As Gemma Sheehan steps onto the mat at her dojo, she tells the younger girls, teens and women attending her self-defence classes: “Walk with confidence. Be aware of your surroundings. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, be nasty. Don't be rude, be firm. Make eye contact.”
She added, “This can be difficult for women, so I always implement this approach in my classes.”
That's not the only thing the former Canadian mixed martial artist is teaching her students: The Girls Who Fight founder came to Texas two years ago to teach women how to think strategically and defend themselves in different situations.
Fighting girls learn correctly
Former mixed martial artist Gemma Sheehan is the owner of Girls Who Fight.
Photo courtesy of Girls Who Fight
Sheehan began kickboxing at age 14. The Ontario native studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (brown belt) and boxing before competing professionally as a mixed martial artist with a 5-1 record. Passing on the self-defense knowledge and techniques she has learned is what drives her approach to teaching.
“We want to teach skills that will be effective in real-life situations. When men talk about self-defense, they mean winning a street fight. When women talk about self-defense, they're thinking about how to avoid different situations that require different strategies: kidnapping, being stalked, abusive relationships, sexual assault. They're all based around strategies to avoid becoming a target in the first place.”
Sheehan adds: “For example, I teach my students how to pay attention, spot warning signs and set boundaries, in addition to physical techniques for specific situations found in martial arts and other disciplines. This approach comes from my experience as a student of martial arts, where I've seen how much of a difference certain elements, like walking with confidence, can make.”
“Attackers target weaknesses, and if you perceive them as weak, you will appear weak. Martial arts training can change that. My students feel and appear stronger because they realize they are much stronger than they think they are. And strength is not something predators look for. Changing your internal narrative is essential,” she says.
GWF members Victoria and Olivia practice self-defense.
Photo courtesy of Girls Who Fight
Sheehan opened her dojo in a rented space in Highland Village two years ago, starting with five to 10 students and seeing business grow steadily, with people usually finding out about her classes through word of mouth.
“We're trying to serve a small niche market, not the general martial arts market. We have a unique approach,” she says.
“Most women go to traditional martial arts classes for self-defense, don't find what they're looking for, and then quit. We're different. We have a clear focus on techniques that are practical for situations women might find themselves in. And we create a comfortable, safe environment in which women can learn.”
GWF students learn the fundamentals of self-defense every Saturday afternoon through a 16-part class curriculum. Instruction includes self-defense skills relevant to a variety of scenarios, including the bear hug, takedown, choke defense and abduction defense. Sheehan also teaches other classes for students who want to advance beyond basic self-defense techniques.
Fighting Girls Bring Change
Sheehan, who began coaching seven years ago, reluctantly retired from MMA after doctors told her she had increased white matter in her brain due to numerous blows to the head. The decision was tough; “MMA was my identity” (she was ranked the best female fighter in Ontario), but she hasn't looked back. She and her husband decided to move to the US after the Canadian GWF was cancelled for a year due to COVID-19 (individual competitions were banned in 2020). They chose the Dallas area because “it seemed like a good business opportunity and it was more affordable,” she says.
Corinth resident Tiffany Sanford and her two daughters, Erin, 14, and Kelly, 12, are happy she made the move. The mother-daughter team joined GWF in February after attending a self-defense workshop last fall, and later brought their Girl Scout troop to the workshop.
Tiffany Sanford (left) takes a Girls Foo Fight class with her two daughters.
Photo courtesy of Girls Who Fight
“It was amazing, so I decided to come back,” Tiffany Sanford said. “It really boosted my confidence, so I took a trial lesson in February.”
Erin and Kelly agree, saying the classes have helped them develop confidence, strength and the ability to protect themselves. They also say they've become more aware of situations and events around them.
Sheehan also started an initiative called “Fight for the One,” which provides free monthly self-defense training to trafficking victims served by the North Texas Women's Shelter. The training “helps put the power back in the hands of victims,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan, who has a four-month-old daughter, plans to start teaching Grace self-defense as soon as she starts walking.
“My hope is that as Grace grows up she will learn to kick, punch and defend herself,” she said.
Gemma isn't the only expert in self-defense: her husband, Guilherme (often referred to as “G” during classes at the dojo), teaches kickboxing. It all runs in the family.
