Self-Defence Classes Brisbane
Looking for self-defence classes in Brisbane that teach skills you can actually use? At Champions Krav Maga Academy in Holland Park, we coach self-defence for adults, women, kids, and teens. Every class is built on Krav Maga, a practical system designed for real situations rather than sport or tradition.
Most people who walk in have been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you want to feel calmer walking to your car at night. Maybe you want your kids to handle pressure without freezing or lashing out. Whatever brought you here, you do not need experience, fitness, or confidence to start. The coaching takes care of that.
Below, you will find the right class for your age and goals, what you will learn, and who will coach you.
Which self-defence class is right for you?
Every class teaches the same core self-defence system, coached to suit who is in the room. Pick the one that fits you or your family.
Adult beginner self-defence
For adults who are new to self-defence or martial arts. You will learn awareness, escapes from grabs and holds, striking, and how to stay composed under pressure. Taught through our Adult Beginners Krav Maga class.
Women's self-defence classes
A women-only room led by a female instructor. Practical skills, calm coaching, and no pressure to keep up with anyone. Taught through our Women’s Krav Maga class.
Teen self-defence classes (ages 11 to 17)
Awareness, de-escalation, and the legal side of self-defence, coached for the situations teens actually face. Groups are split into 11 to 14 and 15 to 17. Taught through our Teen Krav Maga class.
Kids self-defence classes (ages 6 to 10)
Focus, listening, and self-control, with practical self-defence built into every session. The goal is calm confidence, never aggression. Taught through our Kids Krav Maga class.
What you will learn in our self-defence classes
Good self-defence starts long before anything physical happens. Our classes teach you to spot trouble early, avoid it where you can, and act with clear judgement when you cannot. Here is what that looks like on the mats.
Awareness and reading a situation early
Notice the warning signs, understand what is happening around you, and make decisions before a situation escalates.
Boundaries and de-escalation
Use your voice, your body language, and your position to set a boundary and calm things down.
Escapes from grabs, holds, and chokes
Break free from the common ways people get grabbed, then create space and get away.
Striking from a disadvantage
Simple, effective strikes that work when you are smaller, surprised, or off balance.
Ground defence
Protect yourself if you end up on the ground, and get back to your feet safely.
Weapons awareness
Core principles for recognising and responding to threats involving knives and blunt objects.
Appropriate force and the law
What happens before, during, and after an incident, including your legal responsibility. Knowing when to act matters as much as knowing how.
Why we teach self-defence through Krav Maga
Krav Maga is a self-defence system first. It was built for real situations, so every technique has a clear purpose and is taught in a way everyday people can learn.
CKMA is affiliated with Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, a modern system led by Dr Gavriel Schneider, a 9th Degree Black Belt. That affiliation gives you a structured curriculum across five connected pillars. Those pillars are self-defence, striking, clinch, Jiu-Jitsu, and weapons.
Self-defence comes first. The other four pillars build on it, so you become more adaptable over time inside one system rather than four separate gyms.
A self-defence course in Brisbane or ongoing training?
A one-off self-defence workshop can be a good introduction. The problem is what happens next. A skill you practised once on a Saturday afternoon is hard to find when your heart rate spikes.
Ongoing classes let you repeat each skill until it feels natural, then test it under steady, controlled pressure. You also get a clear progression through the belts, so you always know where you stand and what comes next. That is how self-defence becomes something you can rely on.
Who coaches your self-defence classes
Self-defence is only as good as the person teaching it. Every CKMA coach is trained inside our system and approved by Max before they run a class.
Max McGregor, founder and chief instructor
Max founded CKMA in 2022. He is an Australian Defence Force veteran, a 3rd Dan Black Belt and Senior Instructor in Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, and the 2026 FIMA Krav Maga Instructor of the Year. Before CKMA, he worked as a frontline Transit Officer and Operational Skills and Tactics Instructor, trained through the Queensland Police Service.
Our coaching team
Every class is led by a qualified CKMA coach who has been through our instructor development pathway. Our women’s self-defence class is led by a female instructor. Every youth coach holds a current Blue Card and a Gendai Ryu instructor qualification.
What members say about our self-defence training
Rated 5.0 from 50+ Google reviews. Here is what some of our members have written.
Where our Brisbane self-defence classes run
All classes run at 889 Logan Road, Holland Park, on Brisbane’s southside. Members train with us from Holland Park West, Mount Gravatt, Upper Mount Gravatt, Greenslopes, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Carina, Tarragindi, Annerley, and nearby suburbs.
Self-defence classes Brisbane FAQs
Do I need experience or fitness to start?
No. Most of our members started with no training background at all. You are coached from your current level, and fitness builds through the training itself.
Is Krav Maga good for self-defence?
Yes. Krav Maga was built for real situations, not sport or competition. It focuses on awareness, simple techniques, and making good decisions under pressure.
How long does it take to learn self-defence?
You will learn practical basics in your first class. Real confidence comes from consistent training over months, as each skill is repeated and tested under pressure.
Do you run women-only self-defence classes?
Yes. Our women’s self-defence class is women-only and led by a female instructor. Women are also welcome in all of our mixed adult classes.
What age can kids start self-defence classes?
Kids classes start at age 6. We run Kids Krav Maga for ages 6 to 10, and Teen Krav Maga for ages 11 to 17, split into 11 to 14 and 15 to 17.
Do you teach the legal side of self-defence?
Yes. Our adult and teen programs cover appropriate force and what happens before, during, and after an incident. For advice on a specific situation, speak to a legal professional.
Where are your self-defence classes in Brisbane?
All classes run at 889 Logan Road, Holland Park QLD 4121. Members train with us from Mount Gravatt, Greenslopes, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Carina, and the surrounding southside suburbs.
Start your self-defence training
You do not need to be fit, experienced, or confident first. You just need to take the first step. Choose your class above, or see the schedule, prices, and current offer below.