We have six dynamic presentations to choose from depending on your goal, audience, and programming timeframe. More about each below:
All of our programs are now available as ONLINE interactive webinars! Contact us for details!
Students Fight Back
Students Fight Back offers the same basic skills in our original Girls Fight Back show, but it’s gender inclusive, because contrary to what society might tell us, anyone of any gender can sometimes use a helping hand when it comes to learning personal safety and self-defense. And, we can all come together to be active bystanders and create safer communities. We want to teach everyone how to be better allies to each other. This program has a little less girl power and a strong emphasis on how we can all partner together to put an end to violence. In addition to being gender neutral, it is also Title IX compliant. This program is 75 mins + Q&A.
The program is 75 minutes + Q&A and includes these key components:
- Using your intuition
- Safety tips – awareness, eye contact, verbal boundaries
- How to be an active bystander and a good ally
- The definition of consent
- How to support a survivor
- How to set boundaries that work for you
- Verbal de-escalation skills
- The basics of self-defense in our Badass Basics (or Terminator Tango)
- Plus a review of improvised weapons, ground fighting, and how to sign up for a full-contact adrenaline based self-defense course near you!
How does this program meet Title IX requirements?
OTHER PROGRAMMING OPTIONS
Girls Fight Back!
Girls Fight Back was born in direct response to the June 2001 murder of a dynamic, athletic, and loved college student named Shannon McNamara. After Shannon’s death, her friend and sorority sister, Erin Weed, realized the need for practical and empowering options for young women to learn violence prevention and self-defense. Inspired by the way Shannon fought her attacker, Erin immersed herself in training with the best violence prevention experts and self-defense trainers in the world and, from this, developed the GFB seminar. By combining core values, a fun and empowering attitude, and the best safety and self-defense methods available, Girls Fight Back was born. This sisterhood of the traveling bad asses continues to grow and strive to make preventing violence and fighting back an approachable topic for everyone. More information
Fight Back on Spring Break!
Fight Back on Spring Break is a specialized version of Students Fight Back. It is also gender inclusive and puts special attention on how we can be safer and look out for each other more actively on Spring Break or any time we want to be social, have a good time, or travel away from home. This program is also 75 mins + Q&A.
More information
IMPACT Personal Safety
IMPACT is a 3 or 5 hour full contact, adrenaline based self-defense program. It is a perfectly designed program to follow up one of our core programs and is designed to be an intensive for a smaller group of attendees.
More information
SAVE
SAVE (Safety, Assertiveness, Violence Prevention, Empowerment), is designed for companies, businesses, or private groups that want to empower their employees or community with both personal safety tools and discussions on how to avoid awkward social interactions with colleagues and co-workers by setting clear boundaries. SAVE is a gender inclusive, comprehensive, interactive seminar that includes hands on practice for setting boundaries in a respectful, confident way in addition to working on physical self-defense techniques. The material can be customized to fit your organizations needs and messaging.
Yes I’m Hiking Solo
Ever been worried about your safety when hiking solo? Do you want to feel confident and independent venturing out on your own? Have you been wanting to learn some badass simple and effective self-defense moves? Then join me as I share self-defense strategies to empower you to feel more confident about exploring the outdoors, running, hiking, camping, fly fishing, backpacking or wherever your adventure takes you. This program is 60-75 minutes + Q&A. More information
The Awkward Hug: How to Set Clear Boundaries, Communicate Them to Others, and Live a More Empowered Life
Have you ever participated in unwanted conversations, hugging, kissing, other physical contact or even . . . relationships? Want to know how to handle the awkward in an empowered, respectful and socially acceptable way? Setting personal boundaries that work for us is essential to living a healthy, happy and empowered life. The tools we will learn can be used every day and the practice of them can ultimately lead to forming stronger relationships in our work, romantic and friendly interactions, along with helping us feel more confident in our day to day social exchanges. Join us for an interactive workshop designed to fine tune your intuition, help you learn to set boundaries and use your voice and take full control of your choices. This program is ideal for groups from 10 to 80 people.
PAY IT FORWARD and Spread the Good Word of Personal Safety and Self-Defense
Kirkland Productions in partnership with the Girls Fight Back Team is offering a Pay It Forward special to allow colleges and universities already bringing one of our programs to their campus (Girls Fight Back, Students Fight Back, Fight Back on Spring Break, or The Awkward Hug) to host a second program at a local junior high or high school of their choice for a deeply discounted fee.
We know that reaching students at younger ages can be incredibly impactful in helping them live healthier and safer lives, but sadly, those in the greatest need of our message often have the least funding to bring us in. You can be a big part of helping future college students get this training at a younger age. In addition to being useful as a service project for your students, you will have the added benefit of connecting with a student body full of potential future students for your college or university.
For high schools reading this now . . . if you are in need of our programming and are having a hard time with funds, ask us how we can assist you in connecting with campuses in your area to propose a dual venture!
- For an additional $950 to a standard contracted show, we will provide a second show on a high school/junior high campus within 40 miles of the initial show location on the same day.
- For an additional $1100 to a standard contracted show, we will provide a second show on a high school/junior high campus within 40 miles of the initial show location the day before or the day after your show date..
For more details and to check available dates, please contact us at booking@kirklandproductions.com and mention the code PAYITFORWARD
We look forward to partnering with you in creating safer campus communities for everyone.
Learn about our partnership with:
JUST THE FAQ’s MA’AM
Can I register for a SFB presentation in my area?
We get this question a lot. 99% of the SFB programs are booked by private groups and are for that specific college, campus, or organization, so they aren’t open to public registration. If you would like to organize your own private program for you group, you can reach out to us about that here. Or, if that isn’t feasible, we highly recommend that you download our Super Self-Defense Guide. This Guide contains some of our favorite safety and self-defense strategies and a list of full contact self-defense classes that are open to the public, endorsed by the SFB team, and you can sign up for in your area. We also recommend checking out some of the books on our Recommended Reading List. Start by picking up a copy of The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker (most of what we teach is based on the spot-on safety tips in this book), but check out the full Recommended Reading List page for more great ideas.
What topics are addressed in the SFB presentation?
SFB, and our other programs GFB, FBSB and Yes I’m Hiking Solo are empowerment programs designed to help all of us work together to up our own personal safety and be a part of creating a safer campus, culture, and world. We include the real deal about violence and how it affects us and then teach our audience how to trust their intuition, how to use awareness every day, verbal de-escalation tools that can you get out of a bad situation before it gets physical, how to use “NO” to set and enforce boundaries that work for you, how to be a better ally and an active bystander to create safer communities, how to support a survivor, the definition of consent and enthusiastic consent, and an intro to self-defense, or a little dance lesson we like to call the #BadassBasics.
By promoting self-defense are you victim blaming?
Rape, violence, and sexual assault are NEVER the fault of the victim. And, if you’ve ever lived through violence, it was not your fault. The fault of violence is always on the perpetrator. To fight back or not is a very personal choice and if you are reading this now, you are a survivor. At Students Fight Back we believe in knowledge and empowerment. We believe in giving our audience members the tools and options to fight back if they choose to do so if they are ever faced with a serious violent confrontation. What we do not want to do, is avoid preparing for the possibility of violence by pretending it doesn’t exist. In an ideal world, no one would need these skills; and until we live in that world, it is a gift to be as knowledgeable as possible on being your own best protector. Also, it is important to remember that “fighting back” isn’t just about using physical force. Fighting back is also a mindset in which we refuse to ignore danger and we choose to actively protect ourselves by honoring our intuition, using strategies to manage our safety in all aspects of our lives, setting personal boundaries that work for us, and knowing how to use verbal skills to try to ward off a physical confrontation. We believe that the best fight is the one never fought and physical self-defense is always a last resort option to protecting ourselves. In addition, research shows that women using physical and verbal resistance are more likely to avoid completed rape and are no more or less likely to be physically injured. No one can ever tell someone what the right choice is for them in any given situation; and that is why we want each of our audience members to be empowered to be their own best protector in all aspects of their lives. The skills we teach can be used daily in situations such as catcalling, bullying, negotiating with salespeople, setting boundaries in relationships, dealing with social situations when out on the town, solo traveling, interacting with teachers, and much more. We address the issue of Victim Blaming in our programs.
What kinds of groups do you speak to?
Really, we’ve done it all. Corporate events, high schools, middle schools, colleges + universities, assisted living facilities, the US Military, Jewish youth camps, karate schools, au pair associations – pretty much any group aged 12+ will enjoy this show. Also, for younger audiences, we will adjust our content to match your group. See “Can you tone it down?” further down the FAQ list. ☺
How many people can you speak to at once?
Our average crowd is several hundred, our largest crowd was 2,500 and our smallest was 10. No crowd is too big or too small – we make it work! That said, SFB is designed for larger groups – it’s not a hands-on class or a workshop, but a high-energy, live show.
Will I get to beat up someone during the show?
Nope. Our program is “no contact” – meaning, you try the moves out in the air against an “imaginary creeper.” No hitting your neighbor! This is NOT a self-defense class, but a super introductory presentation about trusting intuition, preventing violence and the basics of self-protection. We will make our Super Self-Defense Guide available to the organizer of each show. This awesome tool has a list of full contact self-defense classes all over the country that we recommend all participants take after our show.
What logistics are required to bring SFB to my campus?
Nicole brings most of the needed props for the show, but event organizers will need to provide a few things (see Tech & Other Needs to Setup a Show below). Oh yeah, we’ll also need 2 volunteers to be our creepers. Their bodies will be used as a demo for the areas we strike and how contact is made, but they will not be hit or injured in any way. Our volunteers will also get to demo some fun verbal de-escalation strategies. We will also be asking for you to provide a certified victim advocate from your organization or a partnering local organization. Nicole is also an NACP Victim Advocate, so we have a perfect team in place to support any survivors or friends of survivors in our audience. Our program will also include a full list of free resources for anyone in the audience who needs them.
Our group is religious/conservative. Can you tone it down?
We totally respect that, and yes, we can reel in the sassy. Our presentations can be as edgy or as tame as you are comfortable with. Just mention this during the booking process, and our speaker will also discuss this with you prior to the event.
How do I book a SFB seminar?
Easy peasy. Holler at us here and we’ll get back to you ASAP. (During the work week, our turnaround time is under 24 hours.)
Which speaker will conduct our presentation?
Speakers are assigned based on geography and tour logistics. Rest assured, our happy band of arse-kickin’ speakers are each ready to rock your event.
Does SFB present at other venues besides colleges?
Sure do! We have given presentations at middle schools, high schools, colleges, corporations, brownie troops, senior citizen’s centers…you get the idea. While our primary focus is on a college audience, we are thrilled to speak to any group interested in being empowered to create safer communities and campuses.
Is talking about violence prevention weird for the guys present?
Not the way we do it! When we present Students Fight Back, we are on a mission to empower people of all gender identities to work together in combating violence. It is only when we learn to be better allies to each other that we can form a united front. We are very careful to remind our audiences that, statistically speaking, while most violence is committed by men, most men do NOT commit violence. Many of the issues we address in the show can enlighten people of all genders to the challenges that others face, raise awareness about sexual assault and interpersonal violence, change attitudes regarding violence, develop empathy for survivors, unpack stereotypes and leave audiences with skills they can use immediately to be active allies for others and for themselves. Everything we teach can be applicable to everyone! Just as there is an incorrect cultural bias that women are incapable of defending themselves, there is also an incorrect cultural bias that all men are born knowing how to defend themselves. Not to mention these stereotypes ignore the experiences and needs of trans, non-binary, gender fluid and non-conforming individuals. Students Fight Back makes living an empowered life an accessible outcome.
How much does it cost to book a SFB seminar?
It depends – so just contact us if you want pricing info. We strategically produce national tours based on geographic location to keep costs as low as possible for everyone. One great way to get the cost down is to join forces with other folks in your geographic area and form a “block” of dates in a row. Or, you can book a program during our off-season. If one of our speakers will be nearby (whether she lives there or is passing through), we offer big discounts.
Do you have preferred dates to book a show?
We will come to you whenever it works best for your venue and audience, but if you are looking for a great time, check out our calendar for a few suggestions.
January – Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month & National Stalking Awareness Month
February – Relationship Wellness Month & Valentine’s Day
March – National Women’s History Month & Spring Break
April – Sexual Assault Awareness Month & Prevention/Alcohol Awareness Month
May – End of Year Training
June – Student Safety Month
August/September –Orientation
September – National Campus Safety Awareness Month
October – Domestic Violence Awareness Month & National Crime Prevention Month
November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Where can I find a self-defense class in my area?
Congrats on wanting to learn to protect yourself. Sign up to receive our Super Self-Defense Guide! The guide includes practical safety tips, smooth self-protection moves, and how to find an awesome self-defense class near you. Oh wait, did I mention it’s FREE? You’ll also receive occasional updates from GFB with news, gossip, discounts, freebies and more. –> SIGN UP HERE <–
Got other questions?
Just e-mail or call us. We always hollaback.
TECH & OTHER NEEDS TO SETUP A SHOW
Venue Requirements: Atriums, busy cafeterias, gyms, outdoor stages and other open spaces are not suitable venues for this presentation. Students Fight Back will be teaching about personal safety & self-defense, which requires a captive audience. A large classroom, ballroom or auditorium is where a presentation of this nature needs to be held.
Sound Requirements: Wireless lavaliere microphone for presenter, handheld mic for volunteer, ability to play music and audio from the speaker’s laptop before and during the show.
Lighting Requirements: Basic Stage Lighting
Other Stage Requirements: LCD Projector connected to the sound system, screen, podium or small table on stage for props, chair on stage, and 2 volunteers are required for the self-defense demos during our presentations. The volunteers must be identified to the presenter prior to the event. The volunteers should be friendly students or faculty members to be on stage for demonstration purposes. They will not be hit, thrown, or harmed in any way. Demos are in slow motion – no tosses or strikes.
Additional Requirements: Purchaser must provide at least one trained and certified victim advocate (or if advocate is unavailable, a counselor, advisor, or representative from the rape crisis center, counseling center, or women’s center) to be present at presentation and available afterwards as a resource to students and faculty that would like to discuss the program content or their own experiences. Purchaser must also provide a list of all campus and local resources for survivors at least two weeks prior to the event to the SFB speaker to incorporate into the program.
Dressing Room/Green Room Requirements: 1 bottle of water
