We are a safe, inclusive, women-led organization for women, transgender and non-binary people and their allies in the martial, self defense, and healing arts, that affirms each person’s warrior spirit and actively works for a world in which each of us is empowered, free from oppression, and whole.
2025 Conference News
We’re already working to make the 2025 Conference the best ever! Save the date for July 17-21st in Naperville, Illinois, and watch this space for updates — we hope to have registration live early in the New Year. In the meantime, spread the word in your community, and reach out to chair@nwmaf.org if you’d like to be part of the Conference Planning Team.
For those interested in teaching: if you already applied in 2024, we will automatically consider your application, so there’s no need to resubmit unless there are major changes you’d like to make. For everyone else: we will have an instructor application live soon, so watch this space and the NWMAF FB and Instagram accounts for updates!
In other news, the 2025 Conference needs a name! Send any theme/name ideas to: chair@nwmaf.org
2024 NWMAF Youth Art and Essay Contest Winners Announced
NWMAF’s annual contest for youth artists and writers was held over the summer. See the artwork and read more here.
LOOKING BACK ON WEAVING STRENGTH 2024
Thank you to everyone who helped to make the 2024 Weaving Strength Regional Trainings in Massachusetts, Texas, and Kentucky such a success! Learn more about Weaving Strength here!
As we look forward to next year’s national Conference (July 17th-21st, 2025 in Naperville, Illinois), we wanted to share the full gallery of this year’s trainings, which increased NWMAF membership, strengthened regional connections, and brought friendship, fun, and learning to so many people!
Interested in being an instructor?
All applications we received for the 2024 Conference will automatically be considered for the 2025 Conference. People who have submitted applications will be contacted with full details once further information is available. In the meantime, you can always reach out for more information by contacting:
Martial Arts Coordinator, Emily McKee, martialarts@nwmaf.org
Self Defense Coordinator, Clara Porter, selfdefense@nwmaf.org
Healing Arts, contact Chair, Connie Halporn, chair@nwmaf.org
Reach out to your favorite teachers, and bring your dream class to the conference. Let’s get started!
Annual Conference
The NWMAF’s signature event is a multi-style training conference, held each summer, that features opportunities to learn from veteran martial artists from across the country and around the world, as well as a professional Empowerment Self-Defense instruction track.
Participants can choose from a variety of classes throughout the multi-day event. Each day brings many sessions and several options: “hard style” classes, “soft style” classes, mat arts, self-defense techniques and technology, healing arts, and weapons practice. Expert trainers tailor their teaching for a wide range of students—from beginners to experts. Attendees come from all over the United States, Canada, and beyond. Join us this summer!
Martial Arts
We cherish martial arts as a path of self-discovery and transformation and as a means of transforming ourselves and the world in which we live. We find strength in one another’s challenges and promote an awareness and appreciation of our differences.
Some of us have been training over many decades, others just a few months. Whatever your art, experience, or skill level, come and be a part of our amazing community!
See our award-winning martial artists
Empowerment Self-Defense
The NWMAF is the leader in Empowerment Self-Defense and has formed an extensive network of skilled instructors in the US and Canada and across the world. We offer ongoing professional development and credentials to self-defense instructors. From cutting-edge research to best practices in classroom management, from non-profit programming to running an effective business, we work to bring this critical tool of violence prevention to the world.
Learn more about Empowerment Self-Defense
