Saskatoon martial arts studio empowers women through self-defence

Crystal Greenwood, owner of Okami Martial Arts, carries herself with an air of confidence and her head held high, a presence that commands respect.

But she said it hasn’t always been that way.

“In high school I was very shy and nervous,” Greenwood recalled, reflecting on her early years. She said after experiencing a violent assault she was left feeling powerless and fragile.

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Everything changed in 2011 when she began to explore martial arts.

“I just liked the way martial arts made me feel,” she said. “So I started doing karate and kickboxing, and I felt really empowered and really strong and powerful.”

Listen to Greenwood on Behind the Headlines:

Crystal Greenwood said practicing martial arts makes her feel strong and powerful. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Martial arts gave Greenwood the tools to build up her confidence, a journey that would become life altering in more ways than one.

“It made me feel reconnected to myself,” she explained, saying the physical and mental challenges of martial arts gave her an outlet for healing, and a way to rebuild herself after personal trauma.

As Greenwood’s skills grew, so did her passion. She soon found a new purpose: helping others find the same strength she had uncovered.

By 2014, she was ready to open her own martial arts studio — Okami Martial Arts.

At Okami, Greenwood didn’t just want to teach the techniques of martial arts; she wanted to create a space where others could find their voices, just as she had.

“It’s a skill for everyone,” she said. “We teach people how to cook, how to clean, but people also need to know how to stay safe and how to assert boundaries.”

Okami Martial Arts offers classes for all ages. Greenwood has taught self-defense skills to children as young as two. (Okami Martial Arts Saskatoon/Facebook)

Okami Martial Arts offers a variety of classes like karate, kickboxing, jujitsu and samba, all designed to help people become stronger and more confident. Through her work, Greenwood said she’s seen firsthand how martial arts can transform lives.

“I notice their confidence change,” she said, describing the women who come through her gym. “Some people come in and they’re very shy and nervous, and even just after one session they’re like, ‘Whoa, I just feel really great!’”

Greenwood said it’s a shift that happens not just in their posture, but in their entire presence. Some of the quietest women who started at Okami are now the loudest, speaking out with a newfound confidence that Greenwood helped them discover.

Greenwood said she often notices an immediate change in the confidence levels of the women who visit her studio to learn self-defense skills. (Okami Martial Arts Saskatoon/Facebook)

Greenwood said her past experience of assault had a large impact on the way she approaches teaching martial arts.

She specializes in working with people who have experienced trauma, offering them a path to healing and empowerment. Certified in trauma-informed training, Greenwood continues her education with a trauma certification through Wilfrid Laurier University, ensuring she is fully equipped to help women reclaim their confidence through martial arts.

For Greenwood, martial arts isn’t just a career — it’s a tool for empowerment, healing, and strength.

“It has completely, completely changed my life,” she said.