Kathy Hopwood is a martial arts and self-defense teacher who founded the SafeSkills Dojo in Durham, NC. She and her partner Beth Seigler provided both martial arts classes and women's self-defense programs. The collection contains materials documenting workshops and training courses they oversaw and participated in, as well as materials from women's organizations that were dedicated to the goal of promoting women's self-defense capabilities and expertise in the martial arts. It contains professional materials as well as educational materials, publications and articles about self-defense and martial arts, especially pertaining to women and children.

Collection consists of materials documenting Kathy Hopwood's work in the areas of women's martial arts and self-defense in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Materials from her SafeSkills Dojo comprise self-defense training manuals, course and workshop materials, newsletters, organizational history, some correspondence, and the individual work of both Hopwood and her partner Beth Seigler. Press clippings document mentions of Hopwood, Seigler, and their dojo in print media, largely from Triangle-area publications. Materials from the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) provide documentation of that organization's history, particularly its early years. Hopwood and Seigler were both very active in the organization, and Hopwood served as its archivist for a 10-year period. There is also extensive documentation of NWMAF's yearly training camps for women and girls. Materials from other women's martial arts groups across the country are well-documented, as are materials on sexual assault and rape prevention, particularly from the Triangle area. Also included are books and periodicals on the topic of women's martial arts and self-defense. Photographs document the dojo's work, as well as national training sessions conducted by Hopwood and Seigler. Other audio-visual material consists of training films and examples of the dojo's instructors at work.