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Students Fight Back Northern Illinois University Nicole Snell

College &

K-12 Schools

Everyone can benefit from learning the basics

of how to defend themselves!

Personal safety & self-defense are about so much more than physical skills.  It's learning to set boundaries, communicate them to others, enforce them and defend them if necessary. These are life skills that we can carry with us to help us be prepared no matter where we go and are key to social-emotional learning. When we are willing to speak up for ourselves, we claim our power. And knowing you can defend yourself physically can help you walk through the world with confidence!

I have empowered thousands of students across the country, both in person & virtually!

Verbal skills and physical skills are tools in our toolbox to give us a choice in how we respond to a sketchy situation and gives us the freedom to decide what works best for us.

 

The skills I teach can be used by anyone regardless of your age,

athletic ability, gender, body type or previous experience!

My interactive college and high school PROGRAMS are designed to help students:

  • Feel more comfortable setting personal boundaries that work for them.

  • Develop and trust their intuition to identify potential issues in their environment.

  • Feel increased confidence and comfort using their voice.

  • Learn basic safety tools and skills so that they can feel confident going to college or exploring the world.

  • Find safe ways to intervene and be an active bystander in situations that may involve harm to others.

  • Offer judgement free support for a survivor in their life.

  • Recognize key manipulation tools that may be used against them.

  • Incorporate proactive verbal strategies to regain control of a situation.

  • Identify situations that require them to enter self-defense mode.

  • Know what simple self-defense skills are needed to incapacitate an attacker so they can get to safety.

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Research shows that women using physical and verbal resistance are more likely to avoid a completed rape and are no more or less likely to be physically injured.

Programs

Available Virtually or In Person

Programs

Girls Fight Back

The world renowned personal safety and empowerment self-defense seminar for women & girls!

Students Fight Back

Students of all genders can benefit from learning the basics of personal safety & self-defense!

The Awkward Hug

Learn how to handle awkward encounters with people you know in an empowered, respectful and socially acceptable way!

Yes I'm Hiking Solo

Learn some simple badass self-defense skills to feel safe wherever the outdoors takes you.

Lights, Camera, Empower

My journey from TV Producer to self-defense expert!

Inspiration & leadership development.

New Program!

Find Your Fierce

Nicole shares personal motivational stories from her vibrant adventures, career & travels to help audiences own their power & be limitless!

New Program!

The Badass Basics Workshop

Practice simple self-defense techniques with the addition of hitting focus mitts.

For small groups.

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Girls Fight Back

College, High School, Jr. High, Private groups, Advocates, Conferences, Corporations

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. Nicole Snell took over the program in 2020 and is continuing the mission of teaching women everywhere how to be their own best protector.

The Girls Fight Back seminar is designed to be a safe space for women/girls and those who identify as women/girls, to learn about self defense. This program is great for colleges, sororities, high schools and other all womxn groups who want to learn skills to be their own best protector. We combine core values, a fun and empowering attitude, and the best safety and self-defense methods available. You are worth fighting for!

The program is 75 minutes + Q&A and includes these key components:

  • Using your intuition

  • Safety strategies – awareness, eye contact, verbal boundaries

  • Recognizing tools of manipulation

  • How to be an active bystander and a supportive 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

  • Plus a review of improvised weapons, ground fighting, and how to sign up for a full-contact adrenaline based self-defense course near you!

GFB
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Students Fight Back

College, High School, Jr. High, Private groups, Advocates, Conferences

Students Fight Back is gender inclusive and Title IX compliant.  I believe that people of all genders can benefit from learning personal safety and self-defense skills. And when we all come together to be active bystanders, we can create safer communities.

The program is 75 minutes + Q&A and includes these key components:

  • Using your intuition

  • Safety strategies – awareness, eye contact, verbal boundaries

  • Recognizing tools of manipulation

  • How to be an active bystander and a supportive 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

  • Plus a review of improvised weapons, ground fighting, and how to sign up for a full-contact adrenaline based self-defense course near you!

SFB
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Yes I'm Hiking Solo: Self-Defense for the Outdoors

College, High School, Jr. High, Corporate, Private Groups, Conferences, Outdoor Retreats

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 or wherever your adventure takes you.

The program is 60-75 minutes + Q&A.

Awkward
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The Awkward Hug

College, High School, Jr. High, Corporate, Military, Private Groups, Conferences

Have you ever participated in unwanted conversations, hugging, kissing, other physical contact or even … relationships? Want to know how to handle awkward encounters with people you know 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.

The program is 60-75 minutes + Q&A and is ideal for groups from 10 to 80 people.

Badass
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The Badass Basics Workshop

College, K-12, Corporate, Realtors, Private Groups, Public Classes

This hands-on, empowerment-based self-defense workshop is designed to be a positive and supportive space for women and people of all gender identities and expressions to learn practical safety skills. These skills can increase your confidence and help you gain independence for walking through the world and doing the activities you love. This small group workshop addresses the basics of personal safety along with non-physical and physical self-defense skills. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills through body movement and hitting focus mitts using the techniques taught.

The program is 2hrs. 15 Students Max

Not sure which program is for you?

Let's discuss your needs!

"GFB is truly sensational and inspirational. I love that she didn’t make me fearful of attackers or of being attacked. Instead, it made me aware of my surroundings, and

her techniques made me feel safer."

Awareness Months
Davenport University Nicole Snell Students Fight Back
Awareness Months

Check out some great opportunities to bring one of my programs to your school.

January

Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month

National Stalking Awareness

Human Trafficking Awareness

February

Relationship Wellness Month

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

New Student Orientation

National Campus Safety Awareness Month

Realtor Safety Month

National Self-Care Awareness Month

October

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Crime Prevention Month

November 25

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

"Students Fight Back was the perfect combination of informative presentation coupled with audience interaction!"

Clients

Featured Clients

University

College

Texas Christian University

Northern Illinois University

University of Redlands 

University of Richmond

Texas A&M University, Commerce

North Idaho College

Western Oregon University

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Texas Tech

Ohio Wesleyan

University of Riverside

Keuka College 

Cascadia College

Davenport University

Cal State Dominguez Hills

Lander University

Harper College

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Indiana Tech

Walla Walla Community College

Spokane Falls Community College 

Cal State Sacramento

University of Illinois-Springfield

Bradley University

Eastern Connecticut State University

Campbell University

Lamar State College

St. Mary’s University

Youngstown University

University of Texas Permian Basin

American University

AND MORE!

Corporate

& Brand

IBM

Microsoft

GAF

Baker McKenzie 

Cushman & Wakefield 

Bumble

Runners World

Women’s Health

HOKA

Runner’s Alliance

Articulate

Healthscape

Groove

Rise.Run.Retreat

Adventurus Women

Naidi Village & Civic Center- Fiji 

Sauvadrodro Village-Fiji

Strook & Strook & Lavan LLLP

FermiLab- Fermi National Accelerator Lab

...and more

Conferences/

Summits

NACA South

NACA Mid America

NACA Nationals

Women’s Self Defense Summit

Outdoor Adventure Summit

ESD Global

IVAT San Diego & Hawaii

NCOSE

VPEC

Military

US Coast Guard

Hill Air Force Base

Vandenberg Air Force Base

8th Army SHARP

JBLE Langley- Air Force

High School

Viewpoint School

Granada Hills Charter High School

Compton Early College High School

Dymally High School

Sage Hill School 

Pacific Hills School

South Carolina Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics

...and more!

Events Gallery

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2015

Students Fight Back at University of Riverside

Nicole speaking Students Fight Back Redlands Girls Fight Back

2020

Leading a Students Fight Back workshop at University of Redlands

Nicole Harper College Students Fight Back

2018

Leading Students Fight Back workshop at Lander University

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2022

Take The Lead Retreat

Nicole Snell Japan Military Navy facilitating sapr sexual assault prevention

2016

Facilitating a Sexual Assault Prevention workshop in Okinawa

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2022

Speaking at NACA Live

Kansas City, MO

Ready to book? Questions?

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