Rae Switlick
Rae is a Certified Krav Maga Instructor with additional training in Defense Against Weapons under the direction of Markus Andersson and Krav Maga Denmark. She has been teaching physical self defense practices for several years, including the research and development of ENOUGH: Self Defense Practices for the LGBTQ+ Community. Since August of 2021, she has also served at the Program Manager for Empowerment Self Defense at the Center for Anti-Violence Education. Additionally, she serves as the Artist Advocate & Liaison for SHIM: NYC, a residency program for at-risk international musicians in NYC.
She provides a holistic approach to self defense and has experience working with a range of special populations, ages, and demographics. In addition to her training and certification as a Krav Maga instructor, her fighting background includes practice in Muay Thai, Brazilian jujitsu, kickboxing, and boxing, competing in amateur and charity fights. She currently trains with Danny Nicholas Boxing and Chop & Chops MMA. Her ongoing support of social justice efforts, particularly in relation to the performing arts, were honed by her sociological research for her MA in Performance & Culture at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Rae holds two additional degrees from The Ohio State University: a BFA in Dance and a BA in English, where her research in interdisciplinary collaboration was honored with Research Distinction. Her co-choreographed duet with Cheyenne Abel titled “Everything before I asked and she said, ‘Alright’” won the City of Prague Award at the New Prague Dance Festival in 2012. She is still active in the arts world, and her dance background greatly informs her physical practice and self defense pedagogical practice.
Starting her career as a dance and theater artist, switching to full time self defense practice and instruction seemed like quite the leap; however, the through-line has always been one emboldened by agency, understanding, and empowerment. Rae’s strongest held belief is that every individual should be provided with the agency and access to live a fulfilled life as they so choose. She hopes for a world where freedom of expression, artistic pursuits, and true safety of the most vulnerable among us becomes common place.
