The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation

Giving the
gift of safety.

Empowering women with real defense skills — taught with confidence, compassion, and community. Because every woman deserves to feel safe.

Find a Class Our Story
TAKE Defense class at UCLA — hundreds of women trained together
20+ Years of training women
1,000s Women trained & empowered
Free Always free for attendees
Why TAKE Defense

More than self-defense.
It's You Power.

Whether it's going to class, the bookstore, or home — you have the right to feel safe wherever you go.

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Practical Skills

Real, effective defense techniques taught by trained instructors in a safe, supportive environment. No experience required.

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Built with Heart

Founded in honor of Ali Kemp, TAKE Defense exists because every woman matters and deserves the tools to protect herself.

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University Tour

We bring free safety training directly to college campuses, reaching the women who need it most at a critical time in their lives.

TAKE Defense 50,000 Strong event at Kauffman Stadium
Our Story

Honoring Ali Kemp. Protecting women everywhere.

The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation — TAKE Defense — was established in memory of Ali Kemp, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her story inspired a mission that has since touched thousands of lives across the country.

We believe every woman deserves to feel safe. That's why all of our classes are free to attend, funded entirely by generous donors and community partners who share our vision.

Our trained instructors deliver hands-on, practical self-defense education that is approachable, empowering, and life-changing.

Learn More About Us
Upcoming Classes

Find a class near you

All classes are free and open to women of all ages and skill levels. Just show up — we'll handle the rest.

Apr
30

Baldwin City Recreation Commission

Baldwin City, KS

⏰ 6:00 – 8:00 pm
May
3

AmeriKick Lenexa

Lenexa, KS

⏰ 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Jul
25

Blue Valley Recreation Commission

Overland Park, KS

⏰ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Aug
1

St. Andrews Lutheran Church and School

Overland Park, KS

⏰ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
View All Classes →
"This class changed how I see myself. I walked out feeling strong, confident, and ready to take on the world."
— TAKE Defense Graduate, Kansas City
University Tour

Safety training for college women.

College campuses should be places of growth and discovery — not fear. TAKE Defense brings free self-defense training directly to universities, meeting young women exactly where they are.

  • Free to all college women — always
  • Taught by experienced, certified instructors
  • Hands-on, practical techniques for real situations
  • Empowering curriculum focused on confidence
  • Available for booking at your campus
Request a Campus Visit
TAKE Defense University Tour — women trained together on campus
About Us

Empower Yourself

We've all been there — in a situation that makes you feel just a little bit uneasy. Sometimes it's walking to your front door at night, where darkness can play some scary tricks on you. Other times it's in bright daylight, when that stranger walking toward you gives you an unwarranted stare that throws your sense of comfort a little out of whack.

Well, "About Us" is really about you. It's all about your education, safety and peace of mind — things that every young girl and woman should have and hold dearly. T.A.K.E. Defense Training provides girls and women of all ages with unique reality-based, hands-on self-defense training. Such training provides safety awareness that everyone needs and deserves.

Your T.A.K.E. training is a two-hour session held at various facilities locally, regionally and across the country. When you attend a class, you'll receive priceless awareness education and practical application of the skills demonstrated and learned in the session. It's our goal to give you the advantage if you're ever in a situation that makes you question your safety.

So whether you're in search of that advantage to feel in control of everyday situations, or you want to make sure a bad experience is never repeated, take part in T.A.K.E. Defense Training. Our slogan is "You have it in you" — because you have the power in you to do what it takes to do the most important thing, and that is to go home!

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Our Slogan

"You have it in you."

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Class Format

2-hour hands-on session — free for all attendees

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Reach

Local, regional & nationwide

Alexandra (Ali) Kemp
Alexandra "Ali" Kemp 1983 – 2002
A Name That Says It All

The heart behind the mission.

The name Alexandra means helper of mankind or compassionate one. And Alexandra Kemp — Ali to everyone who knew her — was all of that and more. A stunning 19-year-old girl inside and out, Ali was murdered while working at a neighborhood pool in Johnson County, Kansas.

Ali is still living up to her name. Through the T.A.K.E. Defense Training program established in her memory, her story has inspired and encouraged women all over the country to take a stand. She has given them the power to stand up for themselves.

Ali truly was a shining star of her generation. Excelling as an honor student at both Blue Valley North High School and Kansas State University, she was involved in many activities. Soccer, volleyball and basketball satisfied her thirst for athletic competition. Ali exemplified selflessness as a caring volunteer, giving her time and talents generously to her church, community, and at Kansas State University, where she had just finished her freshman year as a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Most importantly, Ali made the most of a life taken far too soon. She excelled in life as an astonishing person, daughter, sister and friend to everyone she met. In a special testimony to her life, over 1,400 of Ali's friends and family members came to her funeral. And she has touched, and will continue to touch, thousands of other women who have been impacted by her story and life. While she will always be missed, Ali will forever be a compassionate helper of mankind.

Our Reason for Being

A family's fight became a national mission.

A bright future. A heart to care and help. A smile to melt worry away. All of these were taken away from Roger and Kathy Kemp when their daughter, Ali, was murdered.

So what did they do to fight back? They created a program to forever carry on Ali's legacy and ensure that what happened to her doesn't happen to another. The program is called T.A.K.E. Defense — an acronym for The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation.

T.A.K.E. Defense was established in 2005 by the Kemp family in partnership with Johnson County Park and Recreation District and in cooperation with Blue Valley Recreation Commission and Leawood Park and Recreation. Over 75,000 girls and women ages 12 and older have been trained with low or no cost hands-on self-defense training.

T.A.K.E. Defense carries its message and training across the United States each year to colleges and universities — including Kansas University, University of Missouri, Kansas State University, University of Miami, Vanderbilt University, Texas A&M, UCLA, University of Wisconsin and more.

T.A.K.E. Defense Training has been featured on America's Most Wanted, ABC's 20/20 and CBS Prime Time, along with numerous local and regional newscasts.

"If we can save one life out there, I don't care what it costs — this whole program will be worth it."
— Roger Kemp, Founder
75,000+ Women & girls trained
2005 Year founded
20+ Years of impact
Meet the Foundation

The people who made it possible.

Roger Kemp

Roger Kemp

Ali's Father & Founder, The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation 1950 – March 1, 2022

Roger Kemp passed away March 1st, 2022, leaving a legacy of perseverance, a deep commitment to his family and community. His vision has saved the lives of countless individuals and trained tens of thousands of girls and women through Ali's Foundation. He will long be remembered for his strong work ethic, innovative entrepreneurship, and his passion for justice.

He led with a kind demeanor and a strength to not be denied. He worked tirelessly to bring his daughter's murderer to justice, and it was through this pursuit that he, alongside LAMAR Advertising, created a billboard campaign which focused upon finding her murderer. This initiative prompted law enforcement agencies — both locally and on a national scale — to adopt the same concept, which has resulted in the apprehension of hundreds of murderers.

The Kemps founded The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation and fostered the creation of the critically acclaimed T.A.K.E. Defense Program. For over 20 years, the foundation and the self-defense program worked in conjunction to successfully train over 75,000 girls and women across the United States, ranging in age from 12 to 90 years. Roger was a past board member of the Ad Hoc Commission Against Crime, as well as a past committee member of three administrations of the Kansas Attorney General's Office, reviewing and awarding grants to shelters and homes for victims of abuse.

Roger was nominated by both U.S. Senators from Kansas for the Presidential Citizen's Medal. In a slate of over 6,000 nominees from across the United States, he was one of only thirteen Americans chosen to receive the medal and to be honored at the White House in 2012. The Presidential Citizen's Medal is one of the highest civilian awards given by the President, solidifying him in history as a true national treasure.

"Kathy and Roger didn't let Ali's killer claim another victim. They took their hurt and anger and turned it into something positive and helpful to others."

— John Walsh, formerly of America's Most Wanted, from the foreword of Ali Was Here

Roger's faith in the American justice system, his belief that 99 percent of the world is good, his powerful love for his daughter Ali and sons Tyler and Drew, and his deep dedication to wife Kathy drove him every day. He fought the good fight to make our world a better place. Roger founded the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation with the mantra: "I don't care what it cost to do this program — if we save one life out there, it's worth it."

Jill Leiker

Jill Leiker

Executive Director, The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation & Lead Instructor, T.A.K.E. Defense

Jill Leiker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management with an emphasis in Leadership Studies. She serves as the Executive Director for The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation and is the lead instructor for its critically acclaimed program T.A.K.E. Defense. Jill is also the past Corporate and Community Wellness Manager for Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

Jill began the study of martial arts in 1982, attained her black belt in 1986, and currently holds the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt. Her interest in martial arts was sparked when she attended a community self-defense class. Over the years, Jill has encouraged the study of self-protection through class instruction and seminar training, working to empower women with new skills and lifesaving knowledge. She believes simple but effective self-protection techniques can be taught to anyone.

Jill was recognized by the Kansas City Sports Commission in 2018 with the WIN for KC's Outstanding Woman award for her positive impact on girls and women. She, along with her husband Bob, wrote the curriculum for T.A.K.E. Defense, and through the program has personally instructed over 70,000 girls and women from 12 to 90 years of age.

Bob Leiker

Bob Leiker

Director of Curriculum, T.A.K.E. Defense

Bob Leiker holds dual Master of Science Degrees in Public Administration and Guidance and Counseling. He served as a Governor's Appointee to the Kansas Sentencing Commission for two terms and served as the Executive Director for Community Corrections for seventeen counties in Kansas. His responsibilities included supervision of probation and parole, allowing him a unique and firsthand knowledge of criminal behavior. Bob shares this knowledge and empowering information in an effort to save lives.

He holds the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt and is a six-time World Champion. Bob is considered a self-defense and tactical defensive expert. He has trained law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers, SCAT and SWAT team members, future FBI agents, military personnel, hundreds of school safety programs, and served as the "Official Martial Arts Instructor" for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas University, and numerous collegiate football programs.

Bob and Jill Leiker wrote the self-defense curriculum for T.A.K.E. Defense and have personally trained each one of the over 67,000 girls and women who have taken the course.

Kylie Wright

Kylie Wright

East Coast Chapter President, T.A.K.E. Defense

Kylie is from Atlantic County, NJ, and is a second degree black belt through Amerikick Karate. Her journey with T.A.K.E. Defense started in 2020 through pageants. While holding multiple local titles throughout the states of New Jersey, Kylie has been promoting T.A.K.E. Defense as her Community Service Initiative.

She has helped raise thousands of dollars for the organization through fundraisers and seminars, leading her to be recognized with the T.A.K.E. Defense Award in 2022. She promises to continue to spread the T.A.K.E. Defense message throughout the East Coast because she believes in the importance of giving the gift of safety to girls and women.

Something to Strive For

What we stand for.

Our goal remains the same as it was 20+ years ago: to train as many people as possible to save others from the heartache of losing someone they love to a senseless crime. Read on to see what we stand for.

To make a donation and help fund our mission, please visit: Take Defense (qgiv.com)

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T.A.K.E. Foundation Mission

The mission of The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation is to ensure that the values and spirit Ali stood for live on and increase safety awareness in young girls and women.

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T.A.K.E. Defense Training Mission

To provide high-quality, appropriate, reality-based self-defense training to girls and women at low or no cost.

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T.A.K.E. Defense Training Vision Statement

T.A.K.E. Defense Training will be known as one of the nation's premier programs that provides safety education and hands-on skills for girls and women — equipping them with personal self-defense skills and making this training available to all who desire it, regardless of physical or financial limitations.

Annual Fundraiser

The Roger Kemp Golf Tournament

A premier event benefiting The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation — come out and play for a cause that matters.

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September 21, 2026

Registration 8:00 am  ·  Tee Off 9:00 am

Adam's Point Golf Course
1601 NE R.D. Mize Road
Blue Springs, MO 64014

The Roger Kemp Golf Tournament is a great event benefiting The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, dedicated to arming females of all ages with the skills they need to protect themselves. T.A.K.E. Defense Training has provided self-defense training to over 85,000 women and girls and continues to be a champion for safety awareness. Funds raised help one of the nation's premiere training programs continue to provide education and training to all who desire it.

🏌️ Pledge 🤝 Sponsor ⛳ Play
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Registration Opening Soon!

If you are interested in being added to our email list for registration opening dates, event updates, or sponsorship information, please email us at aktakedefense@gmail.com

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Silent Auction

Browse and bid on our silent auction items — open to all, whether you're golfing or not.

View the Auction → Auction-Only Registration
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Register to Play

Join us on the course! Register online through our secure Qgiv page, or download the form to mail in a check.

Register Online → Download Registration Form (PDF)
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Sponsorship

Interested in sponsoring this event? View our sponsorship packages and help make this tournament possible.

View Sponsorship Opportunities → Contact Us About Sponsoring
Not able to make it? You can still support the training — every dollar helps fund free classes for women everywhere.
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