Waynesburg University recently hosted the Personal Safety & Awareness Seminar, led by Master Laura Beluschak, on Wednesday, March 26, in the Rudy Marisa Gymnasium. This event aimed to provide students and community members with practical techniques to enhance their personal safety. The seminar focused on situational awareness, defensive maneuvers and strategies to help individuals respond effectively to potential threats.

Haley Berry, who played a role in organizing the seminar, emphasized the importance of self-defense training in a close-knit town like Waynesburg. 

“Waynesburg is a town comprised of a diverse blend of students and community members, all contributing to our unique culture. This training is a valuable life skill for people of all ages and backgrounds, promoting mutual care, respect and support across the entirety of Waynesburg,” Berry explained. The event covered fundamental self-defense moves, while also stressing the significance of mental preparedness and quick decision-making.

Dr. Marie Leichliter-Krause, assistant provost for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at Waynesburg University, has personal experience with self-defense as a brown belt in hapkido. She underscored the role of awareness in self-protection. 

“The most important self-defense skill one can learn is situational awareness. Situational awareness helps one be mindful of surroundings, recognize potential threats and have a plan to de-escalate or escape,” Leichliter-Krause said.

Beyond this seminar, Waynesburg provides additional self-defense training opportunities for those interested in building long-term skills. One such option is the American Judo-Hapkido Institute, led by John Beluschak, a veteran of the martial arts industry with an extensive 63-year career. Beluschak began training at the age of 4, and by just 16 years old, he had opened his first martial arts institute. Today, he and his instructors offer rigorous training in the traditional Korean martial art of hapkido.

Beluschak describes hapkido as a discipline that extends beyond physical combat. 

“It’s not like we are trying to teach you just to strike somebody. In fact, we teach that martial arts should be as much for self-preservation as it is for self-defense,” he explained. The institute focuses on a variety of techniques, including joint locks, pressure points and redirection of an opponent’s force, making it an adaptable form of self-defense for individuals of all sizes and strengths.

One common misconception Beluschak aims to dispel is the idea that physical dominance equates to superiority in self-defense. “If that was the case, the elephant would be the king of the jungle,” he noted.

Instead, his training emphasizes leverage, technique and efficiency over brute strength, reinforcing the idea that skill can overcome size in a confrontation.

The region offers additional self-defense programs through local training centers and community initiatives, ensuring a range of options for those looking to enhance their personal security.