Nelson is so fantastic!!! Just signed up for 5 more training classes with him after the initial self defense lesson. I felt more confident within the first 5 minutes learning from him but then he really goes into each position we might be put into and what our options of defense are to get out and attack our attacker! He even pads up and has us practice on him. I am blown away by how little I knew before this class. I would have been useless and I already feel so much stronger and safer after just one 1.5 hr session! Nelson is fabulous. He is the sweetest, most encouraging but straight forward teacher. I could go on and on about how highly I recommend him. You will NOT regret this class (definitely might feel sore after though!!!) My friend and I have been obsessing over our newfound passion in this training and can't wait to continue with Nelson!! read more

Nelson is an incredible instructor. He's patient and passionate about this subject matter and empowering women. I attended this course with my teen daughter. We didn't know what to expect. His teaching style is excellent - firm, informative, and supportive. I can't recommend this course enough. Will be looking at the summer camp! read more

Nio is a girl's dream. I purchased one of his package deals and am selfish, learning the skills solo. Every woman who can find some girlfriends or fly solo like me should enroll and learn from the best. After one session I felt more confident --less vulnerable--the confidence and skills will set me up just from my willingness to let Nio do his magic. I wish I would have found Nio years ago, but it is Never Too Late. Arm yourself with the skills that will empower you to journey anywhere and not be afraid of the "bogey man". read more

10/10 would recommend! Nelson is an amazing and passionate instructor. He has taught me invaluable information on how to protect and defend myself. Every woman and girl should know the basics of self defense and I am so happy I took this class! Thank you Nelson! read more

Exceeded my expectations! This all day seminar helped me feel confident and empowered. Learning all the self/defense requires practice but the instructor shows you that it is possible. I would definitely want to do this again. read more

Incredible course - I cannot believe what Nelson puts his body through every day to teach us. He is clearly very passionate and wants to help as many women as possible. The class was very informative. The subject matter is uncomfortable, which is of course the whole purpose; you do not want your first encounter to be a predator and have 0 strategy on how to escape. I wish everyone was able to take this course! read more

I'm so glad I attended and would definitely recommend but some things I wish I would've known going in as someone with sensory/social needs: -the class occurs outside so make sure you take the weather into account. -the class is filmed for liability reasons (he does not post the video anywhere) but some may be sensitive to this. -the scenarios include close contact such as arms around your neck, waist, hand over your mouth, up against a wall, on a mat on the ground, and a fake knife against your throat to have the full experience and you may have light bruises afterward like I did or it may trigger past trauma -while the instructor makes you feel very safe within these scenarios, it may be overwhelming for some and one girl couldn't tolerate the whole class emotionally -you will have to interact with others in the class (practice on each other) and not just the instructor or whoever you signed up with -be cautious of any chronic pain/weakness as the all day intensive is like a marathon. If you have unique needs a private session may be better. -although the instructor assured me ahead of time that I wouldn't have to do anything I didn't want to do, once the situation actually arose he really pushed me to still do it and I had to keep insisting throughout the rest of the class that I didn't want to do one particular type of scenario. (Understandable that in the real world my preferences are not going to matter) Again, I learned a lot, very thankful for this course, but I think knowing what to expect ahead of time can make sure that you end up in the appropriate type of class and to seek any necessary accommodations ahead of time or within the class so that you can better tolerate it and get the most out of it. read more

Both instructor and class are phenomenal... I will be highly recommending to every woman I know. It's obvious how much Nelson really cares. Thank you!!! read more

We booked Nelson for a group of 6 women in our late 30's in MDR, and he was amazing! 10/10 recommend. His style of teaching and flow of the class was easy to understand and we all felt very empowered. Thank you Nelson!!! read more

I am not the type to post negative reviews, but I took a private class with Nelson and ended up with a broken rib, so I feel compelled to warn others. My daughter was going to Europe and I wanted her to take a self defense class. It was last minute, so I got her a private class and I attended also. I weigh 108 pounds and she weighed about 98 pounds. Slender women like us really need a self defense class. We liked Nelson at first, but then he was acting out a date rape scene. He was playing the perpetrator. He was wearing very heavy protective equipment and of course, I had none. Everything would have been fine if he was not wearing protective equipment. Since he weighed considerably more than us, I was not sure what he was protecting himself from. He was on top of me to demonstrate what I should do to protect myself against an attacker. When his equipment first started digging into my chest, I told him to get off of me, that he was really hurting me. I think he thought I was still acting, but I told him I am really being serious. Eventually he did get off of me. I was in a lot of pain and was then diagnosed with a broken rib. Ladies and girls, if you are slender in size, this is probably not the right class for you. Other than the broken rib, I really liked Nelson, but I can`t overlook an injury as serious as a broken rib. The whole experience was awful. Edited after reading Nelson`s response to add: This review is real. Fake reviews do not have this much detail. I never notified Nelson about the broken rib, as I was focused on recovering from a painful injury and there was nothing he could do about the injury after it had happened. I did not ask him to pay my medical bills, as insurance covered most of it. I did not want to get into an unpleasant discussion about it and as you can see from his response, he refuses to take responsibility for it. He absolutely was wearing heavy protective equipment over his chest. As I said, it was a few years ago. I have no reason to want to slander the reputation of a complete stranger. The idea that I would randomly pick someone I have never had contact with, in order to do a negative review is illogical. Anyone who would like more details or to see documentation is welcome to message me. read more

THE BEST EXPERIENCE!! It truly is an honor to HIGHLY recommend SHIELD + Nelson! Nelson is a knowledgeable + incredible human, and his training style is the best I've ever taken. I will absolutely take another course with Nelson to help me remember the moves ... and it's such a fun class! If you've been looking for a self defense class that will truly teach you (versus just talk to you) THIS IS IT!! Thank you, Nelson! read more

Nelson is amazing!! this class was great and left feeling strong and like I could apply learnings. would recommend this to anyone!

Got personal training for myself. Practiced several scenarios and learned many cool things. I totally recommend coming here. It's a great option to break into or grow your skills and polish them in this sport. read more

My daughter attended the summer camp for girls and loved it! After one week, we noticed an enormous amount of confidence, self awareness and improved self esteem. The team is amazing! read more

I honestly cannot stop talking to everyone I know about how much I have enjoyed my self-defense training with Nelson, how EMPOWERED I feel, and how everyone I know should do it too! I cannot recommend Nelson's training highly enough. My only regret is that I didn't start training with Nelson 10 years ago! I found Nelson to learn some self-defense moves before I leave on a solo-travel trip around Mexico for 3 months. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into, but after even just one session, Nelson was able to bring me up to speed on my best assets to keep myself safe, and taught me how to LEVERAGE my body type and strength to do so more effectively. I went in with no prior self defense experience, and after 5 session I feel very well equip to take care of myself in any situation. What I love about Nelson's teaching style is he focuses on experience based learning, keeping the entire training highly applicable to what goes on in the real world. He avoids teaching series of choreographed moves you have to memorize, and instead focuses on helping you nail down defense basics and practices FREESTYLE until you feel confident in your ability to defend yourself. Nelson is incredibly knowledgeable and teaches skills specifically designed for women. I just finished up a 5 private lesson package with him and have never felt so prepared to to be in any situation that life throws at me. read more

I took the All Day Crash Course and WOW! I learned so much in one day. Nelson covered countless real-life situations like being pinned down, against a wall, hair pulled, grabbed from behind, and many more. There is no substitute for hands-on training to form muscle memory. I feel more equipped to handle unexpected encounters and gained valuable knowledge and confidence. I would absolutely take another class and highly recommend Nelson's training to everyone! read more

Neil Neo is so knowledgeable, professional and nice. He really knows this topic and made us feel we learned a lot during these 2 hours.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED TO WRITE A REVIEW. This has been the best experience ever. At first I was so doubtful (the price, the rigor, etc.) But let me just tell you... After this class I feel so EMPOWERED. I never knew I had so much power in me. Nelson is AMAZING (best instructor ever). Honestly I don't know how his body can handle all this beating. I especially enjoyed the freestyling part where you have no idea how he will attack you and you have to use what you've learned to get out of it (it honestly just ties everything together). I am definitely going to continue training (I wish I could come here to train more but I'm leaving the country in less than a week. Boo). Anyways, after this session I feel like I got my money's worth (feel like I didn't pay him enough either). I WOULD HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS TO ANYONE!! (making my mom, sister, and best friends do it - so who ever is reading this. Don't hesitate, just do it. You won't regret it). P.s. I am in a lot of pain. But it's a good pain and it's totally worth it. read more

Nelson is amazing. This class is empowering. If you are considering taking it... stop putting it off. I will be back for more. Thank you Nelson. read more

Self defense class - that is something that is on ALL of our to do lists, yet so many of us put it off and never do it. It's so ridiculous - what is more important than our safety? Why was I not wiling to give up 2 hours every Sunday for 3 months? I cannot think of a better way to spend my time and money. For me, the barrier to entry was that there's no real good self-defense class in LA that caters exclusively to women. Go Google "self defense" and you get krav maga, jiu jitsu, MMA with photos of sweaty fighting men. These are great options for some. It's not for me. I have no interest in going to a smelly studio with a bunch of dudes and pay $185/month for membership. What most of us need is a realistic self defense course that rungs through the most common scenarios - wrist grabs, hair pulls, chokes. The goal for us is to get out and get away. We are not training for UFC or the Israeli army - we just want to not be attacked. And Nelson's class is it. I recommend the 12 week course - 5 weeks just isn't enough for your muscle memory. Drilling the movements become instinct. The moves work - Nelson always reiterates that it's not one special combination of moves, it's assessing your situation and using all the skills you learned to get away. Women don't have the size advantage so we have to be smart about how to fight back, which many attackers don't expect. Class is supportive and non judgmental. It's in the Santa Monica YWCA, so the energy is already good and parking is easy, Every has the same end goal. Everyone wants to help each other out. Sometimes we giggle and mess up. I'm not a quick learner so I constantly ask Nelson to review and re-review the moves. Nelson is soft spoken and nonthreatening. We do run some really scary scenarios but he never makes you feel uneasy. There's a tiny Asian girl in class who was able to flip him over - so awesome. I did NOT want to go to the first class - I sat at home and seriously considered withdrawing. I made myself go and I'm so glad I did. Students travel from all over the LA area because there just aren't enough women's classes out there. If you have been thinking about a women's self defense class for awhile, sign up for this class. It'll be the best thing you do for yourself! read more

I am so glad I found this class and Nelson Nio. For YEARS, no joke, I have said, "I want to take a women's self defense class" but have been so nervous and terrified to take action and go to a class. Last month, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and just sign up. About a few days after signing up, I emailed Nelson asking for a refund. He called me and asked me some questions and said he would be glad to give me my refund, but he wants to make sure I'm not cancelling due to nerves. His approach is gentle, yet pushes one out of their comfort zone. Today I finished 3 of 5 classes and I cannot express how much I've already learned and how much more secure and confident I feel in all areas of my life. I'm learning invaluable tools to carry with me and I hope I never have to use them, but just having them, is reassuring. I'm planning on continuing on w/ my training for the next 3 months. It's a 2 hour, workout and it's so empowering and fun to see my classmates grow too! This is the class you want to take if you have ever thought about taking a self defense class. Worth every dime! And then some! Thanks Nelson!!! read more

Nelson came into our office to teach a class. He was extremely prepared and the class was was an eye opener. We were taught different ways of defending ourselves, depending on how we could be attacked. I learned a lot, but I don't think this one class has fully prepared me to defend myself if the case ever arises, but one class is a lot better than no classes at all. May look into more classes... read more

My adult daughter and I spent last Saturday at the All Day Crash Course. She was hesitant and I wasn't excited about my drive up from San Diego. What a phenomenal experience! We left the class exhausted but also feeling invigorated and empowered. Nelson is an insightful educator and trainer. The course is rigorous, full of information but not overwhelming. I felt safe but definitely challenged. If you ever wonder what you would do in an assault situation, take this course! If you worry that you might freeze if attacked, take this course! read more

My teenage daughter started taking classes with Shield Women's Self-Defense three years ago, and if I could bottle Nelson Nio and give him to all girls and women, I would do it. The genuine kindness and dedication that this man shares is unparalleled, and his gift toward women's confidence is immeasurable. Really, there are not enough words to express the gratitude I have for who Nelson is as a person and for his mission for empowering women. Nelson teaches classes in Culver City several days a week with the express purpose of arming women with the skills necessary to fight off physical attacks. This isn't martial arts instruction with progression and belts; it's street fighting specifically designed to avert a sexual assault. My daughter started in Nelson's 5-week intensive class, and then she moved to private lessons. In addition to the self-confidence she has gained from simply understanding her power as a young woman, she has learned to fight off a full-sized man from all positions of attack: grabs, pins, hair pulls, chokes, and full-body rape. She has learned how to scream, when to run, when to fight, and when to feign submission until she can fight her way out of a dangerous situation. She is not afraid to be a tough girl, to kick a groin, to break an arm, or to strangle an assailant with her legs until he passes out. She isn't paralyzed from fear by the introduction of a knife or a gun in an assault situation. Nelson practices these conditions with her so that if she is ever confronted with a physical attack from an acquaintance or a stranger (90% of sexual assaults come from people we know), she will not hesitate to defend herself. Despite what our daughters are taught in other areas of their lives, when fighting off a rapist, there is no room for being the "nice girl". Today, my daughter is a high school student who drives and who goes places alone and with her friends. I am grateful to Nelson and Shield Women's Self-Defense for giving my daughter the confidence she deserves to move freely in the world, knowing that she has the power - and the permission - to defend herself, should a situation arise that demands it. read more

SHIELD Women's Self Defense System - Summer Camps Near Me - Culver City, California

Nelson was amazing!! He taught 2 college bound woman the tools they hopefully will never need but I feel better knowing they have these amazing knowledge of self defense. He was a great teacher and so thoughtful and helpful. Amazing class!! read more

Mr. Nelson's technique is very practical, easy to learn, and able to do a lot of damage. He also lets us practice how to defend ourselves in rape situations. He willingly allows us to pummel his body full force so that we as women can feel confident in defending ourselves. He is the portrait of a humble yet strong teacher, and I know his techniques will save the lives of many women. read more

My daughter and I had a fantastic experience in our self-defense class with Nelson. Our group consisted of my 14 year-old daughter, two of her friends, their mothers and me. For two hours Nelson put us in real world scenarios and taught us how best to defend ourselves against a would-be attacker. It's a little scary to imagine those possibilities but felt very important to educate ourselves and our daughters about how to react in a life-threatening situation. Nelson is kind, thoughtful and committed to making sure you understand how to use your own body, balance and strength to your advantage - and also how to keep yourself from being a target. We all left feeling empowered and decided we will take a class annually until our girls go off to college. If you've been thinking, "I should probably teach my daughter how to defend herself" you SHOULD! Call Nelson! Do it for her and do it for yourself. read more

Nelson is an amazing instructor! He gave me a one on one lesson and also came to my office to teach 20 women self defense. I learned so much from him and everyone in my office loved him as well. We are hoping to have him come back into our office for more lessons!! read more

This class is so empowering for women! I took the crash course, which was 8 people max and received some very practical and hands on instruction. Nelson covered so many scenarios, from front, back, hair grabbing, to rape. We even practiced with blind folds on, which sounds scary, but once you do it, you realize you've learned how to deal with certain situations. I honestly hope I never have to use what I learned today, but every women should take this class! I feel so empowered with the knowledge! Nelson is so patient and is constantly checking on how you're feeling. He has created a safe place for women to learn and defend ourselves! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! read more