In September, Youbee Media attended a fully funded, all day self-defence course in Normanton, Wakefield with Blossom Training & Development. While the course was seen as a ‘fun’ Team Building day, our all-female team agreed it was an important subject for us to cover. As women, we’re faced with some scary statistics on a daily basis, regarding threats we can encounter walking down the street – or even within a personal relationship.

Blossom Training & Development is a new business that’s achieved an incredible amount in under two years. Driven by genuine passion for their work, they won the Rising Star Award, are an AD:VENTURE business (like Youbee Media), are members of Yorkshire Businesswoman and We Are Wakefield. In 2022 they became a CIC (Community Interest Company) which allows them to offer fully funded courses to individuals across Wakefield. Founders of Blossom Training & Development Rachael Allan and Madeleine (Maddie) France felt that their cause and purpose was so important – they needed to make it accessible to all.

After attending the course with teammates from Youbee Media, Dena has shared her thoughts and feedback on the experience.

Blossom Training & Development

Prior to attending Blossom Training’s self-defence course, I’d been ‘getting around’ to taking a class for some time. For me, it was always a question of finding the right class. I’m not a sporty individual, I come with a few health restrictions and I had some anxiety about enacting attack scenarios, having been assaulted a few years ago. A lot of the classes I investigated offered solutions that were too complex and physical. I knew I needed something that provided a smart solution, a class that could teach me to work around my limitations, and get results in spite of them.

Violence against women is as much of a threat as ever

The news stories about Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and Angel Lynn are harrowing examples of how violence against women is as prevalent as ever. In the year ending March 2020, the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that around 7% of the female population (aged 16-74) had experienced domestic abuse. The survey also estimated that 3% of women in this age group experienced sexual assault and 5% experienced stalking.

The final distressing takeaway from this is that these trends had remained similar over the previous 10 years.

Engage, Educate and Empower with Blossom

Blossom Training & Development understand that this is a sensitive area. They realise their work will deeply touch a nerve for some attendees. So, Maddie and Rachael deliver the classes with intelligence, warmth and empathy. A gentle start provides practical information about legal rights, carrying weapons for self-defence (it may surprise you, but – don’t do this!), and what constitutes ‘acceptable force’ when breaking away from a situation.

A lot of insightful information and practical resources are provided, from a breakdown of what constitutes abuse, to psychological self-defence techniques, to apps that can help keep you safe. As anticipated, the class does progress to physical self-defence elements; moves that are simple but surprisingly very effective! This very simplicity makes the moves easier to remember when in a Fight or Flight situation. In fact, the focus on major motor skills (rather than a sequence of smaller, more complex moves) means that these actions can be recalled by the limbic brain under extreme stress.

I was reassured to learn that all of Blossom’s training techniques are medically certified by Professor Brendon Stubbs (BSc, MSc, MCSP, PhD). The moves I was taught have been medically risk assessed as safe, and best practice. In tandem with Blossom’s welcoming and inclusive environment, I felt that I was in a safe space. These classes are the epitome of the smart solution I was looking for.

Conclusion

By the end of the session I was feeling much more confident, and genuinely impressed by the realisation of what my body is actually capable of. I’m not the strongest or the fastest, but I’d mastered straightforward moves that are super-effective, and transcend limitations.

Maddie and Rachael also run weekly Monday night classes in Normanton, for those who’ve attended their full day or twilight training courses. These sessions focus on consolidating and enhancing the physical self-defence skills already covered. This repetition helps the moves become second nature, turning them into reflexes that require little to no thought. Plus, the energy and camaraderie of a Blossom Training session means you’ll leave full of endorphins! Take a look at upcoming classes here.

Blossom Training have a lot of heart and warmth; their ethos is about more than just teaching defensive skills. It’s not quite what I’d expected from a Women’s Self-Defence Class, but that’s a good thing – because I came away with some much more than I’d hoped for. I left feeling more knowledgeable and courageous, with more confidence in my body’s .

capabilities, and with so many new skills. I truly believe that Blossom Training deliver something important - something that all girls and women need to know

If you’d like to learn more, check out their website and follow them on social media. We know that some people may take a little longer to find the confidence to sign up, so find them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more.

Youbee Media is an award-winning marketing agency based in Leeds, providing strategic, creative and hands-on marketing support to businesses of all sizes. They specialise in helping organisations build stronger brands, reach the right audiences and achieve measurable growth through a mix of consultancy, training and done-for-you marketing services.

Their work spans digital and traditional channels, combining strategic planning with content creation, social media expertise and practical guidance that empowers clients to market more effectively. Alongside offering tailored marketing consultancy, they also deliver engaging marketing workshops to upskill business owners and teams, and provide full social media management to handle content, community engagement and performance reporting on behalf of clients. Known for their personalised, collaborative approach, Youbee Media focuses on delivering clarity, confidence and results for businesses at every stage of growth.