I absolutely love this place. The instructors are amazing and the classes are insightful. I would recommend 5/5. They meet you where you are yet, yet they manage to push you out of your comfort zone in a safe way. Good for all ages, genders, and really just everyone. It is so much fun!

I always look forward to the days I attend class! The instructors are very knowledgeable, skilled, professional yet down to earth and fun! The minute you walk in the door youre greeted in a way that makes you feel like you are walking into your own home. I have been recovering from a sprained MCL from a sport injury but still want to attend classes and after informing the instructors they make sure safety and your well being is #1. Best place ever, highly recommended!

Went with my three teenage daughters and really a memorable experience; not only did we learn a lot but we also had fun! Our instructor, Danae was kind,funny, and very knowledgeable, and provided us with simple but effective life-saving skills. We had private lesson due to a limited time but would definitely go again! Highly recommended! Its such a gem to have this self-defence school in our community!

I went here for some pre-college self defense, and couldnt be happier with my experience. The teachers were communicative and made me feel comfortable throughout the class. I was also very impressed by the amount of knowledge they all possessed, and how they were willing to share that knowledge freely. 10/10 recommend, all ages, all the time :)

They taught a private womens only self-defense class for us and it was AMAZING. The instructors were super knowledgeable, funny, and just pleasant to interact with in general. I feel so much more confident in my ability to defend myself and Im already hungry for more knowledge! I cant recommend Valley Self-Defense enough!

I took a car jacking class self defense through work and the instructors were wonderful! Both knowledgable and entertaining. I would HIGHLY recommend!!!

I expected to just receive information from these lessons, similar to school, but I was thrilled to find that I got lots of one on one teaching and solid, active self-defense practice. We spent the majority of the lesson practicing self-defense moves. It was a lot of fun and I can’t emphasize enough how nice and friendly everyone was. I was also surprised how much I learned on my first day. This seems like a really great place to try if you’re a beginner like me 😊

Highly recommend Valley Self-Defense! I learned so much about different defense techniques and what to and not to do when in a dangerous situation. The class is structured to gradually get you used to the different skills, and there are many opportunities to practice them. I appreciated that the goal of the class was to get comfortable with the skills and practice them as if you were doing them in real life so that you would be prepared. The instructors were so personable and friendly, and they really cared about my learning and my experience during the class. They helped me better my technique by pointing out what I could do better, and they helped to simulate real situations by encouraging us to perform the skills with the force we would use if we were actually being attacked. The instructors had many stories to go along with the class and allowed us to tailor it to our own needs and interests. Overall, my experience with Valley Self-Defense was awesome, and I would take a class from them again and recommend that everyone do the same!

Had a great time while learning how to kick some a**! Danae did a great job of instructing-informative and funny. Really appreciate all the tips and tricks. GREAT idea for a team building/corporate event. Thanks again :-)

My daughter who is 15 and I just took our first class at Valley Self-Defense and had a fabulous experience. From the moment we walked in the door we felt welcome. There were many other women there, some mom and daughter pairs like us and an atmosphere inclusive to everyone. We started the class with some informal games but before we knew it were learning how to defuse a situation by a harasser on the street, block a blow, and even disable an attacker with a knife. My daughter who is 90 pounds and not the most athletic teen said to me, “Mom, I didn’t realize how strong I can be”. We loved it and are going back for a regular session. I can’t recommend them enough.

I started going to classes at Valley Self Defense in 2015. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing this place is. The instructors are very supportive and the environment is very welcoming. I used to be very shy and apprehensive but training here has really helped me build confidence in myself. Every class I have ever attended has always been loads of fun, too!

The team at valley self defense is awesome! My 16 year old daughter has really enjoyed her self defense classes. Her instructor Danae makes everyone feel welcome and teaches them really important self defense skills, which makes this momma less worried about her kiddo being out in the world!! They even have super fun classes- the most recent -DIY self defense keychains was super fun!!! Definitely recommend to anyone of any age!

All the instructors are incredible. And, there aren’t enough positive words in the dictionary to describe the owners. They *all* take you in as their own and meet you where you’re at. Also, it’s an incredibly positive and happy atmosphere. There’s so much laughter while learning important skill sets.

Danaes self defense instruction and sense of humor was great! At under 5 feet I actually feel like I could now handle some scary situations just from this one hour class that I could not have protected myself against before taking this class. She also followed up with me after the class with the answer to a question I posed during the class. Very impressive!

What an amazing group of instructors/people. I love the energy, instruction and understanding of the instructors. I would recommend Valley Self Defense for the whole family! Thank you Valley Self Defense! We will see you again soon!

I attended a self defense class for real estate professionals. Instructors were very friendly and explained everything very well and made it fun. They really care about making you feel comfortable. I found this class very valuable.

Our group training session with Valley Self Defense was amazing. Danae was funny, kind, professional and made absolute sure that everyone felt comfortable. I feel 120% more confident about defending myself. Thank you Valley Self Defense!! - Claire Felknor Realty

Danae was a powerhouse teacher. Shared her own experiences that brought her to a passionate career that is used to empower others.Cant wait for my next class!

Such a great environment, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, from the instructors to the students. Also, instructors do a great job of explaining things for all levels without alienating those that are new.

I completed the Conceal and Carry Handgun Safety Course at Valley Self Defense over the weekend. I had gotten my carry permit 5 years ago, so this was a renewal for me, but I had never carried as I was not comfortable enough with my handgun to feel confident in doing so. Peter, Shelly, and Danae really personalized the class according to ability and experience level (I believe several of the participants were studying to be instructors of this course, which was an added bonus). There were a variety of handguns for us to try and plenty of one on one time with the instructors. For me, the bottom line is, I dont get to choose the circumstances in which I might need to use my weapon, so I need to be comfortable enough to practice and maintain familiarity to know what Im doing. This class is helping me to do that.

The community is amazing and super friendly . It doesnt matter if you have or dont have any martial arts background (I didnt). Danae and Peter will teach you how to keep yourself safe in dangerous situations.Valley Self-Defense is a great place to excercise while learning how to defend yourself and your love ones.

Tried a class for the first time today and it was so great! We felt welcome and comfortable right away. We are excited to go back next week!

I went to a self defense class as a first timer with my mom. Everyone was incredibly inviting!!! I learned so much about self defense in ONE HOUR and would absolutely recommend this place. I can’t wait to come back!!!

Valley Self-Defense is extremely welcoming. The staff makes you feel comfortable & confident even as a beginner in a class with more experienced participants. My teenage daughter loves the staff & class members here. She looks forward to attending her classes each week.

I LOVE going to Valley Self-Defense! The staff is wonderful, knowledgeable, and exceptionally skilled. The staff and classes at VSD have helped me (and others) grow the internal and external mechanisms used to keep myself safe.thank you so much for all you do!

This was a great experience and the instructors were very informative. On top of the great communication and the way they taught the movements, the instructors also made it fun to learn.Great job Valley Self-Defense, would try again and will recommend!

As a family we love this place. We have started our children young and they absolutely love it and have so much fun without realizing the life skills they are learning. As for me I enjoy the classes I just started and most importantly I will retain the life saving skills that will not only protect me, but my family. I highly recommend you give this place a chance the owners are one of a kind and will do anything to make you feel at home.

Valley Self Defense has been working with our Real Estate Agents to implement safety measures and helpful tips while working their business, daily! This team has incredible energy and are so fun to be around! 10/10 Recommend!

Great positive attitude by all staff and instructors. Love the practical approach to self defense.

This place is life changing. If you have ever wondered if you would be able to protect yourself if necessary, this is the place for you. They will show you that you CAN. You will also find out that learning to protect yourself is empowering and fun. I will never get tired of walking into one of their classes and walking out feeling just a little taller and more confident.Peter and Danae and Shelly are the absolute best.

This place is FANTASTIC! The owners and instructors know their stuff and make learning a very fun experience. They are incredibly welcoming to everyone! I very highly recommend Valley Self-Defense to those wanting to learn how to protect themselves, including kids!

Danae is great! After just the firrst class, I feel I have tools to use to protect myself and think about situations in a more protective way!Looking forward to the next class!

Great personalized work outs. Staff is always available to answer questions. Classes are top notch. No place better to help with your healthy life style!

I cant express enough how amazing this experience is for all ages. Weve had our teenage daughter in the program, and she has so much more self-confidence, grit, and determination after a few short months. The coaching team is second to none. They focused on her needs, understood how to manage insecurity, and instilled focused self-confidence that I knew was hidden in her all along. Not only that, but now she can have the tools and situation awareness to protect herself truly. Mark, Shelly, Peter, Danae, and the team are fantastic! Dont think about it; try it, youll be hooked.

Amazing people with amazing skills and experience. Love these coaches!

These guys rock. My friend and I took our two daughters to Valley Self-Defense to learn some basic self defense. All 3 instructors were very professional and very methodical in their teaching. What they teach is very practical and useful in the real world. No Dad wants their daughter to be a victim. Nevertheless, theres always a chance that a scenario arises that puts them at risk. What these guys teach are real practical methods to get out of situations safely. It was also fun. So much so that the two daughters didnt mind being seen in public with us. Highly recommended. Were going back!

I love the community here, its so welcoming and inviting! The instructors and clearly very knowledgeable and cultivate a warm and judgment-free zone, highly recommend!

Both of our children attend classes at Valley Self Defense. The instructors are talented, knowledgeable and caring. They have been a positive influence in their lives and are our “second family!”Our son’s confidence level has grown significantly and our daughter has a mental and physical outlet. The instructors care about the whole person - inside and out!

Fantastic environment and the Instructors are of the highest quality and caliber both at the professional and personal level. They provide a wide range of training opportunities for children and adults and do so with expertise and a deep caring for their students. So that we may walk in peace, my family and I are grateful we do so with the help of Instructor Danae, Instructor Shelly, and Instructor Peter.

They are so knowledgeable and personal! Danae and Peter never make you think you dont belong or have a silly question. They are committed to their craft.

Every class has great energy. You learn so much from each teacher. Thank you for taking the time with your students. I always fill impowered from the classes at valley self-defense.

I’ve spent a decent amount of time online looking for a program to learn self defense. There’s an overwhelming amount of faculties that I researched, but I chose to try out valley self defense. They’re page seemed inclusive, welcoming of beginners, and very passionate about what they do! I went tonight for my first class, and I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in. The instructors seemed happy my friend and I were there, and made learning fun. They catered to the level we were at, and we both learned a lot! I already have signed up for more classes!! Thank you!!

Ive trained at different places and been trained by still even more people, this place is incredibly thorough with what they teach and friendly to people of all levels, will definitely keep going back for the foreseeable future.

Excellent school with great instructors!! I have been attending this school for a couple years now and have been continually impressed with the welcoming atmosphere and the quality of the training.

We had a great time learning with Valley Self Defense!! We are a local real estate team that wanted safety topics understood and to learn self defense! We have learned so much and have peace of mind, knowing self defense tactics if ever needed! Thank you, we had a great time and will be back!!!

I had a great time organizing and attending a self defense class with Valley Self-Defense. I worked most closely with Danae and she was wonderful! She made everyone feel welcomed and comfortable.

Such a great experience! Super knowledgeable and application.

I have been treated like family since I attended my first class at VSD. All the instructors are supportive and treat everyone with respect and care. I look forward to each class because everything taught is very practical and useful in defending yourself. I have found myself being more confident in situations that might have bothered me before. I know what to do if I’m attacked. I’m grateful for the improvement this place has made in me as a person as well as in my fitness.

My children absolutely love attending classes at Valley Self-Defense!!! They look forward to going every week! The instructors are so amazing and knowledgeable and make the classes fun! If I could give them more than 5 stars I would!

Super fun experience with instructors. Loved the women’s self defense techniques.

I have only taken one class so far but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Instructors were fun, inclusive, and personable. I left class very excited to go back. Also, the prices seem very reasonable compared to other martial arts gyms in the area.

From the moment I called to inquire about classes for my daughter they were an absolute pleasure to talk to. Willing to answer all my questions and had so much knowledge and understanding as to kids unique situations and needs. They really seem to genuinely care about their students. My daughter had her first complimentary class and was hooked. I was nervous about the online class and how that would work for her being a kid and having a shorter attention span. She was so focused during the session and seemed to really connect with the instructor, not to mention all smiles and won’t stop talking about it. She has been begging to continue her classes! Seeing her positive response from an online class is very exciting and I am 150% confident that when the time comes for in person classes it will be nothing short of phenomenal. I am so happy we decided to try this out!

I recently took a Conceal and Carry seminar with instructors Peter & Danae, and it was fantastic! Both instructors were very thorough with all of the material required to safely handle a gun and apply for a permit; in addition, they went above and beyond in teaching those things that go beyond the mechanics of handling a gun, like emotional/mental conflict preparedness and how to train yourself so that your weapon is the last in a line of defenses. I have recommended this course to friends, whether or not they want to buy and carry guns, because knowing how to safely handle a gun is a skill that everyone should have!

The training is great and the instructors are fantastic! The training is adjusted to your skill level, I always leave each class having learned something new. It’s a great place, lots of fun and very welcoming.

This place is awesome! Everything Ive learned is so practical and the instructors are knowledgable and very helpful. Its a friendly and fun environment, and I love coming to class every week! No matter what your skill level is (I had absolutely no experience before my first class), they will work with you and help you improve your skills!Also, everyone wears masks and they routinely clean all the equipment, which is great!

This was a very informative session! We went through each technique, and even virtually, it was clear on what was being taught. I also appreciate that the instructor was trauma informed.

Valley Self-Defense, much more than executing the best move in a potentially dangerous situation, waking up your inner badass. -so that one may walk in peace-

Awesome people, really learned and refreshed my mind. Highly recommend taking classes here !!

I attended class on Saturday morning. The instructors were professional and fun. Great atmosphere, felt very welcomed as a new student!! Highly recommend! Fantastic customer service!!

The instructors were kind and understanding. They didnt pressure anyone or make anyone feel upset while talking about and demonstrating self defense techniques. I feel more confident in my ability to responded to attackers after taking the course.

The Conceal and Carry Handgun Safety Course was excellent! Peter had well organized, clear and informative content to share. His broad self defense background provided an additional unique perspective to the course.

The best instructors anyone could ask for! Very understanding and helpful to everyone. No matter what your skill level or objective at hand, VSD covers it all!

Really appreciate the depth of explanation and sincere assistance in making a scary situation less so.Well worth it!

Danae was awesome! Thank you so much for your instruction!

Tonight my daughter and I took an outdoors class in a park with 25 women. It was very informative, we left feeling good about what we learned to protect ourselves if the occasion rises. This was a gift from a friend who invited all of us to come.We all left with new knowledge from a really amazing team of instructors that cared about us all.Very special evening.Thank you so much.

The instructors were very compassionate and made us feel comfortable. They were very knowledgeable in both safety and legal aspects of gun ownership.

Learned a lot in just the first session.

The environment is so welcoming. Classes are engaging and fun. There is a focus on self defense that you, the individual can actually do. So were not training to become ninjas or anything its very practical, and very enjoyable. The instructors are very understanding that not everyone may be used to an intense physical workout so its encouraged to take the exercises at your own pace. That may mean doing push up from your knees, or avoid jumping if theres a leg injury. It really means that all sorts can come and not have to feel Oh Im not that physically active so I cant keep up. Or whatever other excuse someone might think thats stopping them from coming.

Valley Self-Defense is a great place to learn Krav Maga, BJJ, and more for people of all ages. I think the learning environment is safe, fun, and very practical.The instructors are very friendly and earnest in their desire to help both beginners and advanced practitioners alike to become skilled in defensive techniques, getting into the right mindset for handling high-stress scenarios, and how to truly walk through life in peace.I encourage anyone reading this to take advantage of Valley Self-Defenses first free class for all newcomers and see for yourself how great of an experience this is!

Valley Self-Defense worked with my hockey team and it was an incredible experience! We left feeling empowered, stronger, confident. Highly recommend for individuals, teams, groups. The instructors are fantastic!

I first started talking to the instructors at Valley Self-Defense about two years ago. It took me a year to sign up for an introductory Krav Maga seminar and I liked it, but I’d had some disappointments and bad experiences with martial arts schools so I wasn’t sure it was for me and it took me another year before I signed up for my free first class. That went pretty well but I still wasn’t sure it was something I could commit to doing.I talked with the owner/instructors several times about my previous training experiences, anxiety and panic disorder, and being very sedentary and physically out of shape. They were incredibly understanding, patient, and reassured me that I could work at a pace that was possible for me. Without pushing they encouraged me to join them when I felt ready, and made a point of helping me feel comfortable and safe. I went back to class at the beginning of this month and committed to four classes, once a week, so I could ease into it gradually. I’m glad I did, and I’m already signed up for another month. I may be ready for two classes a week by the end of next month.Despite me being 57 years old, in poor physical shape, never athletic my whole life, and with disabling anxiety/panic issues I’m succeeding at Krav Maga and already getting in better shape, and that success is giving me more confidence in the rest of my life! The fact that all the instructors have training in trauma informed care in addition to their specialized instructor training and years of Krava Maga training makes a huge difference. They’re welcoming, inclusive, and compassionate toward their students. They allow for individual differences and abilities while encouraging each individual to do their personal best. Most of all they’re professional and passionate about what they do, and they’ve created a safe and fun atmosphere for everyone. That carries over to all the student of various levels and experience I’ve met as well. Everyone is welcoming and friendly.Krav Maga is serious self-defense training and Valley Self-Defense instructors and students take it seriously without being intimidating. Just the opposite in fact – they seem to be peaceful people who are ready and able to defend themselves very effectively if the need arises.If you’re on the fence about self-defense like I was, for any reason, whether it’s being out of shape, or a history of being bullied or traumatized by abuse, or have had bad experiences at other gyms or schools, talk to the Valley Self-Defense instructors. They understand and can help!

I brought my kids for a few classes and the instructors were amazing. They made it fun and engaging! My kids can’t wait to go back!

Just today had a Krav Maga primer with the Valley Self Defense team. I would highly recommend them, for their knowledge, teaching practices, and overall good spiritedness.

In todays world everyone needs to know self defense. Valley teaches real world threats and how to defend yourself. The instructors make you feel so welcome and make training a blast. If you want to learn self defense and meet some great people this place is for you.

I have been very comfortable while learning Krav Maga self defense-the instructors are validating, supportive and want to help you learn how to protect yourself. It’s a serious subject, taken seriously while being warm and welcoming.

Great for family, self confidence, fitness. Great instructors who cater to your level of experience. They are all extremely good at what they do and have a wonderful sense of humor to boot.

A welcoming environment with high quality, friendly instruction.

I absolutely love this place!! I look forward to every class. The instructors are AMAZING!! I’ve learned so much in the short time I’ve been going there. I truly do feel more confident out in the world with the skills I’ve learned so far. Can’t wait to learn more! I feel like a bad @$$ 😜

Three years ago I was searching for a self defense system that would teach me how to defend myself if needed. After a lot of searching I came here for my first class, which is free. I attend two times a week and its changed my life for the better. Also, the instructors are excellent. They push you to be better, but are always there to help when you need it. I would recommend Valley Self Defense to anyone thats looking to truly learn how to defend themselves. Take the first free class and check it out.

Classes here are so fun and empowering. The community is friendly and welcoming. All around an amazing experience.

Great class! I highly recommend!

Valley Self Defense is absolutely rad. I attended a womens self defense seminar and immediately signed up to attend regular krav maga classes. Peter, Danae, and Shelly are incredibly knowledgeable and adaptable coaches. The All-Levels classes are very accessible to beginners or advanced practitioners, and the pump-up music is always on point! If a regular workout isnt your jam, Id highly recommend the seminars - they are worth every penny. All in all, the only downside is that its a bit of a hike out to Stillwater from Minneapolis, but I find it totally worth the drive. 11/10 would recommend.

Fantastic kids class that is fun and empowering.

Defense is key