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Our Mission

At Life Force Self-Defense, we empower women and girls with the skills, mindset, and self-trust to stand strong in any situation. Through practical, real-world skills, you'll turn fear into power, hesitation into action, and uncertainty into confidence. We don’t just teach defense—we cultivate resilience, awareness, and the belief that every woman has the power to take control of her safety and her life.

Our Core Values

🔥 Effectiveness – We evolve our training to ensure self-defense is accessible, practical and adaptable to real-world challenges.

🔍 Awareness –  We encourage a lifelong learning mindset, fostering self-discovery, mindfulness, and personal growth.

🗣 Honesty– The truth can be uncomfortable, but facing it, embracing it, and preparing for it makes you unstoppable.

🤝 Acceptance – We honor every individual's unique journey, creating a supportive environment where all feel safe to grow.

🔄 Adaptability – Just as survival requires quick thinking and adaptability, we equip our students to respond to life’s challenges with strength and grace.

💖 Love – Above all, we believe in the power of self-love and community, knowing that true strength comes from a place of deep respect for oneself and others.

Our Methodology

LifeForce is a proud sister company to Guided Chaos Adaptive Defense and the Perkins Self-Defense System, two globally recognized self-protection methodologies that have been empowering individuals since 1976.

Our team of certified instructors is directly trained by John Perkins, the internationally acclaimed self-defense expert and author of the best-selling book Attack Proof: The Ultimate Guide to Personal Protection. With a distinguished career spanning over 50 years, John Perkins was a Yonkers Detective, crime scene investigator, forensic and ballistics expert, private detective, bodyguard, and Grand Master of Ki Chuan Do/Guided Chaos (GC). He was revered as the "West's foremost expert on the dynamics of violence" before his passing in 2023.

At LifeForce, our comprehensive programs are designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to protect yourself and others. We understand that real violence is unpredictable, which is why we focus on teaching swift, decisive actions through adaptive close-quarters combat techniques.

 

Through neuromuscular conditioning, we help you develop reflexive responses, ensuring you can make split-second decisions in chaotic situations. These adaptive responses become second nature as you train in realistic, unchoreographed scenarios—preparing you to carry essential self-defense skills with confidence wherever life takes you.

 

Our classes, events, and workshops cover a wide range of topics, including violence prevention, increased situational awareness, mindset training, recognizing warning signs, and trusting your instincts. We also dive into practical self-defense strategies, including handling common attacks, using self-defense weapons effectively, debunking myths and misconceptions, and much more.

At LifeForce, we help you develop the confidence and skills to better handle the uncertainties of life and protect yourself when it matters most.

Our Instructors

Unlike many self-defense classes, our women’s classes are uniquely led by a female certified self-defense instructor, ensuring a comfortable, relatable environment for every participant.

Our team of instructors brings decades of expertise in self-protection, training law enforcement, military personnel, security professionals, and individuals from all walks of life. From Girl Scouts to professional athletes, and from domestic abuse survivors to everyday women, our instructors offer unparalleled knowledge and a diverse perspective that you won’t find anywhere else.

  • Michael – A bodyguard, competitive athlete, personal trainer, and 8th-degree blackbelt with over 30 years of experience under John Perkins.

  • Joe – Owner of the Self Defense Training Center in Kingston, NY, Joe has 25+ years of experience as a self-defense instructor and holds a 6th-degree blackbelt.

  • Kevin – A retired federal air marshal, criminal investigator for FBI task forces, and Lead Executive Protection Agent for the US Department of Agriculture, Kevin brings 25+ years of experience and a 6th-degree blackbelt.

  • Tina – Also a registered nurse, Tina has 15 years of experience training under John Perkins, is a 5th-degree blackbelt and the second woman in John's 50 years of teaching to achieve this rank.

  • Jerry – A certified self-defense instructor and personal trainer with a 4th-degree blackbelt.

  • Zeke – A certified self-defense instructor and firearms instructor with a 4th-degree blackbelt.

  • Amanda – A certified self-defense instructor with a 3rd-degree blackbelt.

About Us

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Hi! I'm Tina

Hi, I’m Tina, founder and lead instructor of LifeForce Self-Defense.

As a certified self-defense instructor and registered nurse, I’m passionate about helping women feel more powerful and prepared in their everyday lives.

 

My journey started 15 years ago after facing tough situations, and I quickly realized self-defense is about more than just physical skills—it’s about confidence, self-trust, and standing strong.

 

You don’t need years of training or peak fitness to protect yourself. With the right knowledge and practice, you can feel more secure and in control. I believe self-defense education should be the norm, not the exception.

Let’s create a world where women live with courage, strength, and on our terms!

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