Women's Month is a time to celebrate the strength, achievements and contribution of women across South Africa. At Maddog, we believe empowerment should extend beyond words — it should include knowledge, confidence, and practical skills.
On Saturday, 22 August 2026, Maddog Performance Institute and Maddog Health & Wellness are jointly hosting the Women's Month Safety Experience — a practical day of self-defence, situational awareness and first-aid training, built around real preparation rather than fear.
Why We're Treating Safety as a Wellness Issue
Preventative health and personal safety are closer relatives than most people realise. Our team spends every day helping clients build physical resilience — better movement, better recovery, better baseline health — but resilience without preparedness only covers half the picture.
South Africa's national Gender-Based Violence Study puts hard numbers to a reality many women already sense: roughly one in three South African women over 18 has experienced physical violence in her lifetime, and close to one in ten has experienced sexual violence. Locally, KwaZulu-Natal's own provincial reporting consistently places eThekwini, uMgungundlovu and King Cetshwayo among the highest-risk districts for gender-based violence in the province.
We're not sharing this to alarm anyone. We're sharing it because it's exactly the kind of risk factor a preventative wellness practice should help clients prepare for — not just respond to after the fact. That's the thinking behind co-hosting this event.
Two Sessions, Led By Two Experts
The practical self-defence component is led by Amanda "Maddog" Lino, drawing on her professional MMA and combat sport experience to teach simple, practical concepts any woman can use — responding to grabs, creating space, and moving away from danger.
The second session is led by Amanda Wren Kobus — a registered nurse, strength & conditioning coach and competitive powerlifter — who brings military and medical experience to a session on situational awareness and basic emergency first aid. This is where Maddog Health & Wellness's clinical background comes in directly: practical, evidence-based first-aid principles that could make a real difference in an emergency.
The goal is simple: replace the uncertainty of "What would I do?" with real experience, knowledge and practice.
A Complimentary Wellness Package, Included
Because this event is co-hosted with Maddog Health & Wellness, every participant also receives an event package worth approximately R1,500 — on top of the training itself:
InBody Body Composition Scan
A complimentary InBody assessment, giving every participant a clinical-grade baseline reading of their body composition.
Sauna & Ice Bath Contrast Session
A complimentary contrast therapy session in our infrared sauna and cold plunge — recovery, the way our clinical team recommends it.
Two Weeks of Training
Two weeks of training access at Maddog Performance Institute, across kickboxing, boxing, BJJ and bootcamp.
Breakfast, Lunch & Extras
Breakfast from Concha Bakery & Café, lunch from Mozambik, plus a sponsored event shirt, key ring and mug.
The Day, Start to Finish
- 08:00 — 30-minute bootcamp workout to kick off the morning
- Coffee & pastries — time to meet the other women attending
- 09:30–11:00 — Practical self-defence workshop with Amanda "Maddog" Lino
- Light lunch, sponsored by Mozambik
- 12:30–14:00 — Situational awareness & medical first-aid workshop with Amanda Wren Kobus
What You'll Walk Away With
- Practical responses to common grabs and physical threats
- Tools for creating space and recognising warning signs before a situation escalates
- A working understanding of how stress affects decision-making under pressure
- Basic emergency first-aid principles you can use immediately
- A clinical wellness reset via the InBody scan and contrast therapy session
- A new network of women across the Ballito and KZN North Coast community
Pricing
The workshop is deliberately limited to 25 women, so sessions stay practical and every participant gets real interaction with the instructors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any self-defence experience to attend?
No. This workshop is designed for women of all fitness and experience levels — from complete beginners to those already active in training.
Is this only for Maddog members?
No. The Women's Month Safety Experience is open to any woman in Ballito and the KZN North Coast — you don't need to be a current Maddog Performance or Maddog Health & Wellness client to attend.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, breathable activewear you can move freely in, plus closed training shoes.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants receive a certificate confirming attendance of the self-defence workshop.
Preparation Is Part of Wellness
Empowerment is a word women hear constantly. For us, it means being given a real opportunity to learn something useful — to move, practise, ask questions, and connect with other women — backed by the same clinical standard we bring to every other service at Maddog Health & Wellness.
Book the Women's Self-Defence Workshop in Ballito
Saturday, 22 August 2026 · Maddog Performance Institute · 22 Sandra Road, Balvista Centre, Ballito. Limited to 25 women.