About Evolution
We started out under the name KPC Self Defense Halifax, as an offshoot of the KPC Self Defense full time gym in Edmonton, Alberta in 2014.
In 2020 the Edmonton KPC gym shut down and head instructor Randy King, while he continues to teach self defense around the world, stopped using the KPC Self Defense name. As KPC Self Defense no longer exists anywhere else, we have rebranded to Evolution Self Defense in celebration of our 10 year anniversary, having continuously run since September 2014.
All Evolution instructors are first aid trained and a minimum with some training beyond that including trauma care.
Our team
Paul Donnelly
Lead instructor
Cara McInnis
Instructor
Jessica Korderas
Instructor
Tristan Lapointe
Assistant instructor
Paul Donnelly
Lead instructor
Paul started training at the Edmonton (home gym) of KPC Self Defense in 2009 and branched off as a full instructor under KPC Self Defense founder Randy King, to start a training group under the name KPC Self Defense Halifax in September 2014.
In 2020, KPC Self Defense Edmonton shut down and head instructor Randy King shifted to mainly teaching seminars all over North America and Europe and the KPC branding was no longer in use. In 2024 for our ten year anniversary, KPC Self Defense Halifax changed our name to Evolution Self Defense.
Paul has over 33 years of formal and informal training in the martial arts in a variety of disciplines and has the following certifications:
Certifications
- Full instructor – KPC Self Defense Progressive Krav Maga May 2014
- In service Police Defensive Tactics / Control Tactics Instructor 2003-2009, 2019 – Present
- 1st Degree Blackbelt – Edmonton Wado Kai Karate under Sensei Randy James -1998
Additionally Paul has had formal training in
Worden Defensive Tactics / Natural Spirit International, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Filipino Martial Arts, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and participated in many seminars and training in several other arts over the years.
Cara McInnis
Instructor
Cara has been an instructor at KPC (Now Evolution) since 2021. She started training at the original KPC Self Defense Gym in Edmonton in January 2016 and became an instructor in April 2018, participating in all programs including SD 101, 102, Dirty Boxing, and ground fighting classes, as well assisting in SD 101 classes.
After becoming an instructor, she started to run a monthly Women’s Self Defence seminar at KPC, focused on teaching and sharing important self-defense information.
The seminars, called First Friday Women’s Self Defense Seminars, were completely free in the hopes that they would be more accessible to all women, in a safe, female-lead environment.
In April 2020 she moved back to Halifax and has been training and teaching with us ever since. While Cara does not come from a martial arts background, she has been involved in athletics, and instruction (former Swimming Instructor, former Lifesaving Instructor) for many years.
Jessica Korderas
Instructor
Tristan Lapointe
Instructor
Our newest instructor in development, Tristan started with KPC (now Evolution) in January 2023 and has completed all programs offered- SD 101, SD 102, Dirty Boxing, Ground Fighting and Weapons Training.
Coming to us from a military background with training in basic CQC, Tristan was a member of Ship’s Naval Boarding Party. He has previous martial arts training in Olympic Boxing and Commando Krav Maga. Tristan is also fully bilingual in French and English.
Our SD 101 program starts January 6th 2025.
This class often sells out and is only offered a few times a year. Don’t miss your chance!