Pepper Spray for Real-World Self-Defense: Skills, Confidence & Preparedness

Picture this: You are alone at a vacant property, and a personal encounter turns dangerous. You quickly reach for the pepper spray you brought for such an event. You aim and press the actuator, and a sudden gust of wind or an improper grip causes the burning stream to blow directly back into your own eyes and lungs. Instead of stopping the threat, you are left blinded, incapacitated, and disoriented by your own defense tool.

As a REALTOR®, you may find yourself working alone, meeting unfamiliar people, entering vacant properties, or showing homes in unfamiliar areas. Personal safety starts with awareness, preparation, and knowing how to respond when a situation takes an unexpected turn.

Join guest instructor Alisha Curtin, a certified concealed carry and firearms instructor and experienced self-defense educator, for an interactive pepper spray workshop focused on developing the skills and confidence to use OC spray as an effective self-defense tool.

This hands-on course goes beyond simply carrying pepper spray. You’ll learn to recognize potential threats, make sound decisions under stress, and deploy your spray effectively when appropriate, while building the confidence and muscle memory to respond quickly when seconds matter.

In this practical course, you will learn:

• The role of pepper spray in self-defense: Understand how OC spray works, what it can and cannot do, and where it fits within a personal protection plan.

• Awareness & threat recognition: Learn to identify potential warning signs, maintain distance, establish boundaries, and recognize when a situation may be escalating.

• Effective deployment skills: Learn proper presentation, grip, positioning, aiming concepts, and deployment techniques designed for real-world defensive situations.

• Decision-making under stress: Explore the critical decisions involved in a self-defense encounter, including when to disengage, when to deploy your spray, and what to do immediately afterward.

• Scenario-based training: Practice realistic defensive scenarios using inert, non-irritant training spray to build confidence, improve reaction time, and develop practical muscle memory.

• Environmental considerations: Learn how surroundings, distance, wind, lighting, clothing, and movement can affect the use of pepper spray in a defensive encounter.

• California legal considerations: Review important considerations surrounding the lawful possession and use of pepper spray for self-defense in California.

• Beyond the spray: Discuss additional personal safety strategies and less-lethal options that REALTORS® can incorporate into their overall safety plan.

The goal isn’t simply to carry pepper spray. It’s to know how to use it, when to use it, and have the confidence to respond effectively when your safety is on the line.

Meet the speaker: 

Alisha Curtin is a certified self-defense instructor and the owner of San Diego Concealed Carry. Passionate about helping individuals feel more confident and capable in their everyday lives, she brings an extensive background in teaching firearms, less-lethal and non-lethal tools, Krav Maga, and legal use of force.

Her classes strongly emphasize practical tools, situational awareness, and real-world scenarios, creating a supportive, empowering environment where students can learn, ask questions, and leave with greater confidence and a stronger sense of personal safety. Known for her approachable, no-pressure teaching style, Alisha has trained a wide range of students from complete beginners to those looking to refine their skills.

Her expertise is backed by top-level credentials, including certifications as a San Diego County DOJ CCW Instructor, California P.O.S.T. and BSIS Certified Firearms Instructor, GLOCK™ Certified Armorer, USCCA Certified Instructor (Concealed Carry, Home Defense, AR-15), Krav Maga Instructor at In Your Corner Training and NRA Range Safety Officer and Certified Instructor across Pistol, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection Inside and Outside the Home.

PSAR's mission is to empower real estate professionals.

Since 1928, the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® has played a significant role in shaping the history, growth & development of the Real Estate industry in San Diego County.