About Us - Clark's Self Defense: Your Partner in Safety & Empowerment

Welcome to Clark's Self Defense, where we are committed to providing top-quality self-defense training, martial arts programs, and fitness education to individuals and families. Our mission is to help you gain the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to protect yourself in any situation. With a focus on safety, discipline, and personal empowerment, we aim to be your trusted partner in building resilience, strength, and self-assurance.

Our Story

Clark's Self Defense was established in 1999 by Derrick and Magda Clark.  Derrick is a passionate martial artist and self-defense expert who created Clark's Self Defense with the vision of offering a safe, welcoming environment for people of all ages to learn self-defense and martial arts. With years of hands-on experience in various combat disciplines, his goal is simple: to teach practical, real-world skills that help people feel more secure in their daily lives.
Since our founding, we have served thousands of students, ranging from beginners to seasoned martial artists. Each class is designed to not only equip you with physical techniques but to also instill a mindset of awareness and empowerment.
To meet our wide range of students we offer several different training programs to fit everyone's needs. 

1. American Kempo Karate
Kempo Karate is a martial art that combines elements of traditional Chinese and Japanese martial arts, focusing on striking techniques such as punches, kicks, and knee strikes, along with joint locks and pressure point attacks. Known for its fluid, dynamic movements, Kempo emphasizes both speed and power, using quick combinations and circular motions to overwhelm opponents. It incorporates a blend of self-defense techniques, forms (kata), and sparring, with a strong focus on practical application in real-life situations. Kempo Karate also promotes physical conditioning, mental focus, and discipline.
Our Kempo program provides a full spectrum Martial Arts training and Self Defense skills.  It include empty hand techniques, weapon training, pressure point training, sparring, grappling, Katas, instructor training, and board breaking without the need to sign up for these programs individually at an added cost.

2. Self Defense for Women
Our women's program focuses on the most common attacks women are facing.  The techniques are designed to utilize women's natural fighting abilities and tendencies and the most efficient ways to fend off a bigger attacker.  We focus more on avoiding being attacked and ways to get away than a full on combat. 

3. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art developed by the Gracie family in Brazil, with a focus on self-defense, leverage, and technique over brute strength. It is a form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that emphasizes ground fighting and submission techniques, such as joint locks and chokeholds, enabling smaller or weaker individuals to defend themselves against larger or stronger attackers.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was originally designed to provide a method of defending oneself in real-life situations, focusing on practical, effective strategies rather than sport competition. The system prioritizes escaping from bad positions, controlling an opponent, and submitting them, all while minimizing the risk of injury.

Our Mission
At Clark's Self Defense, our mission is to:

Empower Individuals: Our goal is to build self-confidence in every student, no matter their age or background. We believe that self-defense training is a powerful tool for personal growth.

Promote Safety: We teach practical techniques and safety strategies that students can immediately apply in real-life situations. We emphasize the importance of awareness and prevention.

Cultivate Discipline: Self-defense and Martial Arts are about more than just physical skills; they teach respect, focus, and self-control. Our students learn valuable life skills that extend beyond the training mat.

Create a Supportive Community: Clark's Self Defense fosters an inclusive, family-friendly environment where students feel encouraged to grow and thrive, building lasting relationships along the way. 

 Our Team

Each member of our team is committed to helping you achieve your goals, whether it's learning to protect yourself, improving your fitness, or mastering martial arts techniques. Our instructors are approachable, supportive, and ready to help you succeed at every stage of your training.


Derrick Clark is the head instructor at Clark's Self Defense in Sarasota.  He was born and grew up in Massachusetts where he began his Martial Arts training at the age of 8. By the age of 12 he received his Black Belt in Kempo Karate and became one of the youngest black belts in the Northeast.  He began teaching in 1986 and has been teaching Martial Arts for over 35 years.
Derrick Clark is a Certified 7th Degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate, a certified Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu and a certified Pressure Points Instructor with supplemental training in Shotokan Karate, Okinawan and Wu Shu Weaponry, Brazilian Jujitsu and Kung Fu. 
For many years he ran a weekly television series demonstrating various self-defense techniques in several towns in Massachusetts. In 1994 Derrick created the S.A.F.A. (Stopping Attacks Safe and Effectively) program for children. It has now been incorporated into the curriculum taut at his Sarasota Self Defense studio.
In addition to teaching at his Self Defense Studio, Derrick gives lectures and demonstrations in colleges and universities. He is actively involved in Schools, Health Clubs, Youth Organizations, Recreation Departments and Police Departments. Despite his busy schedule, he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Derrick has also appeared on TV talk shows and top rated radio programs.

Danny Clark is a certified 2nd degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate.  He began his Martial Arts training at the age of 6 under the directive of Derrick Clark.  At the age of 12 he earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate and his 2nd Degree Black Belt at the age of 14.  He has attended numerous Martial Arts tournaments in Boston, MA as well as in Sarasota, FL and earned many First Place trophies.  Danny has also performed in a number of exhibitions and assisted in several seminars.  Danny is continually training and teaching to improve his Kempo skills.  He is also training in Judo and Jujitsu to further expend his growing skills.
Magda Clark joined Derrick in 1999 as an operations manager.  She facilitated the opening of the first Clark's Self Defense Studio in Newton, MA to meet the high demand for Derrick's teaching.  The studio remains very successful and is now run by one of their black belt instructors.
Magda has earned a B.S. degree in 2002 and she is responsible for day to day operations of Clark's Self Defense.  She coordinated multiple after school programs in Newton, MA between 1999 and 2013 and is now overseeing a number of programs in Sarasota, FL.  Together with Derrick, she also coordinated numerous in school as well as inter school Karate tournaments. Some had as many as 300 competitors.
Magda also assists Derrick and Danny during Self Defense seminars and workshops.

Our Core Values


  • Integrity: We uphold the highest ethical standards and are committed to providing honest, transparent, and reliable training to all our students.
  • Respect: We foster an environment of mutual respect, where all students are treated with kindness, understanding, and support.
  • Commitment: We are dedicated to your success. We work closely with each student to help them achieve their personal goals and improve their skills.
  • Empowerment: Through each class and training session, our goal is to empower you to take control of your personal safety, health, and well-being.


Join Us Today!


At Clark's Self Defense, we believe that everyone deserves the right to feel safe and secure. Whether you’re looking to learn basic self-defense techniques or pursue a more advanced martial arts discipline, we offer the guidance, expertise, and resources you need to succeed.


Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about our programs and schedule your first class. Join our community of strong, confident, and empowered individuals!


Call Us Now at (941) 225-1065 or Sign Up Online to begin your self-defense journey with Clark's Self Defense!