Ask people why they signed up for a self-defense class, and “I want to feel more confident” comes up almost as often as “I want to be safe.” That raises a fair question: does training actually deliver confidence, or is that just something gyms say? The research gives a fairly clear answer, with a few honest limits.
What the research says
Studies of women’s self-defense programs repeatedly find gains in self-efficacy, which means your belief that you can handle a threat. A 2024 integrative review in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, covering 19 publications, found good, largely consistent evidence that women’s self-defense training raises self-efficacy. The University of Oregon’s summary of empowerment self-defense research goes further, reporting that participants tend to feel less fear and more confidence in their bodies.
The same review adds a caution. Evidence for some other benefits, such as reduced anxiety, is thinner. So confidence appears to be the strongest and most reliable effect, while broader psychological claims should be treated carefully.
Why people are asking in New York
Concern about safety in the city has not simply followed the headlines. NYPD figures show overall major crime and shootings falling in 2026, and NBC New York reported record lows in some categories. But one category keeps rising. According to Vital City’s midyear analysis, felony assault has climbed for six straight years and sits about 48% above its 2019 level, averaging more than 80 a day compared with roughly 55 before the pandemic. NY1 also reported that rape was up 3.2% in the data it covered.
That mix explains a lot. When murders fall but assaults keep climbing, many New Yorkers feel the city is both safer and less predictable, and some respond by learning practical skills.
Where confidence comes from
Confidence from training usually builds in three ways:
- Repetition. Practicing a response many times makes it feel possible, not abstract.
- Realistic stress. Doing drills while tired or surprised shows you that you can act when it is uncomfortable.
- Community. Training alongside others makes it easier to push through awkward moments.
Students often describe the change in everyday terms: walking home with their head up, or noticing their surroundings more. If you are curious about krav maga in NYC, watching a class is a low-pressure way to see whether that style of training suits you.
What it cannot promise
Confidence is not invincibility. Skills fade without practice, and no class can guarantee how a real encounter will go. Overconfidence can also be a risk, which is why good instructors stress awareness and avoidance before any physical technique. Training works best alongside habits such as staying alert, trusting your instincts and reporting incidents.
The short answer
For most people, yes: learning self-defense tends to raise confidence, and that confidence is measurable. It is not a cure for crime or a guarantee of safety, but it can change how capable you feel in everyday life, and that matters.
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