About  Us

 

Our Story

Gig Harbor Self Defense was born from a simple but powerful idea: everyone deserves to feel safe, confident, and empowered. What began as a personal journey to protect my own family quickly grew into a community mission. We realized that real-world safety isn’t about fighting-it’s about awareness, prevention, and practical skills that anyone can use. 

From our base in Gig Harbor, WA, we’ve expanded our reach, traveling across the country (and even worldwide) to bring effective, hands-on self-defense training to families, businesses, and organizations. Every course we offer is rooted in real-world experience, combining law enforcement and military strategies with accessible, empowering instruction.

Meet Our Founder

Theresa Norris is a mom of 3, safety advocate, and the lead instructor at Gig Harbor Self Defense. Her passion for empowering others began with her own family, but it didn’t stop there. Today, she's proud to be a  Master Trainer for the Professional Self-Defense Association (PSDA), recognized for delivering professional, high-quality training that transforms how people think about safety.

She has had the honor of empowering thousands- from her local community and neighbors, to small children, families, and multi-million-dollar businesses across the United States- helping them communicate more effectively, reduce risk, and feel confident and safe in any situation. She combines professional expertise with a personal, relatable approach, because she understands that feeling safe isn’t just about skills- it’s about mindset.

Our Mission

Gig Harbor Self Defense is a women-owned and professional business that is committed to empowering everyone they train- from families and individuals to corporations and organizations. The goal is simple: to equip participants with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to take control of their safety in any environment.