Real-World Awareness. Practical Protection. Life-Saving Mindset.

• Who is David Burnell

Real skills. Real confidence. Taught by a Veteran and Defensive Tactics Expert.

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• Join the Mission

★ ★ ★ ★ ★"David is incredible to work with. He’s the perfect amount of tough, informative, assertive, yet, genuine, trusting and gentle. He is a light to work with. I hosted a women’s self-defense class at my gym and everyone left empowered, informed, and touched by this incredible man. Thank you so much for your time."— Ashley Wolf

Live Classes. Large Seminars. Life-Saving Training.

Empowerment for every woman—whether hands-on, in a hall, or across the nation.

Defense For Women live classes are offered free of charge within the Utah region. For events outside Utah, David Burnell is available to travel—training is still provided free, but travel and lodging expenses must be covered by the host. This ensures the mission can continue reaching communities across the country while remaining sustainable.

What You'll Learn in this FREE Course

This is not a typical self-defense class.You will not be taught to “fight”— you will be taught how to recognize, avoid, and survive real-world threats.In this course, you will learn:✔ Situational awareness and early threat detection
✔ How to recognize danger before it escalates
✔ Verbal boundary-setting and command presence
✔ How predators think—and how they choose targets
✔ What to do if you are followed, approached, or confronted
✔ How to break contact and create distance quickly
✔ Escapes from grabs, holds, and control attempts
✔ Simple, effective counter-actions ✔ How to overcome hesitation and act decisively under stressThese are not theories. These are real-world principles that save lives.

This Is Different

Most self-defense training starts too late. This training begins before the fight ever happens.Because the goal is simple:
✔ Avoid the threat whenever possible
✔ Recognize danger early
✔ Act before it escalatesYou do not need to be stronger. You need to be aware, prepared, and decisive.

A Message from David Burnell

“You don’t need to be a fighter to fight for your life. You need truth, technique, and heart.”

Who This Is For

This training is designed for women of all ages and backgrounds, including:✔ Young women preparing for college
✔ Church and youth groups
✔ Relief societies and community organizations
✔ Women’s shelters and support programs
✔ Working professionals
✔ Single mothers
✔ Survivors rebuilding strength and confidence
✔ Schools, campuses, and corporate groupsIf you want to be more aware, more prepared, and more capable—
this course is for you.

Why It’s Free

This program is offered 100% free of charge. Because every woman deserves the knowledge and confidence to protect herself. This is part of a personal mission: To protect, empower, and strengthen women through truth and practical training.“If we protect the women, we preserve the soul of a nation.” — David Burnell

Training Format

Live Hands-On Class:✔ Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
✔ Group Size: Up to 60 participants
✔ Location: Gym, church, community center, or open training space
✔ Focus: Practical drills, movement, and real-world application

Large Group Seminar (Unlimited Attendance)

Ideal for schools, universities, churches, and organizations:✔ No participant limit
✔ Includes live demonstrations, threat awareness training, and Q&A
✔ Focus: Mindset, awareness, and decision-making under pressure

How to Host a Class

Bring Defense For Women to your community.✔ Submit the “Host a Class” request form below
✔ Include your location, preferred dates, and estimated group size
✔ We will contact you to coordinate and customize your eventThis is more than a class. It’s a life-changing experience that gives women the tools to recognize danger, take control, and protect themselves.

Contact Form

Final Call

This is not about fear. This is about confidence, awareness, and readiness. Because the best fight… is the one you never have to be in.

Read or Listen to the Book

Free Audiobook: Before It Happens — The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts
Now available on DefenseForWomen.com, this powerful 2-hour audiobook by veteran protector and instructor David Burnell offers essential safety training for real-world situations. Before It Happens is not about learning how to fight—it’s about learning how to avoid danger in the first place. Through real stories, proven models, and step-by-step awareness tools, you’ll discover how to trust your instincts, recognize threats before they escalate, and walk through life with confidence. Listen for free and start building your personal defense mindset today.— David Burnell

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Testimonials

★ ★ ★ ★ ★“David’s class was amazing! He is very honest and real when talking about his life experiences and what we need to do individually to protect ourselves. He doesn’t sugar-coat anything and taught us skills that we can easily remember and practice ahead of time. I was so excited about what I learned that as soon as I returned home I taught my teenage kids some skills. Thank you, David!”— Tricia Tippets

★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I have taken numerous self-defense courses and this is the first where where I actually walked away with some real life skills I know I will remember. This was a women's self-defense/self-awareness class. Dave stresses the importance of situational awareness and how that alone can save your life. But if you are attacked, he shows some very easily remembered, simple methods to help yourself escape. I know what he shared was a fraction of what he knows but he shared it generously and in a way that we all could understand. I'm glad I had the opportunity to take this class. I left more confident in myself and my ability to keep myself out of situations that could cause me harm. Thank you, David.”— Debra Kelly

★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Amazing, informational, learned a lot, have more confidence, all the MOM’S out there. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER’S do the class together. I can’t express how AMAZING the class was… a BONUS DAVID is a great instructor… bonus… bonus.., he keeps you on your toes and has you laughing the entire time.”— Melanie Daniels

★ ★ ★ ★ ★“This was a wonderful opportunity for our group of women to come together and be empowered. The tools David gave us were very simple and easy to learn. He created a safe space for everyone, and we not only got to work on the physical aspects of self-defense, but the mental and emotional aspects so that we can be confident in tough situations. I am SO glad we did this. Thank you, David for giving a gift to the world.”— Cori Sterling