Who We Are

Who We Are

AVF is an unincorporated community organisation, founded in 2000 by Anna Duxbury and Isabela Schulz. We were motivated by how self defence had affected our own lives, and wished to share this sense of empowerment with others. We started running drop in classes based on practising skills we’d learnt, and throughout time have continually developed our programme and our own skills. We also work locally with women who are teaching or are learning to teach self defence.
We teach in a variety of settings (see below for some examples and links). We have run classes for women and for younger girls in community centres, women’s centres, with client groups in support services, volunteers in organisations, employees, and in adult education. We also occasionally teach mixed groups of men and women, if circumstances are suitable.
We are both tutors with the Workers Education Association and Brighton and Hove City College, and members of the National Women’s Self Defence Association, a network of feminist self defence trainers. We are also both fully insured as instructors for public liability, and hold First Aid certificates.

Anna Duxbury - I am a self employed self defence teacher and am involved in a variety of community and voluntary projects, including adventure activities for people on low incomes, home education, a co-operative community centre, women’s health group and housing co-ops.
My work history includes working with adults and children with learning disabilities, playwork, teaching assistant, workshop leader in development education and management of an after school club.
I am a brown black-belt in kickboxing, keen climber and mountaineer. I also like kayaking, cycling and yoga. I have an ongoing interest in education and child development. I love the outdoors and like to spend a lot of time in a tent or bivvy bag.
I hope to always teach self defence and can’t imagine ever tiring of it. It’s very rewarding work as I participate in women’s personal development and assist them in becoming more confident and liberated. Learning and teaching self defence has also made me feel more confident and assertive and I feel much more content and in control of my life for starting it.
I have a community sports leadership award, communication training, protective behaviours, child protection training and first aid training as well as experience of working with women and girls with different abilities and special needs.

Isabela Schulz- I am a self employed self defence instructor, and am also involved in a range of projects on a voluntary basis, from a local co-operative community centre to supporting people in prison to mass vegan catering. I hold a B.A. in philosophy, and qualifications in book-keeping. My work history includes working with children and young people as a play/ crecheworker, translating German /English, working in shops and offices, and development work on community projects. I was trained in judo as a teenager, then went boxing and kickboxing for many years. Other interests include writing and drawing comics and self publishing. Teaching self defence is one of the most rewarding things I feel I can do. I enjoy the physical training myself, and I also love seeing how women and girls discover more self reliance and self esteem throughout a course.