October 2025
5 out of 5 stars
Have been attending for about a month now the instructor and team were very welcoming. An amazing gym for sure I highly recommend taking a free week trial class it got me hooked the first day and I never looked back!
Women's Self Defense in Florence, SC
Practical self defense built on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - the art designed for exactly the situation that scares you most: a bigger, stronger attacker. No experience needed. Your first class is free.
Florence, SC
Why It Works
Self Defense That Works for Women
Most self-defense advice falls apart the moment there is a real size and strength difference. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was built for that exact problem.
It teaches you to stay calm, protect yourself, and control or escape a larger attacker using leverage and technique instead of force. That is what makes it one of the most effective self-defense skills a woman can learn.
Curriculum
What You Will Learn
Read & Avoid Danger
How to read and avoid a dangerous situation before it escalates.
Ground Defense
How to protect yourself if an attacker closes the distance or takes you to the ground.
Leverage & Escape
How to use leverage to control or escape someone bigger and stronger.
Stay Composed
How to stay composed under pressure - the skill that matters most.
Your Space
A Supportive Place to Train
You train in a room where beginners are the norm and everyone starts somewhere. No ego, no pressure, just real skill built at your own pace.
You learn from a Brazilian instructor trained at the source in Ceara, under the Sa lineage. This is real Brazilian Jiu Jitsu applied to self defense, not a one-day seminar you forget a week later.
Reviews
4.938 Google reviewsWhat Our Students Say
January 2024
5 out of 5 stars
Competitive Edge Combat Sports is a great place to be. Professor Aragao is one of the most down to earth and humble people I know. In addition, he is also an amazing jiu jitsu instructor and will help you master the art of the sport.
2024
5 out of 5 stars
If you are considering starting jiu jitsu or looking for a place to join, I would highly recommend CEC Sports. Professor Francisco is one of a kind! A truly humble and welcoming person. I dropped in for a Monday night gi class (traveling through Florence on business) and I was immediately made to feel welcome. Great training, great students, and a great professor. Thanks again Francisco. I will visit again!
May 2024
5 out of 5 stars
Great gym with great people and a very welcoming atmosphere. Prof. Aragao is a great instructor who will invest his time and knowledge if you are willing to put in the work/time to learn. Highly recommend!
February 2026
5 out of 5 stars
Good training and atmosphere. I have been training here for years great teachers and students to learn and train with.
April 2026
5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful instructor our son loves going to Jijitsu.
FAQ
Women's Self Defense Questions
No. Most women start with no experience and no special fitness. You train at your own pace, and your first class is free.
Yes. It is one of the most effective options, because it is designed to keep you safe and in control against a bigger, stronger attacker.
Training is controlled and progressive. You learn technique first and always work at a pace that is right for you.
Yes. One-on-one coaching is available every shift, seven days a week, including weekends.
You build usable skills from your first classes. Real self defense is a skill you keep sharpening, not a certificate you collect once.
About
Self Defense That Works Against a Real Size Difference
Self defense is the foundation of what we teach at Competitive Edge Combat Sports in Florence, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the reason it works against a real size difference. Our instruction comes from an authentic Brazilian lineage in Ceara, applied to keeping you safe.
Claim Your Free Trial Class
Location