16 Women Prove Their Strength at A Girl & A Gun Combatives Camp

Three-day immersive training experience equips women with practical close-contact defense skills, greater confidence, and a deeper understanding of their capabilities

AUSTIN, TX, (AGirlandAGun.org) — Sixteen women stepped onto the mats at Martial Way Legacy in Austin for A Girl & A Gun’s Combatives Camp, held September 4–6, 2026. Over three demanding days, they learned practical personal-defense skills, confronted realistic scenarios, and discovered what they could accomplish when quitting was no longer part of the equation.

They fought. They adapted. They got back up. Most importantly, they never gave up.

Combatives Camp is and immersive workshop that introduces women to practical hand-to-hand defense techniques inspired by disciplines used throughout the martial arts, military, and law enforcement communities. Through scenario-based and variable-based Training, participants experience the physical and mental demands of close-contact encounters while learning to respond with greater awareness, clarity, and control.

“Personal defense requires more than memorizing a technique in a predictable environment,” said Robyn Sandoval, President and CEO of A Girl & A Gun. “It requires the ability to think, adapt, and keep fighting when a situation becomes uncomfortable or does not unfold as expected. These 16 women showed tremendous courage because they were willing to test themselves, learn from every challenge, and continue moving forward.”

Under the direction of Guro Larry St. Clair and his team of professional coaches at Martial Way Legacy, participants worked through dynamic exercises involving grappling, grabs and escapes, ambush response, ground defense, weapons retention, knife-defense scenarios, flexible weapons, sparring, and physical challenges. Each training block was carefully structured to introduce sound principles, provide opportunities for repetition, and then add variables that required participants to solve problems under increasing pressure.

The training helped participants develop defensive options from the ground and other compromised positions, and weapons retention, which focused on protecting and maintaining control of a defensive tool during a physical struggle. Participants also explored the use and defense of flexible weapons, helping them recognize how unpredictable objects can affect a close-contact encounter.

These exercises gave the women insight into how the body and brain respond when heart rates rise, personal space disappears, and decisions must be made quickly. Within the camp’s safe and supportive environment, participants could experience realistic resistance, evaluate their responses, make adjustments, and try again.

“Every woman arrived with a different level of experience, fitness, and confidence, but each one brought the willingness to learn,” said St. Clair. “Our responsibility was to meet them where they were, challenge them appropriately, and create an environment where they could discover their own resilience. They worked hard, supported one another, and refused to quit!”

St. Clair is an instructor and competitor in several disciplines, including American Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino martial arts such as Kali, Eskrima, and Arnis. He also works as a fight-scene consultant and choreographer, helping filmmakers create action sequences that balance authenticity with safety.

Although Combatives Camp is physically active, participants did not need to be athletes or experienced martial artists. The program welcomed women of different ages, body types, fitness levels, and training backgrounds. Instructors adapted techniques and scaled intensity while preserving the realistic resistance necessary to help participants understand what physical self-defense can feel like.

That realism produced hard work, sore muscles, a few well-earned battle bruises, and countless moments of personal accomplishment. It also fostered an extraordinary sense of connection. Participants stood shoulder to shoulder, encouraged one another through difficult drills, and celebrated every breakthrough as a shared victory.

“The transformation was visible,” Sandoval said. “The women left with a more realistic understanding of personal defense, but they also carried themselves differently. They had tested their strength, experienced pressure, and proven that they could continue fighting through fatigue and uncertainty. That kind of confidence changes how a woman walks through the world.”

Combatives Camp reflects A Girl & A Gun’s commitment to providing women with relevant, high-value training in environments where they can learn without judgment or intimidation. By combining skilled instruction, realistic scenarios, appropriate physical challenges, and a strong community of support, the program helps women become more capable, prepared, and formidable in any situation.

For the 16 women who accepted the challenge in Austin, the weekend became more than a workshop. It was proof that strength can be developed, resilience can be tested, and confidence can be earned one determined response at a time. Registration for the 2027 Combatives Camp is open at AGirlandAGun.org/combatives.

About A Girl & A Gun

A Girl & A Gun is a nationwide organization dedicated to educating and empowering women through firearms training, personal-defense education, competition, and community. Through local chapters and national events, A Girl & A Gun provides welcoming, professional training opportunities that help women build skills, confidence, and lasting connections.

For more information about A Girl & A Gun and upcoming training opportunities, visit www.AGirlandAGun.org.