Testimonial: Raphaella D’Alessandro

By DL Team 10th April 2017 September 27th, 2017 Testimonial

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Name: Raphaella
Age: 17

Since I was 15 (I am 17 now) I’ve been getting sexually harassed in the street by men of all ages, on their own or in groups, and it is really intimidating. I was followed home by a man after he harassed me and that’s when I spoke to my Dad about doing self-defence and he looked around and found Defence Lab.

In my first lesson I found that everyone was really friendly and Tahir made it very easy to talk to people by introducing me directly to them. I really enjoy the actual self-defence as it was always put into context, showing us that these things will be useful if we are ever involved in a conflict.

Another aspect I really liked was that it’s a fun way to stay fit. I don’t enjoy gyms or running, but Defence Lab has made it something I look forward to; and I can actually do a press up now! My favourite thing, is that the moves we are shown can be used on anyone, by anyone. I’m 5ft 3in girl, so being able to fight a grown man is important as pretty much everyone is bigger than me…

Everyone involved with Defence Lab, instructors or other students, are all really friendly and supportive of one another. You don’t need any previous experiences with self-defence or martial arts to do Defence Lab, as if you need help, they will give it to you. I’ve been going to Defence Lab since October, and since then I’ve noticed improvements in my fitness and confidence. Now, I don’t get intimidated by harassers, and I feel safer when I’m out.

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Defence Lab Worcester Park

Dorchester Primary School
Dorchester Road
Worcester Park
Surrey
KT4 8PG
Tel: 0800 246 1878
View timetable & map

Class Groups

Super Sparks (4-6 year olds), Street Smart (7-12 year olds), DNA (Teenagers and Adults). ‘Become Elite’ Class & Weapons Class.

Google Rating

5.0

Based on 82 reviews

Defence Lab Training

5.0

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1713383553

Zdravka Stoimenova

1713378588

We joined Defence Lab in January '24 because my son was being bullied at school, had no confidence and didn't want to share much with us or with the teachers. And so we decided that things need to change and luckily we found Defence Lab training online.Farhaj, his daughters and the rest of the team from Team STORM @ Defence Lab Training have been amazing with both of my children (age 11 & 8) and we would highly recommend them.The team takes time before and after each class to have a quick catch up with each child and find out how they are feeling and how their week's been. That shows how much they care about their students and that what they do it's not just a job.My children love attending Defence Lab classes and in the short amount of time they've been training, we`ve noticed a massive improvement in their confidence, attitude and communicational skills. These positive changes have been recognised by their teachers at school which makes me even more proud of them.Thank you Farhaj + team for all of your dedication and hard work 💪 💪💪

Mayselle Parsons

1712836697

My son loves coming to defence lab on a Wednesday. The team are great with the kids and have taught my son a lot already! He's always talking about it to his family and friends! So glad I found this!!

1712660934

Great classes. My 6 year old was anxious to start but after the first class he couldn't wait to go back. He is really enjoying the classes. Great trainers, who keep the kids focussed and motivated. Thank you.

1710756164

So pleased I got the opportunity to put my 4year old into the training, not only helped him with concentration confidence but also helped me.. highly recommend everyone join

1710105836

I have just started and I am loving it

Angelika Gruszka

1709812949

My daughter started having more confidence since she attended her dl class

1708977635

My daughter has been attending defense lab since the start of the year after attending a free taster session and absolutely loves it. She enjoys the training and loves practicing and showing the new moves she picks up weekly. Tehseen is brilliant with the group and clearly enjoys passing on the knowledge he has. Would definitely recommend.

1707152441

Thank you so much Defence Lab for coming to our club and sharing your knowledge with us! The teenagers in our Youth club were very engaged and enjoyed the work out. Your instructors used some fantastic and very appropriate scenarios which highlighted the importance of self defence to our young people. Our youth club will definitely be calling on The Defence Club for another session in the future!

1706626564

Our daughter loves her Defence Lab Training sessions. She gets to make new friends and learn a life saving skill.There’s nothing better than seeing her confidence grow and see how happy she is after a session.

Chloe Zeffert-Anderson

1706120812

Classes are fun, dynamic and helpful. The instructors are excellent

1705599716

Excellent classes. The team will challenge your limits whilst remaining respectful and the sessions are very insightful. I’m on session 4 and have already learned so much! Great way to keep fit and learn how to defend yourself in practical situations

1704731070

Defence lab uses mixed martial arts in the form of self-defence for all ages.My child has been attending for well over a year now and having signed up due to shyness and lack of confidence, I can now say it’s helped his confidence quite a lot and I can rest easy knowing he can defend himself if he needed to, he’s already put it to the test on his friends during a Judo vs MMA fight. He won.The instructors are approachable and accommodating, teach them discipline and good form until they get it right but still have fun in doing so.I would sign myself up if I had the funds and fitness.

1704386437

Great self defense classes for children and adults with a mixture of martial arts techniques, cherry picked to be used in real life scenarios. Highly recommend 👌

1704195431

What can I say? I really like this training; the tutors are well experienced, friendly, and patient fortunately!What I really like is the science behind it all; it's been very well thought through and the reason for each attach and counter measure is explained; I would definitely recommend gicing this a go. In fact come to the Teddington sessions and I'll see you there! Not for a fight you understand - for the training 😉

Madalina Newton

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My 7 year old son loves the self defence classes- the defence lab is amazing !I’d like to recommend this to all kids out there.

1697800092

Friendly people. Very realistic fighting system for self defence. Looking forward to the next classUPDATE: I recently took my two children and they loved it.My eldest son has autism, Farhan was very patient and encouraging.My daughter loved it and they both had an enormous amount to fun.Highly recommend Defence Lab as a student and parent.My daughter also commented that she prefer DL to Taekwondo because she thinks DL would actually work if she were ever bullied at school.

1697305206

My son really enjoys his training sessions with Defence Lab Training

1693734025

Fantastic training for kids!

1689675775

This is one of the best classes you will ever gift to your son or daughter. They will build their confidence, learn invaluable defence skills (real-life, actionable, street defence skills) in a disciplined but very fun way. My son does not skip this class under any condition, he absolutely loves it. The coaches have an impressive approach in keeping the kids engaged, focused and wanting to get better week on week.I highly recommend DL training with Tahir and the team.

1689623603

DL team is fantastic and superb. Very practical and real life training. My both sons are really enjoying their classes and have gained enormous confidence to defend themselves in any unwanted situation.

1689521142

My son very enjoys the lesson and he is able to learn skills from activities.

Nigel Fletcher-Lord

1689436353

I have trained in several martial art systems over the years, but since learning the Defence Lab System I appreciate how reality base focused it is for the modern world. If you want to learn a system that's efficient, effective and practical, then Defence Lab is all you need.

1689426623

My 7 year old joined this when she was 6 at the beginning of the year and says it’s her favourite class she does.she was so nervous and scared before she joined but after the first friendly session she loved it and her confidence has also grown from going to the classes.

Charlotte Rawlings

1689424663

This is a great class, the instructors are great with the kids making sure it’s still fun as well as teaching them some valuable skills. My 9 year old daughter loves the training and is already so much more confident than she was in just a matter of weeks. Highly recommend this!

1688368334

Really excellent training! Farhaj and the other instructors are so knowledgeable and make learning something tricky really easy! Classes are a lot of fun, and at the same time teach some serious skills!

1686405579

My 10 year old daughter has only been going a few weeks but I’ve already noticed such a difference in her, she was very shy and reluctant to join DL but she gave it a go and I’m amazed how her confidence has grown. She looks forward to going every week and has learnt so much already as well as having lots of fun and making new friends. Her instructor is brilliant and really knows how to bring out the best in the students.

1685999505

Farhaj is highly skilled and the age appropriate curriculum focused on practical self- defence techniques. Our daughters learned valuable skills, and had a blast!

Anastasia Anthopoulou

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I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in a self-defense class, and tge experience was transformative. The knowledge and skills I gained have not only boosted my confidence but have also given me a greater sense of personal safety and security. I would highly recommend these self-defense classes to anyone looking to enhance their personal well-being and self-assurance.From the moment I stepped into the class, I was greeted by a team of dedicated instructors who radiated enthusiasm and expertise. Their passion for teaching self-defense was evident, and their ability to create a supportive and inclusive environment was exceptional. Regardless of age, gender, or fitness level, every participant was treated with respect and given equal attention.One of the aspects that truly stood out to me was the comprehensive curriculum. The classes covered a wide range of techniques, including effective strikes, blocks, and holds, as well as practical strategies for real-life situations. The instructors took the time to explain the reasoning behind each technique and ensured that we understood the underlying principles. It was evident that their goal was to equip us with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect ourselves in any potential threats.

1666878562

Recently took a women's self-defence course which took place on a Saturday over 3hrs. As a smaller frame female - i found the course very useful and practical with hands on work. I had a good partner who was serious about learning (we both ended up happily bruised) and really tried hard with the techniques.Tahir and his assistants and were super helpful during the sparring exercises.The volume of skills learned was not overwhelming and allowed us to build upon them. Tahir is a great instructor and teaches with empathy and understanding. They have a build on course for women afterwards which I look forward to taking. And although I came out more confident from the course, I am always mindful that I could do more to protect myself and practice the techniques learned. It is a very good course, at a fair price, with very good instructors and keen attendees.

1666040639

Informative, great learning more about personal safety and was fun too

1660066489

In a short time defence lab has helped my son develop confidence, coordination and self defence skills! We enjoy defence lab every week. I would recommend it to anyone.

1657023313

My daughter spent 3 months at the Teddington classes learning skills that I am sure will give her the confidence to respond in situations that feel unsafe. The training seemed excellent and she was always keen to try out new skills on us. Thank you

1653307246

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Defence Lab is brilliant, the kids have such a great time and learn loads! The Instructors are amazing too!

1652433852

I have attended classes since October 2017 and can truly say I have enjoyed all of them! The team has been amazing; they are incredibly knowledgeable, skilled as well as funny!It's a really safe and friendly environment which gave me the courage to continue self defence classes even when things were difficult for me.As some one recovering from assaults in the past, this environment has had remarkable impact on my own journey and development.One major thing that has stood out to me is how the training is not only physical, so working on our attitudes and mindsets has been key to breakthrough.In my case, I went from feeling totally powerless to having my 'voice' restored.The fact that the techniques are so applicable in real life has meant I developed genuine confidence when I am out in the community, especially knowing how to handle multiple people at the same time.The personal safety aspect of it has been a regular part of classes also, focusing on prevention.I am very grateful that a quality service like this is in my local area.Many thanks to the team for their ongoing dedication and commitment to their students!!

1652125357

Very positive experience with Tahir, his family and instructors, they give 100% attention to class members and Tahir has helped my son believe in himself and become more confident, good self defence skills to have and great way to keep fit too!

1650922833

I travel from Tooting to Worcester Park so my kids can attend this excellent self-defence class every Sunday. My kids have grown in confidence and I feel reassured as a parent that my kids are developing their skills in this area to protect themselves. I highly recommend Defence Lab Training!

1650896368

Since my daughter joined DL training her confidence has grown massively. She genuinely enjoys her time with you and your team.

1650565927

Absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended!!My 8 year old daughter 'L' loves her weekly training at Defence Lab. Tahir and his team teach the kids in such an enthusiastic, thoughtful, safe and fun way. The skills taught are not only physical/practical but cover the psychological side of things too which is invaluable and rare. Tahir is also agile in his approach, and has on occasion tailored the lessons in response to recent real life situations/threats.This class will not teach your child to be a cage fighter, but they will learn how to stop one in their tracks if needed! They will most certainly learn essential practical skills on how to defend against multiple bullies and how to get away if the unfortunate situation arises.I have martial art experience myself and I wish these guys were around when I was her age. Well done Tahir and team and thank you for making a positive difference to my daughters life and safety.

1650397218

I recently enrolled my 11 year old daughter at the defence lab training in Twickenham at Stanley Primary School. Shes been attending there 2 months and the difference is amazing. I cannot praise Farhaj and his wonderful team enough. If your looking for smart ,confidence building self defence thats realistic in todays aggresive world then defence lab training is the best decision you can make for yourself or your child.

Rachael Lambert

1650313483

Great instructors and enjoyable classes, have been going for over 6 months now and have already learnt a lot. My fitness has improved, I have gained confidence and look forward to going to every class. Everyone is friendly and welcoming.

1650301362

Defence lab is great. Not only is it sociable, it builds confidence and most importantly teaches children how to be safe and defend themselves. Tahir and the team make the lessons fun so the children are always focused and engaged in the lessons.

1650221241

An amazing team of team of instructors who all take great pride in their work. Their warm approach and focus on inclusivity ensure that all children are encouraged to develop. An excellent experience thus far. Thank you, Defence Lab!

1650219794

My 4((nearly 5) year old boy goes to a Sunday morning class and loves it. The coaches are excellent with the children and do a great job at getting the best out of them. The children are always kept engaged and active, and the sessions are really fun with just the right amount of discipline and technique for their age.My son has tried a number of different activities but has enjoyed this the most and always looks forward to his class.The whole thing is run very professionally and all of the staff are very welcoming and friendly. They remembered my and my son's name immediately upon us walking through the door for his taster session - great first impression.

Andrea Piccioni

1650209250

We started taking lessons last summer and we love it. The atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming and even if you are not super fit the instructors makes it work for you and your level. Both the adult classes and the kids classes are great fun: our children love taking part and are very motivated to come each week and learn new skills. These guys are great! Thank you for all your hard work! thumbs up!!

Charlotte Tutcher

1650194092

Everyone at Self Defence Lab has made my son gain so much confidence in just weeks! He’s learnt skills that we can also practise at home and he gets excited now to participate.Thankyou so much!

1650194001

I've been looking for a place to learn this style ever since the Batman trilogy was out, so grateful to have found this DL club, with amazing coaching, a great atmosphere, and a fantastic style that can teach you how to better defend yourself from an attack after one class. The techniques are so intuitive that you'll see the benefit of learning them instantly.Despite having invested time in martial arts for a few years, I never felt as if I had as good a tool to defend from an unknown and unprepared attack as I do with the techniques from DL.Friendly and inclusive atmosphere, with great training.

1650113744

Started my kids at Defence lab and i enjoyed watching them so much i decided to give it a go myself. After 20 years of boxing it was great to also work with a complete new range of moves and skills. I really enjoy the sessions and gain a wealth of knowledge each time, whilst also getting a good workout. i look forward to what i am going to next. The team are great and they are always willing to go into detail when required. I like the fact they do not try to flood you with information and break things down, this helps you to retain the knowledge.

AlFaisal ElDajani

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The kids love it! Lots of excellent life lessons that go beyond just fighting skills

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