About 3 Rivers Defense

3 Rivers Defense is a holistic self-defense program founded by Brigitte Schulze Martínez in 2009.

Brigitte’s home base is in Bozeman, Montana, where the Three Rivers Safety self-defense training center is located. Brigitte spends part of the year in Patagonia, Chile, with her husband José Luis and their cat, Gracie.

Brigitte's self-defense training is trauma-informed, realistic, and research-based.

Brigitte is a SPEAR Self-defense ® Trainer, an Evidence Based Scenario Trainer, and a Be Your Own Bodyguard ® Coach, all certified by Tony Blauer, Blauer Tactical Systems. She is proud to be a licensed affiliate of Blauer Tactical Systems.

She uses training methods, building on intelligence, intuition, and instinctive survival reactions. 

Brigitte teaches situational awareness based on increased and re-awakened self-awareness and self-confidence. 

She teaches physical self-defense in a supportive environment, progressing from fundamental tactical defense and counter-offense to full-force counter-attacks against an aggressor wearing High Gear ™ designed by Tony Blauer. 

As an Evidence Based Scenario Trainer, Brigitte uses reality-based scenarios, including scenarios of particular concern to her clients. Scenarios include predatory as well as emotion-based attacks, aggression by mentally disturbed or unstable people, boundary violations, road-rage attacks, as well as attacks by known aggressors such as teachers, clergy, coaches, supervisors at work, and other people in authority. 

Scenarios are customized so that they are realistic and relevant for each individual or group.

Her courses for women take into account that most women and girls are harassed or attacked by men they know in places generally considered safe, rather than by strangers in scary places.  

Brigitte teaches de-escalation, using what the SPEAR system calls “Choice Speech” and “Non Violent Postures.” Our system teaches students to defuse violence effectively when that is possible while at the same time internally getting ready to fight back strategically, as morally, ethically, and legally justified.

Brigitte trains people to find their voice, to communicate strategically, set boundaries, and defend against larger and stronger attackers.

In sum, her training includes risk awareness, recognition, and avoidance, de-escalation, and physical defense strategies.

Every class integrates training of the mind, body, and spirit.  

Mission

Our mission is to train, inspire, and empower.

We train people in personal safety, self-defense, and functional fitness.

We inspire people to realize their full physical, mental, and spiritual potential.

We empower people to have fun, enjoy life, and maximize their safety and well-being.

Training Goals

Our training goals for every class are to learn, realize our power, and have fun.

Training Principles

We value diversity. Everyone who wants to train with us is welcome.

Our courses are for people age 13 and up.

No particular physical fitness or ability is required.

We train people of every shape and fitness level, from marathon runners to those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle. Many of our trainees would not call themselves "athletes."  

We use trauma-informed and research-based training.

We respect reality. Violence can be ugly and we won't whitewash the potential brutality of physical attacks. We train with compassion and sensitivity. We also realize that you need to train realistically to program yourself to overcome the body's natural freeze reaction and counter-attack decisively and effectively when such a response is necessary for your safety.

We want you to realize your mental, emotional, and physical strengths and the powers of your natural weapons.

We provide you with options, but realize that the decisions whether and how to de-escalate or resist are always yours.

We don’t believe in “do or don’t lists.” We teach safety concepts instead.

We respect your autonomy. You are in control of your training participation. At times, you may want to observe rather than participate, and that’s ok.

We realize that many of our participants have suffered trauma, including sexual assault, rape, domestic or partner violence, and other non-stranger or stranger violence. We believe that violence is the aggressor’s fault, not the target’s.

We also strongly believe that everyone has the ability to increase their safety and well-being through self-defense education and training.

Our training emphasizes increasing awareness and providing safety options in a respectful and compassionate environment.

Everyone is different and has different backgrounds and physical and mental abilities. We respect what you already know and bring to the training. We tailor each training to our participants' needs.   

We look forward to collaborate with you in violence prevention.