Realistic, evidence-based self-defense training

I’m Brigitte Schulze Martinez, and I founded 3 Rivers Defense in 2009. After three years of going back and forth between Montana, USA, and Patagonia in Chile, I’m now back full-time in Montana.

For over 16 years, I’ve been committed to providing research- and evidence-based self-defense coaching.

My focus is on holistic, trauma-informed training, based on our instincts and intuition.

I am a SPEAR ® self-defense trainer, an Evidence Based Scenario Trainer, and a Be Your Own Bodyguard ® coach, all certified by Blauer Tactical Systems.

Looking back to 2024, my overwhelming emotion is gratitude for our students and for our Blauer Tactical, Inc. worldwide training community. I’m happy to report that out of all affiliates worldwide, I received the Blauer Tactical Inc. first prize for teaching the most students and hosting the most events in 2024.

For 2025, I’m excited to continue offering private self-defense training and Be Your Own Bodyguard ® courses by appointment.

I’m also excited to add sound baths and sound healing to our holistic wellness program. Everything is energy and vibration. In these turbulent and divisive times, promoting mental, emotional, and spiritual calm is one way to spread a little more harmony and peace. A calm mind is also a fundamental component for effective self-defense.

Check out our training options, including Be Your Own Bodyguard ® training and SPEAR ® self-defense.

Thank you for your support and for your dedication to making the world safer for you and others!

Brigitte and the 3 Rivers Defense Team

What we are about

•    Reality-based, trauma-informed, holistic self-defense training

•    Assertiveness and boundary setting

•    Mind-speed training and mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation for violence prevention

•    Physical self-defense building on your intuition and your instinctive reactions to threats

•    Comprehensive and graduated physical training, up to full-impact counter-attacks

•    Supportive and respectful environment

•    Empowerment through increased knowledge and skills, not illusions and dangerous over-confidence

 •   Evidence-based scenario training

•    Fully-equipped self-defense gym  

•    Moral, ethical and legal defensibility

We focus on living life joyfully

Whom we serve

•    Everyone is welcome

•    We value diversity 

•    We serve everyone who wants to learn self-defense for violence prevention

•    We serve people interested in trauma-recovery through supplanting body memories of helplessness with new sensations of power and control  

•    Our training is for anyone age 13 and up who wants to learn in a supportive environment

•    No particular physical ability or fitness level is required

What we hope you'll take away

•    More self-awareness, situational awareness, and knowledge about violence dynamics

•    Fear management skills

•    Full realization of the power of your intuition, instincts, and intelligence

•    Better mental, emotional, and physical abilities to recognize, avoid, reduce, and manage risk

•    Mental and physical safety skills, using your natural weapons that you can use as soon as you walk out the door

•    Increased or regained confidence, well-being, and peace of mind

What we can’t do

•    We cannot guarantee your safety

What we can do

• We can give you increased personal safety and self-defense options