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In 2021, Phil Kohls, after seeing news around the world and Minnesota, started asking himself what he could do to protect his family and himself. In February of that year, he found Valley Self-Defense. When he told his wife what he wanted to do, she was shocked that the man she knew, who diligently avoided the gym, was interested in joining a self defense gym. She gave it a few weeks.
Phil stuck with it. For five years, he tested and failed, tested and passed. He continued learning, growing, and developing. He was a constant in our space, always here, always working.
Phil never quit on the mat.
But we never know how hard life can be for someone. The people who loved him, his community, saw and felt a change. Everyone did their best to love him through it, but sometimes the darkness becomes overwhelming.
In 2026, Phil took his own life.
Phil is so much more than just his final moments. For us, it’s important not only that his legacy lives on, but that his name lives on in our gym.
Thanks to a generous donation from his family, we are honored to announce the Phil Kohls Memorial Scholarship. Through this scholarship, we hope to provide self-defense to individuals and organizations that want and need self-defense, but may not be able to afford it, with a special focus on organizations that are focused on suicide awareness and prevention.
If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide, please know that you are not alone. Help is available. Call or text 988 to be connected with kind and caring services.
And know, at Valley Self-Defense, we’ve always got your six.
As we continue developing the application process for this award, we ask that you continue to visit this page for updated information.
