Business Details
34 Years
experience
Your Trusted Martial Arts Training in Victoria, BC
Established in 1992, Professional Self Defense has been a cornerstone of the Victoria community for over three decades. Our downtown Victoria dojo provides a welcoming environment for individuals aged 7 to 70+ to develop self-defense skills, physical fitness, and personal confidence. We specialize in Tracy's Kenpo curriculum, offering structured private instruction and group classes tailored to different age groups. Our experienced instructors, including multiple black belt practitioners with decades of teaching experience, emphasize safety, discipline, and practical self-defense techniques.We maintain a strong focus on community development while providing accessible training through convenient public transportation connections. Our programs combine traditional martial arts principles with modern self-defense applications, serving both beginners and advanced students seeking to refine their skills.
Services
Private Lessons
Group Classes
Youth Programs
Self-Defense Training
Belt Certification
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We offer over 30 years of martial arts instruction experience in Victoria
- Our certified black belt instructors teach practical self-defense techniques
- We provide age-specific programs for children, teens, and adults
- Our curriculum combines traditional martial arts with modern self-defense
- We maintain flexible training options including private and group sessions
What people say
Experienced instructors
Welcoming community
Practical self-defense
Family memberships
All ages welcome
Services
Private Lessons
Our private instruction program offers personalized Tracy's Kenpo training tailored to individual skill levels. Students progress at their own pace through structured curriculum requirements while receiving focused attention from certified instructors. This format works best for those seeking belt certification or specialized self-defense preparation.
Group Classes
Adult group sessions combine fitness training with practical self-defense techniques. Each evening class includes warm-up exercises, pad work, and fundamental Kenpo instruction. These interactive sessions emphasize community learning while maintaining individual skill development for participants aged 15+.
Youth Programs
Our youth-focused curriculum teaches de-escalation techniques and martial arts fundamentals in age-appropriate formats. Structured classes for ages 7-14 develop physical coordination, confidence, and safety awareness through progressive skill-building activities designed for different developmental stages.
Self-Defense Training
Specialized self-defense programs emphasize practical techniques for real-world situations. Training incorporates situational awareness, boundary setting, and physical defense methods adapted for various body types and ability levels. Our instructors emphasize common-sense approaches to personal safety.
Belt Certification
Formal belt progression system follows Tracy's Kenpo curriculum standards. Students demonstrate technical proficiency and understanding of self-defense principles through structured evaluations. Certification process maintains traditional martial arts values while emphasizing practical application of learned techniques.
People
Dave Jaenen
5th Degree Black Belt (Godan)
Owner and lead instructor with over 20 years teaching experience. Specializes in adaptive instruction for diverse learners. Trained under Grand Master Ralph Chinnick since 2000. Focuses on community safety awareness programs.
Jacolby Giuseppini
4th Degree Black Belt (Yodan)
20-year Kenpo veteran with 16 years teaching experience. Emphasizes high-impact training adaptable to all body types. Combines martial arts discipline with wilderness survival conditioning practices.
Steve Machtmes
3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan)
14-year military veteran with expertise in de-escalation techniques. Focuses on technical analysis and fitness applications. Combines mental health professional experience with martial arts instruction.
May Wong
2nd Degree Black Belt
Began training at age 59, achieving 2nd degree black belt in five years. Specializes in low-impact aerobic workouts for mature students. Combines martial arts instruction with creative pursuits as author and artist.
Jenny Davies
1st Degree Black Belt (Shodan)
Over a decade of teaching experience with focus on technical precision. Combines martial arts instruction with professional illustration work. Active in promoting physical fitness through BC boxing competition experience.
Questions
What martial arts styles do you teach?
We specialize in Tracy's Kenpo, a practical self-defense system combining traditional martial arts techniques with modern applications.
Are there age requirements for classes?
We offer programs for ages 7 to 70+, with separate youth classes (7-14), teen/adult classes (15+), and senior-friendly training options.
Do you offer beginner-friendly instruction?
Yes, our free introductory lesson helps new students experience our training environment and learn basic self-defense techniques.
What should I wear for my first class?
Wear comfortable workout clothes. We provide loaner uniforms for initial classes and can help with proper gear selection.
How do belt rankings work?
Our structured curriculum follows Tracy's Kenpo standards with progressive evaluations. Private lessons are required for belt advancement.
Can I train with family members?
We encourage family participation and offer special membership packages for households training together.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Toxic Liquid
Dec 19, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
I highly recommend taking classes here it has great prices and is fun and very professional everyone there is nice
I highly recommend taking classes here it has great prices and is fun and very professional everyone there is nice
Jessica Sample
May 18, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality
Great place to go and learn. Supportive and extremely helpful instructors. Group classes are relaxed and fun with a good workout and a good time had by all.
Great place to go and learn. Supportive and extremely helpful instructors. Group classes are relaxed and fun with a good workout and a good time had by all.
Blue Sky
Feb 27, 2021
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Such an amazing place ! I went there for a free trial , and the place and environment is so warm it makes you feel really welcomed . The staff is so friendly , I definitely recommend it :)
R. O.
Jan 26, 2020
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Very friendly and welcoming instructors. Classes are great for all level students. They offer a free first class, so you can give it a try and see if you are not sure.
Javier Molero Alonso
Dec 23, 2019
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The staff here is amazing and they cater to all levels of experience and styles of learning with their group classes! I love the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere while at the same time getting the encouragement to push yourself to expand your limits and boundaries. On top of getting a killer workout and getting to practice basic and complex moves, each group class ends with a practical Kendo portion that teaches you practical skills that can help protect yourself and others in real life situations. The price for the membership is very affordable and they have several options to accommodate
Gerry DeSmet
Nov 17, 2019
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Such a welcoming environment. It didn't take long to feel like part of the 'family'. The instruction was solid from the friendly, knowledgable staff. Everyone there was more than willing to help, which ensured the experience was a good one. Well done Victoria Professional Self Defense!!
Leanne LaPrairie
Jan 09, 2019
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Awesome instructors, killer workouts, and a very welcoming group of staff and members as well. Very accommodating when it comes to booking private lessons.
