WOMAN FOUNDED, COOPERATIVELY OWNED
Master Mary Murphy Edwards (7th degree black belt) founded our State Street location in 1989 after opening and running multiple schools in Canada where she taught Fred Villari’s Shaolin Kempo Karate. Ten years later, she launched one of Madison’s first kickboxing programs. A pioneer for women in the martial arts, she is currently the Commissioner for Unarmed Combat Sports for the State of Wisconsin where she continues to provide leadership on a national scale. In 2013 she officially sold the business to the next generation when we transitioned to cooperative ownership. In 2021 we rebranded as Underground Self-Defense. Using our martial arts background as our foundation, we continue to refine our expertise as self-defense instructors so we can help our community grow safer and stronger, together.
OUR TEAM
Meet the co-owners of Underground Self-Defense. We’re passionate about helping our community grow safer and stronger, together.
TRISHA VANATTA (SHE/HER)
Manager. 3rd Degree Black Belt. Instructor (Adult/Teen SKK, Self-Defense Course and KB Breakdown).
MASTER ALI TREVIÑO-MURPHY (SHE/HER)
Programs & Marketing Manager. Board Treasurer. 5th degree black belt. Master instructor (Adult/Kids/Kritters SKK, Kickboxing, Self-Defense Course).
ORLANDO ACEVEDO (HE/HIM)
4th degree black belt. Instructor (SKK, Defensive Kickboxing, SAFE Men, Men’s Self-Defense).
ALEXA BENTZ (SHE/THEY)
Black belt. Instructor (Kickboxing, Women’s Self-Defense).
CARLOS BAEZ RUIZ (HE/HIM)
Black belt. Instructor (kickboxing).
CASEY RORABECK (SHE/HER)
Instructor (Kickboxing Fundamentals).
GINNY DIVINE (SHE/HER)
Financial Manager. 4th degree black belt. Retired instructor (SKK and T’ai Chi).
JONATHAN GONZÁLEZ (HE/HIM)
Board President. Inactive 2nd degree black belt instructor (Adults/Kids SKK).
CHRISTINE DEVINE (SHE/HER)
Board Secretary. Kickboxer.
MASTER MARY MURPHY EDWARDS (SHE/HER)
Founder. Board Vice President. 7th degree black belt. Master Instructor Emeritus.
OUR COOPERATIVE
We are a hybrid cooperative, so all our workers are owners and consumers can also choose to become owners. Co-op members (owners) elect our board and vote at our annual meeting. Talk to us about becoming a member.
OUR BOARD
We currently have empty seats on our board! If you believe in our mission to help our community grow safer and stronger, please consider applying to our board. Meetings occur 2nd Saturdays at 8-9am via Zoom.