Personal safety is important — Only when you have a strong sense of awareness of your surroundings can you assess your risks and plan how to protect yourself. Stephanie Peshtaz understands this after she and her husband were assaulted by a stranger while walking one evening. The two then realized they needed to learn how to protect themselves and help others in their community to do the same. They met the need by opening a Thousand Oaks location for United Defense Tactical (UDT), a self-defense facility franchise that now has several locations in California. I asked her about how the classes empower women (and others) and more in our interview below.
Disclosure: This sponsored feature encourages you to learn more about self-defense training to be better able to protect yourself safely.
Interview with Stephanie Peshtaz of UDT (Thousand Oaks location owner)
United Defense Tactical is recognized for its unique and realistic training methods, which are grounded in both live and simulated exercises. The program emphasizes not only physical defense techniques but also situational awareness, threat avoidance, and the legal implications of self-defense actions.
Stephanie, what inspired you to open up a United Defense Tactical facility in Thousand Oaks, CA?
A couple years ago, my husband and I were assaulted by a random man in Newport Beach. We were on our way to my birthday dinner and were in what we thought was a very safe area. Luckily, we walked away from that situation unharmed, but it opened our eyes to the possibility that anything can happen to you at any time. We realized the need for a well-rounded self-defense training program for ourselves at that time, and the more we learned, the more we realized that everyone in the community could benefit from this training. We’ve heard countless stories from people in our community with similar stories to ours, and sometimes with far worse outcomes.
Opening another UDT location was an easy decision for us. We want to provide a service to the community that empowers people to protect their family and their assets in the safest and most effective way possible. Part of that ability is understanding the legal implications of your actions. UDT approaches all of these topics in a comprehensive manner through live and simulated exercises, as well as education.
In what ways does UDT empower women?
UDT empowers women by offering them a safe place to train all the different aspects of self-defense. Not only do we teach the physical varieties of self-defense, like weapons training, jiujitsu, and hand-to-hand combat, we teach threat avoidance, situational awareness, and strategic management of situations to provide a wholistic approach to the training.
Anyone who goes through our program will have the confidence and awareness to take appropriate action and sometimes avoid dangerous situations entirely. Women will be prepared to deescalate a threat, as well as, deal with the legal implications of any action they take to maintain personal safety.
How has this important work affected you personally?
The way I move around the world is different. I have always been a confident person, but my perception of the world around me is different. I know now how unprepared I could be for a situation and understand the necessity to be prepared for the unknown. As a mother, my priority is to protect my children. Working in the self-defense industry has given me the tools to better protector for my family.
How is UDT changing the self-defense industry?
For one, UDT offers proprietary means of training in the most realistic scenarios. Our equipment is exclusive and unique to the UDT training model, and our trainers are seasoned veterans with law enforcement or military background. Second, our training is available to everyone, regardless of experience. You might find a grandmother of 6 training next to a military veteran keeping up his skills. We all have the right to personal protection, regardless of gender, occupation, or prior experience.
What can women expect in a class? What types of classes are there in Thousand Oaks?
Women will learn the same skills as the men; however, we can tailor what they learn to each person’s physical limitations or challenges. We will also offer classes that specifically focus on women’s self-defense and the situations and challenges they might encounter as a woman.
How do you deal with challenges as a woman entrepreneur in the male-dominated field of self-defense?
Being a woman in a male-dominated field does not intimidate me at all. I treat everyone kindly and fairly, and I think that goes a long way in any field. People realize that you act with integrity and respect and most of the time, they give that to you in return. I have encountered times when I was brushed off as a woman or not taken seriously. I don’t take it personally, but I do enjoy proving them wrong. My work and my attitude speak [for] itself.
To a woman who wants to become a leader in the self-defense industry, what advice would you give?
Follow your passion and there are no limitations to what you can do. The most important thing is that you believe in yourself and in what you are doing enough to be consistent and keep going.
Can you share some success stories about women who have gone through UDT courses at your location?
At United Defense Tactical, success stories abound across various scenarios, but one particularly striking account involves a female member faced with a potential threat. While at a shopping center, she found herself approached by a man as she exited her vehicle. Applying the parking techniques taught at UDT, she backed into her spot, affording her a clear view of the approaching individual.
Recognizing the man’s attempt to engage her in conversation while his hand remained concealed in his pocket, she maintained her distance, instinctively aware of the danger signs. Politely but firmly, she requested the man not to advance further. Despite her warnings, he persisted, prompting her to swiftly navigate around her vehicle towards the storefronts, continuously cautioning him and drawing attention to her plight by calling out for help to bystanders.
Undeterred by her actions, the man’s demeanor escalated, his aggression palpable as he hurled threats and insults, closing the distance between them at an alarming rate. As she started towards her phone to dial 911, she began yelling for help and attracting attention, garnering the assistance of concerned onlookers who began to converge towards her. Safely reaching the entrance of a nearby store, she promptly informed the staff of the unfolding situation.
Faced with the increasing scrutiny and assistance from bystanders, the man relented, abandoning his pursuit and veering away in the opposite direction. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, she recounted the incident, ensuring her safe passage back to her vehicle under their watchful eye. Mindful of the potential danger, she remained vigilant, taking precautions to ensure she was not followed.
Reflecting on the encounter, she acknowledged the pivotal role her training at UDT played in her response. Through simulated and live scenarios, she had honed her skills in threat identification, situational awareness, effective communication, and the strategic management of distance from potential threats. She stated in the past she had been far too trusting and would normally engage in conversations. Her decisive actions undoubtedly averted what could have escalated into a dire situation, underscoring the value of comprehensive training in self-defense and personal safety.
Wow, the self-defense classes may have saved her life! What do you see in the future for your local facility?
UDT is constantly developing proprietary ways of making our training equipment more realistic and adding classes based on the need for that area. We are also working on opening up several locations across California and the surrounding states.
Connect further with Stephanie at UDT in Thousand Oaks, CA
Find out more about what UDT offers and the multiple locations at uniteddefensetactical.com. Also find them on social media @udt_thousandoaks today.
The impact of UDT is evident from the success story at the Thousand Oaks location that Stephanie Peshtaz shared with us. Her dedication to personal safety is creating a future where individuals can live more confidently knowing they have the skills to navigate and neutralize threats. Thank you, Stephanie, for inspiring us!
How prepared do you feel to handle unexpected personal safety threats? Have you taken self-defense classes?