Elicia is a lifelong martial artist, women's self-defence instructor, public speaker, and founder of Pretty Hands, Hard Punches. Beginning Taekwondo at just six years of age and teaching professionally as a teenager, Elicia has spent more than three decades in martial arts.
Yet her mission today extends far beyond punches and kicks. After surviving childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and abuse within the martial arts industry itself, she transformed those experiences into a mission to empower one million women through practical self-protection. Elicia doesn't describe herself as running a martial arts school—she teaches women's self-defence, focusing on the skills that help women recognise danger, establish boundaries, and avoid violence long before a physical confrontation becomes necessary.
Throughout this conversation, we explore why awareness, boundaries, and mindset are the true foundations of self-defence. Elicia explains why predators deliberately seek compliant victims, how women are often conditioned to ignore red flags in order to be polite, and why trusting your instincts can be life-saving.
We discuss recognising grooming behaviours, teaching children bodily autonomy, identifying safe martial arts schools, and why parents should be actively involved in their children's activities. Elicia also shares her own experiences of abuse and how they shaped her philosophy, while challenging common myths surrounding sexual assault, victim blaming, and the legal realities that often follow acts of self-defence. Rather than teaching complex martial arts techniques, she focuses on simple, decisive actions that allow everyday women to escape danger and get home safely.
This episode is packed with practical advice for women, parents, martial arts instructors, and anyone responsible for the safety of others. We discuss situational awareness, language, tone and posture, developing confidence without ego, the importance of realistic training, and why the greatest self-defence victory is avoiding violence altogether.
Whether you're raising daughters, teaching martial arts, or simply want to better protect yourself and your family, Elicia delivers an honest, compassionate, and highly actionable conversation that challenges conventional thinking while offering practical solutions that could genuinely save lives.
Connect with Elicia
Website: https://www.prettyhandshardpunches.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyhandshardpunches
Free Women's Safety Guide: https://www.prettyhandshardpunches.com
I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Mater Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.saferthanyouarenow.com
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