Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Valerie Sizemore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Valerie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard
When you think of a typical “dojo,” the atmosphere is intense and competitive, often driven by a ‘toughen up’ mentality. These spaces, predominantly male, emphasize discipline and aggression, which can feel intimidating—especially for those new to martial arts or who may have experienced trauma. While this traditional environment can work for some, it often leaves others feeling out of place or unwelcome, creating a barrier to learning skills that everyone deserves to know.
In contrast, Femme Rising was created to offer a different kind of space, one where women and girls feel safe, supported, and truly represented. With statistics showing that 1 in 3 women will experience some form of assault in her lifetime, it’s clear that equipping them with the skills to defend themselves should be the standard, not the exception. As an assault survivor and mother of two young girls, I wanted to build a place where self-defense and jiu jitsu aren’t just about technique but about instilling resilience, confidence, and a sense of capability in every participant.
Our mission is to break the mold of traditional martial arts spaces, creating a community that is empowering, warm, and supportive. Here, we see learning self-defense as more than physical techniques—it’s about fostering a mindset that says, ‘You are capable, you are resilient, and you are worthy of taking up space.’ We’re redefining what it means to be powerful, making it accessible to all femme-identifying individuals, and proving that feeling strong, capable, and confident should be the standard for everyone.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Valerie Sizemore, Ph.D.(C), and I’m the founder of Femme Rising, a space dedicated to empowering women and girls through jiu jitsu, self-defense, kickboxing, and wellness coaching. My journey into this field was personal—I’m a survivor of assault, and as a mother of two daughters, I struggled to find a martial arts space that felt safe, inclusive, and empowering. The traditional martial arts environment didn’t feel like a fit for me—someone who wanted to build strength and resilience without having to conform to a harsh or intimidating atmosphere. I wanted to create something different, something that felt welcoming and inspiring, a place where women and girls could not only learn to defend themselves but also grow in confidence, self-worth, and community.
Our services are about much more than physical strength—they’re about empowering our community to feel capable, safe, and confident in their everyday lives. The heartbreaking statistic that 1 in 3 women will face assault in her lifetime has fueled our mission. I believe that equipping women and girls with the skills to defend themselves should be the standard, not the exception. Femme Rising is a space for those who may feel like they don’t belong in traditional martial arts; we’re here to break down those barriers and make self-defense accessible and supportive.
Our commitment to creating a safe and uplifting environment sets Femme Rising apart. We’ve designed our studio to be a warm, welcoming space that feels like an extension of home, where participants can feel seen, supported, and inspired. Our instructors are not only experts but also mentors who understand the importance of building trust and community.
I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve had so far—seeing our community walk away stronger, taking up space confidently, using their voices, and setting boundaries is deeply rewarding. We’re redefining what it means to be powerful, showing that strength and compassion can go hand-in-hand.
If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that Femme Rising was created for anyone who’s ever felt out of place or uncomfortable in traditional martial arts spaces. We’re here to inspire, empower, and remind you of your own strength and capability. We aim to be more than just a studio—a movement challenging the statistics and championing the strength and resilience of women.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
We’ve built most of our business through social media, and it’s been incredibly effective. While creating quality content matters, Instagram, in particular, is very much a ‘pay-to-play’ platform. I have a business degree, so when I first started Femme Rising, I had a full-blown marketing plan in place with carefully allocated marketing dollars that my former professors would have swooned over. Early on, though, a friend suggested I try boosting a few Instagram posts to increase visibility. The results were so impressive that I ended up ditching my entire marketing plan and decided to focus almost exclusively on Instagram.
To give you an idea of the impact, before we opened, I started an Instagram account to ‘create a little buzz,’ expecting just my mom and a few friends to follow along. But when I boosted our first post, we went from 0 to 10,000 followers in three months, and the day we opened, we exceeded our initial membership projections by 16 times! We broke even the first month…I still can’t believe it.
One piece of advice I’d offer to anyone starting out on social platform marketing is to turn on Instagram’s comment filters by creating a custom word list. As we grew, I faced a surprising amount of online hate, including two death threats and a sexual assault threat, with people accusing me of ‘disrupting the natural order of things’ and saying that ‘men are meant to be the protectors; not women.’ The comments section on Instagram can feel like the wild west, and if you don’t block out the negativity, it’s hard to stay focused on what really matters. I now have over 300 words on my custom filter list (all hate and slander terms), and any DMs or comments containing these words never reach me. It’s been a game-changer for my mental health and peace of mind—a lesson I learned the hard way! Lastly, be sure to turn on “two-step” verification! We got hacked at 4,000 followers (after I had just put a lot of money into an advertising campaign), and I was extorted $1,800 to get our account back. Thankfully, the bank returned our money.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Honestly, there have been countless days when I felt ready to give it all up—the business, my PhD, everything. Being a mom, an entrepreneur, and a PhD candidate comes with an invisible mental load that’s hard to describe. We’re culturally conditioned to believe that a mother’s primary place is with her children, and in many ways, our society is structured around that expectation. There’s been this constant tug to put everything aside and just stay home with my daughters, which is a beautiful calling, but I also felt a drive to push forward for them. I founded Femme Rising and pursued my PhD to help create a world where they can dream and achieve without the obstacles that many women face today. I want to be part of that change, paving the way as so many strong women have done before me, making it easier for my daughters and the next generation.
I’ve had to learn to truly take things one day at a time. I know it sounds cliché, but I’ve found strength in telling myself, ‘Get one good night’s sleep before making any big decisions about quitting.’ Back when my daughters were babies, that good sleep was harder to come by, and I often felt on the brink of giving up. Now that they’re 4 and 7, I’m thankfully out of the sleep-deprivation phase, but that lesson has stuck with me: just show up, day by day.
One thing that has kept me grounded is creating a daily habit of self-care. For me, it’s simple but essential—a bubble bath and a good book (I’m a huge fantasy reader). It’s a routine I never skip because it reminds me that rest is coming and that I’ll end the day with something calming. Knowing I have that little oasis to look forward to each night helps me recharge, and it’s often followed by a good night’s sleep that makes facing the next day easier.
I think resilience is about consistency more than anything—just showing up each day, no matter how heavy the load feels. And that simple act of showing up is something I hope to pass on to my daughters so they know that their dreams are worth pursuing, one step at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.femmerising.studio
- Instagram: @femmerisingstudio
Image Credits
Aubrey Gigandet