I began my martial arts journey in 2015 at Warriors Academy KC, in Kansas City, Missouri. I was tired of feeling vulnerable in the world and wanted the confidence to travel, go camping, to generally walk through my life alone feeling I could be my biggest brightest self without fear of drawing too much unwanted attention, and the consequences.  As a young women in my 20s I had unconsciously tried to make myself feel safer by making myself “smaller” and perhaps I did. But mostly it dimmed my inner spark and left me feeling just that, small. By my 30s I no longer wanted to feel small, I wanted to be my biggest self, and I knew that I needed a sense of security, and some tools to answer the question of what I would do if the worst happened. I have always been physically active, but I’d never been in a fight or even wrestled with brothers. And even though I have been in some precariously dangerous and unhealthy relationships with men, I have never, gratefully, faced being assaulted. Krav Maga gave me experiences of fighting and using my body aggressively that I had never had. It was fun, exhilarating, and I loved the sense of power and freedom it gave me. It made me want to take up more space in the world, with my body and my voice. It helped me see that I had value worth standing up for. And that I was safe to do so because I had my own back. 

 

Inspired to share with others, I became a Certified Level IV Instructor in the Gladius Krav Maga System. I then created and led my martial arts academy’s first Women’s Self Defense Program from 2017-2021. During that time my assistant instructor, Danielle Coyne, and I coached and empowered hundreds of women through our self defense program and various workshops. Empowering women, of all fitness levels and ages, is one of my greatest life passions.

 

Alongside Krav Maga I have experience in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jui Jitsu. I earned my Black Rank under my Gladius Krav Maga coach Frass Azab in 2019, and have benefited in training under: 

 

Kelly McCann – Kembativz

Ben Jones – Combat Submission Wrestling 

Master Renato Tavares – BJJ 

Samuel Yaron Brill – Filipino Combat Systems

Nicholas Hughes – Warriors Krav Maga

Albino Mendes – Muay Thai 

 

While my training does not make me invincible, it does give me tools and experiences to draw on that strengthen my confidence in how I walk through the world and approach life. My training has been an important resource I have drawn on to increase my sense of self value, my confidence, and to grow into my biggest, brightest self.

 

I understand that personal growth happens through many interwoven paths. As well as a martial artist, I am a visual artist with a B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute. An arts educator and creator with a strong social practice, I have a breadth of knowledge creating classes and meaningful experiences for others through the arts (meganlougallant.com). An avid learner and seeker of my own meaningful growth, I have studied subjects such as psychology, neuroscience, the biology of trauma, heart coherence, meditation, and more as I follow my own interwoven path. I share my passion for personal growth with others, and everything I learn along the way.