WSDC RETREAT
Learn everything you need to know about the Ultimate Women's Self-Defense Retreat
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9 - 13, 2026
LOCATION: Vilnius, Lithuania
20 Spots Left!
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WHAT TO EXPECT
Join us for five days of training self-defense skills and theory at the highest level and test your learned skills in realistic self-defense scenarios.
The retreat will be led by Amber Hoover - self-defense expert and judge of Women's Self Defense Championship (WSDC), joined by the champion of the upcoming WSDC, and Rokas Leo, the host and creator of the Ultimate Self Defense Championship.
During the retreat, you will be living in the same facility as the instructors and other participants getting to train and spend time with the group daily.
Each day will begin with a self-defense practice and theory session led by Amber, then continued with an afternoon class led by whoever wins the Women's Self Defense Championship and finally the day will end with a WSDC scenario: a realistic staged self defense scenario where you will have a chance to try out your learned self-defense skills.
WHAT's INCLUDED
The Retreat Price Includes
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Full lodging in a SPA hotel
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Daily access to pools and saunas
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Excellent breakfast
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Lunch and dinner in a restaurant
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Three instructors for the entire retreat
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3x daily sessions including daily WSDC scenarios
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Hired actors for scenario challenge
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Private bus to take participants to/from the retreat
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Tour of Birštonas, a resort town surrounded by beautiful nature
THE EXPERIENCE
The WSDC Retreat will take place in a luxury SPA hotel.
Participants will live in high-class rooms either privately, or shared by two (prices vary).
Each day will begin with an excellent breakfast at an on-site restaurant, followed by a self-defense practice and theory session with Amber Hoover.
Following a fine-dining lunch, the participants will then continue training with the champion of the Women's Self Defense Championship. There are currently three potential winners: Xenia Rooders - self defense expert, Lindsey Payne - professional MMA fighter and April Fehr - Judo black belt.
Finally, each day will be crowned by you taking part in one of the self-defense scenarios from the Women's Self-Defense Championship, organized by WSDC director Rokas Leo.
The day will then end with a fine dining dinner and a cool down in the high-end pools and saunas of the hotel.
MEET YOUR COACHES
The retreat will be led by three coaches:
Amber Hoover
Amber Hoover is a lifelong martial artist and highly respected self-defense expert, known not only for her vast knowledge and experience, but also for her friendly and approachable teaching style. Her coaching goes far beyond physical techniques - Amber emphasizes awareness, de-escalation, recognizing danger early, and making smart decisions under pressure. With her calm demeanor and practical approach, she helps students build both confidence and real-world self-defense skills in a supportive environment.
The Champion of the Women's Self Defense Championship
The second coach will be the Champion of the Women’s Self Defense Championship — a reality competition where women from different martial arts and self-defense backgrounds are put through intense, realistic self-defense challenges designed to test not only fighting ability, but decision making, composure under pressure, awareness, and adaptability.
The title will be earned by either Xenia Rooders — an experienced self-defense expert, Lindsey Payne — a professional MMA fighter, or April Fehr — a Judo black belt. Whoever emerges victorious will join the retreat to share the skills, mindset, and lessons that helped them succeed under pressure.
Rokas Leo
Rokas Leo — creator and director of the Women’s Self Defense Championship — will guide participants through scenario-based training. Drawing from years of organizing and testing self-defense challenges, he focuses on creating practical exercises that help participants apply their skills, improve decision making, develop awareness, and better understand how to adapt in self-defense situations. His approach emphasizes learning through experience in a supportive, encouraging, and grounded atmosphere.
LOCATION AND DATES
The retreat will take place in Lithuania, considered by many the Hidden Gem of Europe, known for its stunning nature, rich history, and culture.
The retreat venue is located in Birštonas, a charming resort town, celebrated for its tranquil atmosphere and natural beauty, known for its lush greenery, therapeutic mineral springs, and wellness-focused facilities.
A private bus will take you to the venue directly from the airport in Vilnius and will bring you back to Vilnius at the end of the retreat.
The retreat will take place on September 9-13th.
*A bus will pick up all the participants either at the airport on September 9th at 6 pm. The retreat ends on September 13th with two buses leaving at 7 am and 12 pm. A private shuttle is available for an additional price.
Only 20 spots are available.
Price
The price of the retreat, including lodging, access to pools and saunas, breakfast-lunch-dinner, training, and transport, depends on the type of lodging you will choose.
The first person to register will receive a 20% discount!
The following discounts are:
SUPER EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
Register before June 1st and receive a 15% discount
20 SPOTS LEFT
Instalment payment is possible*
Private room
2500€
Double shared room (price per one person)
2250€
*It is possible to pay for the retreat in parts, either with the entire sum divided into 4 monthly payments (total price is increased by 5%) or 10 monthly payments (total price is increased by 7%)
**Bringing an additional person with you for a special price who is not participating in the retreat is possible. Please contact us for more details.
***We offer a full refund policy. In other words, if you decide to cancel or if you can't make it to the retreat, you will receive 100% of your payment (minus deposit) back.
SCHEDULE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to be experienced to do this retreat?
Not at all! As self-defense is a wide subject including practice and theory, all levels of experience are welcome.
Beginners will learn essential self-defense basics that can save your life, while experienced practitioners will get to deepen their already existing knowledge and add new self-defense techniques and strategies into their arsenal.
Do I need to bring my training gear?
Having your own training gear would definitely come in handy, as it will save time switching gear with other participants and taking the time to find the right size for yourself.
If you can't bring your own gear though, don't worry! We will offer our own retreat gear for you.
Which airport do I need to fly into?
Two airports are your best options in Lithuania - Vilnius and Kaunas. Vilnius will probably be your main choice though, as it's the bigger and more important airport of the country, usually offering better flights. But feel free to check your options to both of these airports! You can always be surprised.
I'm concerned the training will be too intense for me
Don’t worry - we strongly encourage everyone to go at their own pace. If at any point the training feels too intense, you are always free to pause, take a break, or sit out an exercise. Our philosophy is that the best learning happens in a supportive environment where you can build confidence and develop skills at a pace that feels right for you.