Teach Self Defense & Empower Children.

Do you want to join us and empower children?
Are you looking for a mobile business opportunity with flexible hours, great pay, and amazing students?
Then teaching self defense and becoming a PlayItSafeDefense certified trainer just might be your calling!
…and you don’t need to be a Martial Artist!

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Play It Safe Defense empowers children with self-protection skills in a fun and age appropriate one session workshop. Our passion and mission is to teach kids to respond appropriately to unique challenges they might face:

Dealing with bullies
Friendship drama
Stranger awareness
Inappropriate touch from someone they might know
Abduction defense

We have taught hundreds of thousands of children our “Go Chihuahua Crazy!”™ curriculum and have seen first hand how our unique teaching approach changes lives and empowers children with confidence and boundaries.
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Find out how to become a Certified Trainer

Meet One of Our Featured Trainers

Before discovering Play It Safe Defense, I was passionate about teaching self-defense but struggled to find the tools and direction I needed to expand my impact. When I started working with Play It Safe Defense, everything changed. Their training program not only empowered me with practical skills but also gave me the confidence to bring my knowledge to a broader audience, including Girl Scouts.

Through their guidance, I learned how to design engaging, age-appropriate self-defense classes tailored to Girl Scouts’ needs. They showed me how to blend important lessons on situational awareness, safety planning, and basic defense techniques into a fun and impactful program that young girls and their families could embrace.

Play It Safe Defense also helped me refine my branding and marketing strategy, making it easier to connect with Girl Scout troops and expand my business. Thanks to their support, I’ve been able to grow my brand, teach countless young girls how to protect themselves, and make a real difference in my community.

If you’re looking to elevate your skills, expand your reach, or build a successful self-defense business, I can’t recommend Play It Safe Defense enough. They’ve been instrumental in my journey, and I’m so grateful for their support.

Patti Stewart
defenseinheels.com

Patti Stewart.

Licensed and Certified
Las Vegas, Nevada

Online Certification Training

Access to comprehensive online training materials, including videos, training manual, and assessments.

Live Online Workshops

Interactive live sessions with Founder, Tracie Arlington, for in-depth training.

Personalized Feedback

Detailed feedback on your class performance and teaching

Group Q&A Sessions

Regularly scheduled live Q&A sessions with other participants and a SKOOL Community chat.

Access to Exclusive Resources

Training manual and training videos, Facebook Group, operational manual, forms, templates & graphics, Chihuahua Puppet, one Polo shirt with logo, Scout patches.

Printed Certification

You’ll receive a printed certification after your training is completed.

2-Day certification training in San Diego, California.

After the 6 week online training, trainers will come to San Diego, California for a 2-day, hands-on certification.

Personal On-Site Training

A Certified trainer can travel to San Diego, California, for a private and customized, in-person training session with the Founder, Tracie Arlington. Depending on the location, Tracie might be able to travel to you.

Master Trainer Program

How to run a kid’s camp
School Assembly presentations
Public Speaking outlines
Faith-based curriculum
How to teach Girl Scout specialty classes and badge work

FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME A TRAINER

Testimonials

“I cannot thank you enough for the work you do. Your program continues to provide young children with the knowledge and skills to deal with difficult situations in their home, community, and school. Most importantly you inspire them to be confident, use their voices, and exert their POWER. Every time I observe you and Matt working with the children I am absolutely amazed and reminded how important your course is for all of our sons and daughters. Thank you so much for everything you do.”

Jontue
MS, OTR/L

FINALLY a one-session, FUN, self-defense class without having to enroll in Karate!

Check out my Case Study of the program.

This is the training I’ve been looking for!

Emily Baker

Become a self defense trainer.

Why PlayItSafeDefense?

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself. Enjoy the flexibility of a mobile business that is home-based and purpose driven. PlayItSafeDefense offers an established business model, tested operational systems and a fun and engaging work environment. The spirit of our program has gained national recognition too, with appearances on The Dr. Phil Show, The Doctors, and more.

Teaching Self Defense FAQs.

Do I need to be a martial artist?

No, this is a business anyone can do with a passion to empower children. Martial arts experience is a plus, but we are looking for trainers that are high energy and fun! If you prefer to teach high school age students or women, we will put you in touch with a women’s self-defense certification program that we recommend.

What’s the cost?

Our goal is to empower as many children and teens as possible, so our certification is very affordable. Please book a call with Tracie Arlington, the Founder of Play It Safe Defense. Additionally, you will need reliable transportation to support this mobile business. We also require that all trainers and their team members pass a designated background check, for which the fees will be incurred by you.

What’s included in the Certification fee?

We teach you how to teach self defense! Training includes a combination of virtual and hands-on training
PlayItSafeDefense Business-in-the-Box: One hour-6-week online trainings. An instructor’s manual, an operation’s manual, and business forms and templates
Access to our secure training portal, training videos, and resource library
The chihuahua puppet! She’s the hit of the class and a key component of our proprietary curriculum
Access to purchase promotional materials, including our Girl & Boy Scout Patches
Ongoing support for business development and community outreach
Inclusion in the PlayItSafeDefense website and trainer network

How soon can I start teaching self defense?

We make it easy for you to launch your business and teach self defense immediately after completing the initial training. Schedule classes at your convenience on a full-time or part-time basis.

How long has PlayItSafeDefense been in business?

Our founder and lead instructor, Tracie Arlington, has been an advocate for teaching self defense and child safety since 1998. Tracie launched PlayItSafeDefense in San Diego County in 2003.

Why Certification?

Our Certification gives you a business-in-a-box and rights to use our “Go Chihuahua Crazy!™” branding and proprietary curriculum. We are on a mission to teach confidence and increased awareness to children across the nation. Certifying national trainers, awards us the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, where we can offer a turnkey business model that attracts clients and shows you how to effectively run the PlayItSafeDefense program in your area. We are with you every step of the way, our curriculum is easy to learn and teach. We assume you have no prior self-defense skills but that you do have the desire and confidence to jump right in and be a leader.

Who are my clients?

Children ages 4 to 12 years, and teens. We teach classes to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, YMCA Adventure Guides, after-school programs, and youth groups. We also present at school assemblies.

Am I an ideal candidate?

If you can entertain children, “Go Chihuahua Crazy!” and make kids laugh, we want you on our team! Our philosophy stems around a teaching style called “edu-tainment.” Educate children by entertaining them. Again, martial art’s skills are a plus, but not a requirement. Additionally, our ideal candidates are high energy, business savvy entrepreneurs with a passion for empowering children.

How much money will I make?

In owning your own business you control your own success. As a PlayItSafeDefense trainer, you have many advantages in today’s marketplace, including the demand for our services. Our business model is unique and proven; some trainers teach up to 5 classes a week! Your success will be dependent on your ability to implement and mimic our leadership and “Chihuahua Crazy” coaching style in both the classroom and in your business operations. As a mobile business, you have the flexibility to go where your students are, on a part-time or full-time basis.