About Power Up with Lisa
Lisa Davis: The Veteran & Officer Behind Power Up's Self-Defense Training
Built from a sister's sketch in the 1980s into a trademarked training framework, Lisa has spent 40+ years teaching thousands of students across corporate, campus, and individual programs. She doesn't teach fear — she teaches readiness: the difference between reacting in panic and responding with confidence.
Veteran-Owned ● Woman-Owned ● Family-Owned
Who is Lisa Davis?
Lisa Davis is the founder and lead instructor of Power Up with Lisa, a veteran-owned, woman-owned, family-owned self-defense and personal safety training company based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Lisa is a 5th-degree black belt with over 40 years of martial arts experience, a U.S. Marine veteran, and an award-winning former police officer recognized as Officer of the Year (2007) by the International Association of Women Police. She created the proprietary Recognize Assess Take-Action® model, taught through in-person classes, corporate/campus programs, and a self-paced online course.
Veteran-Owned • Woman-Owned • Family-Owned
Our Mission
About Power Up with Lisa
Power Up with Lisa is a veteran-owned, woman-owned, family-owned company that trains people to Recognize Assess Take-Action® — building the awareness, confidence, and decision-making skills to move through everyday life prepared, not scared.
Founded by Lisa Davis and grown into a family-led team, Power Up delivers the same proprietary framework across three formats: corporate and campus programs, in-person classes in the Twin Cities, and a self-paced online course available nationally.
Our Mission
To empower people to Recognize Assess Take-Action® — building awareness, confidence, and practical skills that keep them safe and strong in everyday life.
Our Vision
A world where everyone feels confident, capable, and empowered to live prepared, not scared.
Our Story
How Power Up® Came to Life
The vision for Power Up with Lisa began in the 1980s, when Lisa sat with her younger sister, Tina, dreaming about how they could help people stay safe. They realized true safety starts before danger ever appears — with awareness, instinct, and action. Tina sketched an eye with the word AWARE in the pupil, capturing that idea. Life moved forward — Lisa became a Marine, a police officer, and a self-defense instructor — but the vision never faded.
Decades later, after teaching countless students, Lisa brought that early dream to life with Tina and Tina's daughter, Jessi. Their brainstorming reignited the same idea they'd recognized as teenagers, and from it, Recognize Assess Take-Action® was formalized — a simple, memorable model to help people stay aware, trust their instincts, and respond with confidence, not fear.
Lisa Davis's Credentials
Experience & Expertise
Ready to bring Lisa's training to your team or campus?
Talk to Our Team →Proof, Not Just Credentials
Lisa in Action
Officer of the Year, 2007
5th-degree black belt
Teaching self-defense
Off the mat
The Team
Meet the Power Up® Team
Lisa Davis — Founder & Lead Instructor
5th-degree black belt, U.S. Marine veteran, and former police officer. Creator of the Recognize Assess Take-Action® model.
Tina — Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Part of Power Up since the beginning; now guides the organization's growth and impact.
Jessi — Social Media Specialist
Lisa's niece and Tina's daughter, bringing the family mission to new audiences through storytelling and social engagement.
CB — Self-Defense Instructor
7th-degree black belt in Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do; 10-year undefeated K.I.C.K. kickboxing world champion.
Duke — Self-Defense Instructor
3rd-degree black belt with 25+ years in law enforcement and defensive tactics instruction.
Ready to Start Your Power Up® Journey?
Institutional partners get a dedicated consultation. Individuals can enroll directly.
Power Up with Lisa
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lisa Davis?
Lisa Davis is the founder of Power Up with Lisa — a 5th-degree black belt, U.S. Marine veteran, and award-winning former police officer who created the proprietary Recognize Assess Take-Action® self-defense model.
Where is Power Up with Lisa located?
Power Up with Lisa is based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Lisa's primary teaching location is Bloomington Karate Center, where she has practiced and taught for over 40 years. In-person classes are held locally, and the online self-defense course is available nationwide.
Find a self-defense class near you ––>
What is the RAT Power Model?
The RAT Power Model is Power Up's proprietary framework — Recognize Assess Take-Action® — teaching people to recognize when something feels off, assess for potential danger, and take action to get to safety.
Learn more about RAT Power ––>