Q & A Regarding Instructing at an AWSDA International Conference

Question: Who is AWSDA?

Answer: The Association for Women’s Self Defense Advancement is a non-profit (501-c-3), educational organization, founded on the belief that you have an absolute right to defend yourself. The AWSDA training conference is the place where self defense instructors meet to network and train so that they can stay on top of their game.

Question: Are instructors compensated for their instruction time?

Answer: Yes, in exchange for teaching, instructors receive one conference ticket. The ticket entitles you to enjoy three days of intense training, a ticket to the Tuesday night BBQ Bash, a training bag filled with cool stuff and an instructor’s shirt. AWSDA’s Women’s Self Defense Workshop-Instructor Course is available on Saturday, August, 2, for a nominal fee of $50.

Question: There will be two instructors. Will they both attend the seminar for free?

Answer:No, we provide only one conference ticket. Many instructors who team-teach share the cost of the conference with their colleague.

Question: How long and how often is each class given?

Answer: Each class is two hours and is given twice. Firearm classes at the firing range may differ.

Question: What other benefits does the AWSDA provide the instructors?

Answer: Many of our instructors have a great deal of experience in hand-to-hand combat from working in law enforcement. Some of our instructors have gained experience through many years of applying their martial arts training to self defense. Experts from around the world will be teaching at the seminar. It’s a seminar for instructors to network with each other, keep up to date on the latest training methods, share valuable information and improve teaching and self defense skills. Everyone learns a great deal–there is no other conference anywhere like it. You will have an opportunity to take part in three-four days of intense self defense training, participate in the Women’s Self Defense Workshop-Instructor Course (additional fee of $50), celebrate at the BBQ Bash and win valuable door prizes. You won't want to miss it this opportunity!

Question: What type of instruction is represented at the seminars?

Answer: Classes are as varied as the instructors themselves. Instructors chosen to teach at the AWSDA conference are encouraged to devise their curriculum so it will be adaptable to ALL skill levels, from beginner to instructor level. Here are a few class examples: Padded Assailant Training, Surviving the New Terrorist Threat, Firearm Retention and Disarming, Mental Self Defense, Confronting Multiple Assailants, Knife and Club Defense, Confined Area Survival Tactics, Awareness, Ground Fighting, Unorthodox Weapons, Self Defense and the Law, Creating Emotional Safety in a SD class, Basic and Advanced Firearms Training and more.

Question: How are instructors selected?

Answer: The AWSDA Executive Board screens and selects the instructors. Some factors in the selection process are: instructor’s background, topic, method of instruction, local instructors, past reviews, and whether or not the instructor will be attending the rest of the conference. We like to encourage as much participation as possible. HQ will contact you to let you know the status of your proposal.

Question: To where should I send my proposal?

Answer: Email proposals with attached documentation to sbaldwin@awsda.org