Mark Grobbelaar is a 6th Dan karate master with over 45 years of martial arts experience, a respected keynote speaker, and the founder of Women INpowered (WIP)—a groundbreaking self-INpowerment system designed specifically for women. His life mission began after reconnecting with Alison Botha, a survivor of a brutal attack in 1994. Through their discussions, Mark realized that traditional self-defence was inaccessible for most women and often misunderstood. He dedicated himself to developing a simple, effective, and mindset-driven system that enables women to reclaim their power and make choices in threatening situations.
Unlike traditional self-defence, WIP does not require years of training. Instead, it equips women with awareness, practical tools, and confidence to shift from fear to empowerment. Mark’s engaging, life-changing talks challenge misconceptions about self-defence and inspire audiences to see the world differently.
Having worked with over 7,000 women worldwide, from school learners to Miss Universe contestants, Mark has proven that WIP is more than just physical techniques—it’s a system for life. His programs extend beyond personal protection, teaching resilience, choice, and inner strength that apply to everyday barriers and challenges.
Mark Grobbelaar began karate at the age of nine and holds a 6th Dan, as well as provincial and national colours, he has over 45 years experience in his field and is founder of a revolutionary concept to give women their power back.
“The course of my life changed after a friend of mine, was abducted outside her home about 25 years ago, raped, her throat slit , disembowled and left for dead .Alison and I met in London before the attack and reconnected, where we spoke about her ordeal.
I realised that she had made some bad choices because she just didn’t know any better, she didn’t know all the options and didn’t know “The rules” , I wrote a thesis for my 5th Dan grading on “Self-defence for Women”. Alison contacted me after reading my thesis and said that if she had done what was suggested, she would never have gone through her ordeal.”
Thus Women INpowered ( WIP) was born. WIP is not “self-defence” as understood by most people, which is totally useless if you are not prepared to invest the many hours of training that is required.
Mark has a very unique philosophy to personal protection, his talks and programs are engaging ,fun and many have said are “life changing” “it will change the way you think, and you will look at the world around you differently “ says Mark
Mark Grobbelaar challenges the concepts of what self defence is and what it is not, and challenges what many people believe to be fact.
Mark Grobbelaar has spoken around the world and has worked with over 7000 women and young ladies from all walks of life, from school children to Miss Universe.
The concepts he covers are not only relevant to “personal protection” but also Life.
WIP will give you the ability to make a choice in a threatening situation ,we are faced with barriers every day how and if we get through them is up to us
WIP is an extremely simple, easy-to learn yet devastatingly effective self-INpowerment system that has been designed specifically for Women to give them the ability to make a choice when they find themselves in a threatening situation.
Mark Grobbelaar and Alison met in London in 1990 and after returning to South Africa two years later they lost contact.
In December 1994, Alison was abducted outside her home by two men who raped, stabbed and disembowelled her, finally slashing her throat to make sure she was dead. No one could have believed that anyone with such severe injuries could have been alive but miraculously, she survived. The way she survived, her inner strength and determination, her lack of bitterness and her serenity and humility captured the attention of the whole of South Africa.
Mark Grobbelaar, after reading about the attack in the press and after much persistence, managed to make contact with Alison and they realised that they share a belief that there is a need for a self-INpowerment system that is specifically designed for woman of all ages.
A key element for a grading to 5th Dan is an in depth study and thesis on a subject pertaining to Karate. This was the opportunity for Mark Grobbelaar to put all his beliefs, thoughts and discussions with Alison on paper. After much research and development, WIP was born.
In 2016 we realized that there was a need to develop a product for men and GRIP took flight.
INpowered was created by Mark Grobbelaar to house these brands under one roof because the power is INside you…
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In this conversation, Mark Grobbelaar shares the origins and philosophy of Women INpowered (WIP), a unique self-INpowerment system he developed after the brutal attack on his friend Alison Botha. He explains that traditional self-defence is ineffective for most people because it requires daily practice and years of training. Instead, WIP focuses on a simple approach that teaches women one unforgettable technique combined with a mindset shift, giving them the ability to make choices in life-threatening situations.
Mark emphasizes that in any crisis, there are three responses: fight, flight, or freeze. WIP empowers participants to recognize these options and equips them to act effectively. The program lasts just two hours and includes both mental and physical components. A signature moment comes when participants break through a wooden board—a physical act that symbolizes breaking barriers, instilling the belief that if they can achieve this, they can face other challenges in life.
He recounts stories of women whose lives were impacted by the program, including Miss South Africa and later Miss Universe, who survived an attempted hijacking by applying the knowledge gained from WIP. Mark highlights that over 7,000 women have completed the program, ranging from schoolgirls to professionals.
The training is delivered at client venues such as schools and corporates, and new modular online sessions are also available. Mark concludes by noting that WIP is not just about self-protection but about instilling resilience, confidence, and empowerment that extend into all areas of life.
00:15 – Origins of WIP after Alison Botha’s attack and Mark’s thesis on self-defence for women
01:30 – Why traditional self-defence fails and how WIP takes a different approach
02:45 – Core principle: fight, flight, or freeze—and making the empowered choice
04:00 – The two-hour program: mental and physical empowerment techniques
05:15 – Board-breaking exercise as a symbol of barrier-breaking in life
06:30 – Testimonials: Miss South Africa and Miss Universe applying WIP in real life
08:00 – Over 7,000 women trained worldwide and counting
09:00 – New online modular program for broader accessibility
10:15 – Closing: WIP as a system not just for safety, but for life empowerment
A: WIP focuses on awareness, mindset, and simple, effective techniques—no years of training required.
A: Women and girls of all ages, as well as men through the GRIP program. The system is adaptable and inclusive.
A: Yes, Mark delivers corporate keynotes and workshops tailored to personal empowerment, resilience, and team culture.
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