#1 SELF-DEFENSE clasS
FOR WOMEN, BY WOMEN
CERTIFIED BY Soul Punch™
🏆 #1 WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAM IN THE U.S. 🏆
“I feel stronger, safer, and more preparED after taking Meg‘s class. I was amazed at Meg’s skills, not only in teaching, but in helping those of us with different ability levels. I highly recommend this class!”
— L.B., Mason, OH
CERTIFIED Instructor
MEG WISSMAN
As a Certified Soul Punch™ Trainer, I TEACH WOMEN HOW TO COMMAND THEIR POWER AND SAFETY.
I took my first self-defense class as a 6th grader at an all-girls school in Oakland, California. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that class was the first and only time self-defense was offered to me in school. In my twenties, every time I tried to find a self-defense class, I was referred to martial arts dojos that didn’t offer the training or women-centered environment I was seeking.
As soon as I found Soul Punch™, I knew I was in the right place. The class directly addressed my lived experience as a woman, and I walked out with confidence, command presence, and a smarter self-defense system in my back pocket. The experience was so transformative that I decided to pursue a Basic and Intermediate Trainer Certification, which I earned six weeks later.
Soul Punch™ is designed to work for every woman, regardless of size, background, or experience. After a single two-hour class, you’ll walk out knowing how to recognize danger, enforce your boundaries, overcome the brain and body’s "freeze” response, and use smarter, safer techniques to defend yourself.
One class is all it takes. Are you in?
“I highly recommend this cLASS. Meg delivered a highly professional and engaging class in a calm, supportive environment.”
— L.W., Westlake, OH
CLass LEVELS
basic
All students start here, regardless of experience. The Basic 2-hour Soul Punch™ Class covers foundational safety, hands-on skills, and leading safety technology in an accessible and empowering environment.
intermediate
Students who have completed the Basic 2-Hour Class are eligible to register for an Intermediate Soul Punch™ Class, which offers a comprehensive review of the Basic Class and then levels up with specific training for knife, gun, and ground defense scenarios.
“I learned so many PRACTICAL SKILLS that will stick with me. I loved how hands-on and engaging this class was!”
— C.B., Cincinnati, OH
START HERE
“Participants leave feeling MORE CONFIDENT AND BETTER PREPARED to handle situations in which they may feel vulnerable, uncertain, or physically threatened.
Despite being only two hours long, the course is filled with practical, effective ‘get out of trouble' techniques.”
— L.W., Westlake, OH
FAQs
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Soul Punch™ is a neuroscience-backed self-defense system built for real-world situations. It was developed and founded by Gloria Marcott, a childhood abduction survivor and former law enforcement officer with 18+ years of service. As opposed to traditional martial arts, Soul Punch™ classes offer practical safety training that can be learned in one session. Soul Punch™ has trained over 10,000 women and was named the 2025 Best Women's Self-Defense Program in the U.S. by the Evergreen Awards. Learn more about Soul Punch here.
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Not at all. Soul Punch™ is designed for all women regardless of fitness level or body type. The techniques are based on biomechanics and leverage, not strength or athleticism.
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The class is 2 hours and covers:
Threat recognition and awareness (the OODA loop)
Boundary-setting with voice and body language
Physical techniques to break holds and create distance
How your brain responds under stress and how to override it
Introduction to the Soul DefendHER™ safety device
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Yes. Soul Punch™ was founded by a survivor and designed with trauma-informed principles. You control your participation level. No one touches you without permission. You move at your own pace.
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Yes. Soul Punch™ is open to all women, including trans women, and non-binary individuals. If this training is relevant to your safety, you're welcome here.
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Yes, this class is welcome to young women ages 13 and up, and is popular with mother-daughter duos.
Note: All participants must sign a waiver. Minors will need a signature from a parent or guardian.
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Soul Punch™ is designed for women who need practical skills without a lifetime commitment to martial arts. The training focuses on:
Real-world scenarios
Techniques that work regardless of size or strength
Neuroscience-based training that addresses how your brain responds under threat
Trauma-informed instruction
Integration with modern safety technology
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Awareness training: How to spot threats early and trust your instincts
Boundary-setting: Using your voice and presence before a situation escalates
Physical defense: Strikes and escapes that work regardless of size or strength
Stress response: Understanding freeze, fight, and flight, and how to act instead of freezing
Safety technology: Overview of the Soul DefendHER™ device and how to use it
The class is hands-on and scenario-based.
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I teach throughout Northeast Ohio for groups of 1-20 participants. The class location is flexible and can be modified to be held at a residence, event space, studio, gym, student center, workplace, or community space. To view upcoming classes or request a private session, click here.
Testimonials
“I always wanted to take a self-defense class but was worried that it would just make me feel nervous thinking about these situations. But the energy of this class was so fun and Meg provided lots of practical information and skills without it feeling scary. I LEFT FEELING CONFIDENT AND STRONG. Highly recommend this to anyone!”
— J.H., Rocky River, Ohio
#1 SMART SAFETY DEVICE
Soul DefendHER™ 2.0
The Soul DefendHER™ 2.0 Smart Pepper Spray combines maximum strength pepper spray with instant location-based emergency alerts through text messages and phone calls, ensuring help is on the way. Simultaneously, it unleashes a powerful siren and strobe light for added protection, all in a compact tool you can carry anywhere.
When you deploy it, your emergency contacts are notified. A real person from a 24/7 monitoring center calls you immediately. And law enforcement is looped in if needed. You’re never alone.
“Meg equipped me with essential life skills that have made me feel safer and stronger as I move through the world every day. I wish every woman on the planet could take Meg’s class.”
— J.W., Rocky River, Ohio