About

Girls Fight Back was born in direct response to the June 2001 murder of a dynamic, athletic, and loved college student named Shannon McNamara. After Shannon’s death, her friend and sorority sister, Erin Weed, realized the need for practical and empowering options for young women to learn violence prevention and self-defense. Inspired by the way Shannon fought her attacker, Erin immersed herself in training with the best violence prevention experts and self-defense trainers in the world and, from this, developed the GFB seminar. By combining core values, a fun and empowering attitude, and the best safety and self-defense methods available, Girls Fight Back was born. This sisterhood of the traveling bad asses continues to grow and strive to make preventing violence and fighting back an approachable topic for everyone with the addition of two other great programs, Students Fight Back (gender inclusive and Title IX compliant) and Fight Back on Spring Break (gender inclusive and specialized with Spring Break safety tips).

The program is 75 minutes + Q&A and includes these key components:
  • Using your intuition
  • Safety tips – awareness, eye contact, verbal boundaries
  • How to be an active bystander and a good ally
  • The definition of consent
  • How to support a survivor
  • How to set boundaries that work for you
  • Verbal De-Escalation Skills
  • The basics of self-defense in our Badass Basics
  • Plus a review of improvised weapons, ground fighting, and how to sign up for a full-contact adrenaline based self-defense course near you!

PAST SHOWCASING ARTIST: NACA, NODA, GREEK REGIONAL BREAKOUTS - AFLV West, AFLV Central, SEPC, AFA, NGLA, BACCHUS Network
MEET THE GIRLS
Students Fight Back!
Students Fight Back offers the same basic skills in Girls Fight Back, because contrary to what society might tell us, men as well as women can sometimes use a helping hand when it comes to learning personal safety and self-defense. And, we can all come together to be active bystanders and create safer communities. This program has a little less girl power and a strong emphasis on how we can all partner together to put an end to violence. It is gender neutral and Title IX compliant. This program is also 75 mins + Q&A. More information
Fight Back on Spring Break!
Fight Back on Spring Break is a specialized version of Students Fight Back. It is also gender inclusive and puts special attention on how we can be safer and look out for each other more actively on Spring Break or any time we want to be social, have a good time, or travel away from home. This program is also 75 mins + Q&A. More information
The Awkward Hug: How to Set Clear Boundaries, Communicate Them to Others, and Live a More Empowered Life
Have you ever participated in unwanted conversations, hugging, kissing, or even . . . relationships? Want to know how to handle the awkward without hurting someone’s feelings? We can all experience social anxiety around setting personal boundaries that work for us, but doing so is essential to living a healthy, happy and empowered life. The tools we will learn can be used every day and the practice of them can ultimately lead to making healthier choices in our work relationships, romantic and friendly interactions, and our day to day social exchanges. It can even help you avoid buying those shoes you really couldn’t afford but felt pressured to charge by a pushy salesperson. Join us for an interactive presentation designed to fine tune your intuition and take full control of your choices. This program is an interactive workshop ideal for groups from 10 to 80 people and a perfect add-on to Girls Fight Back, Students Fight Back, or Fight Back on Spring Break.
Pay it Forward and Spread the Good Word of Personal Safety and Self-Defense
Kirkland Productions in partnership with the Students Fight Back Team is offering a Pay It Forward special to allow colleges and universities already bringing one of our programs to their campus (Girls Fight Back, Students Fight Back, Fight Back on Spring Break, or The Awkward Hug) to host a second program at a local junior high or high school of their choice for a deeply discounted fee.

We know that reaching students at younger ages can be incredibly impactful in helping them live healthier and safer lives, but sadly, those in the greatest need of our message often have the least funding to bring us in. You can be a big part of helping future college students get this training at a younger age. In addition to being useful as a service project for your students, you will have the added benefit of connecting with a student body full of potential future students for your college or university.

For high schools reading this now . . . if you are in need of our programming and are having a hard time with funds, ask us how we can assist you in connecting with campuses in your area to propose a dual venture!
  • For an additional $950 to a standard contracted show, we will provide a second show on a high school/junior high campus within 40 miles of the initial show location on the same day.
  • For an additional $1100 to a standard contracted show, we will provide a second show on a high school/junior high campus within 40 miles of the initial show location the day before or the day after your show date.

For more details and to check available dates, please contact us at [email protected] and mention the code PAYITFORWARD

We look forward to partnering with you in creating safer campus communities for everyone.
The team at Girls Fight Back is proud to announce a partnership with Lyft to offer one more great option to stay safe. We will be giving out free ride coupons for up to $20 for any new Lyft user at all of our events. You can also participate in this partnership now, by downloading the coupon SFBSTRONG here. You can also access this special offer by entering the code SFBSTRONG into the 'Payments' section of the app before requesting your first Lyft.

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Your work reminds me of this important truth: Everyone might be a target at times, but not everyone must be a victim. I'm honored to be part of what you do.

Gavin de Becker
Bestselling Author
​The Gift of Fear

MORE REVIEWS

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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