Results from a series of split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests on 3D woven tetxile composites (3DWC) are presented. These tests were done to determine the rate dependent compression response of 3DWC. Three different configurations of the 3DWC, corresponding to compression response in the plane of the material and through-the-thickness direction (out-of-plane) were studied. The rate dependent responses were compared against quasi-static test results and it was found that 3DWC showed an increase in strength in all three directions studied, however, accompanied by a transition in the failure mechanism. The in-plane orientations showed the largest increase in (about 100%) strength at the elevated rates of loading. A follow-on paper provides finite element based results that correspond to the experimental results presented here.