taught; there are simply too many wonderful partnerships to include on the website.
We believe that everyone deserves access to proven, high-quality self-defence training, regardless of their circumstances. If you represent a non-profit organisation, charity or volunteer group that would benefit from our training programmes, we'd love to hear from you.
We offer customised programmes for non-profit organisations, community groups and volunteer services. Our goal is to make self-defence training accessible to those who need it most, including women's shelters, support groups and community outreach programmes.
For additional information, please get in touch with us. Depending on the organisation, some terms and conditions may apply. While we'd love to provide instruction to as many people as possible, our capacity to offer free training each year is limited by overwhelming demand. We therefore kindly request that you contact us well in advance to secure a booking for your business or organisation.
Enquire About a WorkshopMINDSET Self-Defence is built on a comprehensive training system that combines elements from multiple martial arts and combat disciplines, refined specifically for real-world self-defence applications. Our approach is practical, effective and accessible to people of all fitness levels and backgrounds.
We draw from proven systems including CQC, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and tactical defence training used by law enforcement and military personnel. However, we've adapted these techniques specifically for civilian self-defence, focusing on what works in real-world situations rather than sport or competition scenarios, or military combat.
Our training methodology emphasises simplicity, efficiency, and effectiveness. We teach techniques that can be learned quickly, retained easily, and executed under stress. Every technique is pressure-tested and refined based on real-world feedback and modern understanding of violence dynamics.
Many people confuse self-defence training with traditional martial arts or sport fighting. While there's overlap, the goals and approaches are fundamentally different. Understanding this distinction is essential for effective self-defence preparation.
Traditional Martial Arts Often focus on discipline, character development, and mastery of specific techniques within a structured system. They may include forms (kata), belt rankings, and techniques designed for controlled sparring or competition. While valuable for fitness, discipline and cultural appreciation, many traditional techniques aren't optimised for modern self-defence scenarios.
Sport Fighting (Like MMA, boxing, or competitive jiu-jitsu) operates within rules, weight classes, and controlled environments. Fighters who are trained to be extremely fit, skillful and technical, know when and where the fight will occur, have time to prepare, and compete against opponents of similar size and skill. There are no weapons, multiple attackers, or environmental hazards to consider.
Street Fighting/Self-Defence Have no referee, and no guaranteed fair fight. Attackers may be larger, armed, or working in groups. The environment is unpredictable, and the goal isn't to win points or demonstrate technique; it's to survive and escape safely. This requires a different mindset, different techniques, and different training methods. At MINDSET, we prepare you for reality, not competition.
Traditional martial arts focus on discipline, forms, and controlled sparring, while sport fighting operates within rules and weight classes. Street fighting and self-defence has no rules, no referee, and no guaranteed fair fight. Attackers may be larger, armed, or in groups. At MINDSET, we prepare you for reality, not competition.
No. Many traditional martial art techniques are not optimised for modern self-defence scenarios. MINDSET training draws from proven systems including CQC, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai, but adapts them specifically for civilian self-defence, focusing on what works in real-world situations rather than sport or competition.
Core modules cover the most common civilian attacks, ground defence, weapon defence, striking (where and how to strike), and avoidance, awareness, and de-escalation. Specialised workshops include rape defence, civilian security and door staff, multiple attackers, advanced CQC techniques, and tailor-suited workshops.
MINDSET delivers practical self-defence, close quarters combat and tailored organisational workshops throughout New Zealand, with training arrangements shaped around your requirements.
No prior experience is required. All MINDSET classes and workshops are open to beginners through to advanced students. Training is tailored to your skill level and real-world goals.
For women's workshop registrations, visit the NZ workshop collection linked from our New Zealand website. For tailored organisational or specialist CQC training, contact us to discuss your requirements.