Key Ball’n
We had a great turnout at the self-defense event held at the Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Campus. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible and to all who participated. The energy was positive, and everyone walked away, having learned valuable skills.
One of the highlights of the day was hearing participants reflect on what they learned. A recurring theme was awareness—knowing how to avoid dangerous situations, recognizing warning signs, and understanding when and how to protect yourself if needed.
I also had the opportunity to speak with two amazing instructors who have dedicated years to teaching self-defense and empowering others. Nathan Corliss, who has over 20 years of training, shared that teaching became his path because he wanted to give people real-world tools for safety. With a background in martial arts, healthcare, and crisis response, Nathan emphasized that the most important part of self-defense is avoiding escalation, staying aware, and knowing how to recover properly if a situation gets out of hand.
Jessie Budahl, with 7–8 years of instruction experience, began her journey in 2014 through mixed martial arts. Her background includes MMA, kickboxing, karate, Krav Maga, and weapons training. Jessie highlighted that having knowledge and confidence is the most important part of self-defense, especially for women and children. As she shared, “It’s better to know how to protect yourself than not know at all.”
An enjoyable moment was capturing photos of participants actively learning techniques and supporting one another throughout the session. Students shared their takeaways as well—Molly, a sophomore, mentioned learning about balance and striking with an open grip, while Evelyn, a freshman, spoke about gaining confidence and understanding how to avoid being overpowered.
Overall, this event was a great reminder of the importance of self-awareness, prevention, and personal safety. I highly recommend attending events like this while on campus.
