Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Paresa.
Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a martial arts film fan and I always thought it would be cool to learn how to disarm someone, like Jackie Chan. At 42, I found a Groupon for a local Krav Maga studio and thought I’d give it a try. Krav Maga, more martial than art, is a straight forward defense system without fancy acrobatics or katas which I found appealing. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but that first class completely humbled me. It was physically demanding, but I fell in love with the grit it required. Six years of hard work later, I earned my black belt.
Along the way, I helped teach the studio’s monthly Women’s Self-Defense classes. The techniques—like escaping a bear hug from behind—were great, but there was a catch. These classes were primarily designed to get people to sign up for expensive, ongoing memberships but most of the women who attended had no desire to join the studio, they just wanted to learn some basics. 805 Defense contours the session according to the client’s needs and expectations, giving them the fundamentals in a short amount of time.
Safety shouldn’t be locked behind a paywall or complex belt systems. I wanted to strip away the politics of traditional studios. That’s why I founded 805 Defense. We offer fun, informative, and straightforward classes that teach basic protection to people of all ages and abilities. No contracts, no complicated moves—just practical survival skills everyone deserves to know.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
805 Defense started as a partnership with 2 other women from the same Krav studio. While we all loved teaching, our visions for a business were very different. I decided to keep the 805 Defense brand and carry on as a sole proprietor which allows me to work much like a personal trainer. Without the stress of running a studio or retaining memberships, I am able to train clients according to their preferred time and place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a mobile self-defense expert in Santa Barbara, I bring practical safety training straight to your location. I specialize in customized sessions for corporations, private groups, and individuals, focusing on defense skills that are simple to learn and retain. I am best known for my fun, welcoming, and informative teaching style that empowers clients without overwhelming them. My clients leave the session smiling and feeling more confident in their ability to handle a difficult situation.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
At the same time 805 Defense started as a business, I was lucky to be contacted by my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professor friend Maurice Moreno of OG Jiu-Jitsu, who said UCSB was looking for a self-defense instructor. The timing was perfect. I met with the department head and my Self-Defense Basics class was confirmed. Teaching at the University of California, Santa Barbara has been a powerful catalyst for my private business. When the community sees that a major university trusts you to teach their students life saving skills, it creates and instant foundation of credibility. It eliminates the skepticism that independent instructors often face.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.805defense.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/805_defense
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/805defense/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r_Yx-z8Lao
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/805-defense-santa-barbara
