Instructors
Julie Frederick is the founder of The LADY Program. She studies martial arts but started The LADY Program because she has a passion for teaching self-defense that transcends martial arts. Julie attends continuing education training in self-defense, gun safety, rape crises, and other pertinent topics. She has been teaching self-defense in Southwest Michigan for over ten years. Julie has earned a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo through the World Taekwondo Academy and is a four-time national gold medalist.
Scott Willoughby started learning about and teaching woman’s self-defense as something other than a martial art in 1986. Since that time, he has adapted the course to teach women’s self-defense as a life skill and puts the emphasis of his classes on continued learning and improved confidence. Scott has given dozens of lectures and seminars and for the past 10 years, has provided on-going self-defense training classes for women in the Kalamazoo/Portage area. He has been studying martial arts since 1984 and holds 3rd Dan Black Belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Tangsoodo.
Kyle Smith taught law enforcement defensive tactics for the Omni Institute SWAT Academy and currently teaches National Rifle Association pistol courses. Kyle began studying martial arts 17 years ago and since then has actively studied Tangsoodo, Karate, Judo, Ju Jistzu, Marine Corps Martial Arts, and Krav Maga. Kyle was a United States Marine and was discharged in 2009 and is now studying to be a police officer.
Karen Kipp is a Registered Dietitian, Exercise Specialist, and native of Kalamazoo. Her passion is long distance running and cycling which has unfortunately put her in harms way with predators. Karen has taken several Women’s Self Defense classes through the Lady’s Program to learn how to better protect herself while enjoying the sports she loves. Karen says “I am volunteering with the Lady’s program to share my experiences with other women. This is a class every women should take at any age and fitness level.”
Paul Cahill was motivated to join The LADY Program to help girls, like his own daughters, stay safe, develop new skills and build self confidence. with no formal self-defense training he has enjoyed learning to be an instructor through The Lady Program’s instructor training program. Paul has lived in Kalamazoo County since 1997 has been married for ten years to his wife Lesley and has two daughters and two sons. He grew up on the east coast until graduating from a boarding school in New Hampshire. Before moving to Michigan and making it his home he lived in both California and Montana. He graduated from Davenport University with a business degree and currently works with a technology company in the sales department. Paul enjoys sports and is a fan of his hometown teams from Boston Massachusetts.
Rose Forest was introduced to The Lady Program through her father, Paul Cahill, and values the confidence and commonsense that it has taught her. She believes that all women should have the opportunity to learn what she has learned through The Lady Program and has committed herself to help teach it to others. Rose is a senior in high school and plans to attend college this fall. She is interested in all forms of art and has played in her high school marching band for the past two years. She hopes to pursue a career in film and animation after college giving her a chance to travel and see the world.
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