Awareness and preparation are the keys to empowerment and safety. What better way to equip female students with these essential skills than by hosting a self-defense class here on campus?

The class came to fruition two years ago when seniors Lauren Drake ‘23 and Lily Deiters ‘23 heard of an attempted abduction in their local community in broad daylight. They were frightened that such devastating incidents could happen anytime to anyone.

The realization that the victim was able to escape because she had taken a self-defense class led the girls to spearhead our school’s very own self-defense class, empowering girls to feel prepared as they graduate high school and become more independent.

One of their friends, Maria Kennedy ‘23, chimed in that her father has 30 years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a third-degree black belt. Mr. Kennedy, passionate about helping girls develop self-defense skills, was on board to be the instructor. The class quickly became a reality.

After these senior girls graduated, the class was put on pause until this year, when Girls Support Girls worked with Mr. Kennedy to bring these impactful classes back to campus and continue to raise awareness.

On January 8, girls in grades 9-12 gathered after school in Laird Gym to learn basic self-defense techniques.

Mr. Kennedy started the session by sharing eye-opening statistics that 1 in 4 college girls and 1 in 3 women will experience physical assault at some point in their lives. Most importantly, Mr. Kennedy noted that alcohol is the leading factor in sexual assault. “Over 85% of all attacks on women are a result of either the woman or man drinking alcohol,” Kennedy explained.

Walking through real-world scenarios, Mr. Kennedy taught the girls practical escape moves, including how to break free from a chokehold and strike a palm punch. 

Throughout the session, Mr. Kennedy highlighted important life lessons to help the girls set boundaries and develop confidence. His primary message was, “Never put another person’s comfort ahead of your safety.”

In agreement with all the girls in attendance, student Mallory Walsh reflects on the impact of the class on her life. “It really brought the females of Marist together and taught us how to be strong and defensive in the real world,” Walsh said.

If you missed the class and still want to participate, grab a friend and join in on one of the upcoming classes planned for March 25 or April 29 (seniors only).

As Mr. Kennedy teaches, “Be smart. Be aware. Trust your gut!”