About Jill | The Warrior In You

Jill Baker Shames

Jill Shames is a Clinical Social Worker specializing in Trauma and Health Care Resilience, an Advanced Black Belt in Shorin-ryu Karate and Kobudo since 1987 and an internationally recognized teacher of Empowerment Self-Defense, for more than 30 years.

Former Head Instructor at El HaLev and at Heroes Circle/ Kids Kicking Cancer Israel, Jill utilizes a unique combination of therapeutic tools, including elements of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Internal Family Systems and trauma-informed Shorin-ryu Karate, ESD and Therapeutic Martial Arts, live and online, to bring out the Warrior Self in children, teens and adults struggling with trauma, anxiety and depression.

In addition, she serves as a volunteer on the Psychotrauma Team of Israel’s United Hatzalah rescue organization. In March 2022, she was privileged to be part of the United Hatzalah team serving refugees on the border of Moldova and Ukraine.

Testimonials

...I left the mentoring conversation with ways of thinking that I had never had before, with security in the project and with a lot of motivation to continue. There's no substitute for a mentoring conversation with Sensei Jill"

Esti Lifschitz

ESD Instructor

"Jill was my first mentor, and she's one of the most empowering and powerful women I know."

Michal Eliraz

ESD Instructor

"Jill is a thoughtful, creative, and trauma-informed ESD instructor."

Martha Thompson,

NWMAF Certified Self-Defense Instructor