Kristie Kilgore, Author of Eyes Wide Open: Bodyguard Strategies for Self Protection, public speaker, reiki master, community leadership expert,environmental manager and freelance author has studied martial arts for 20 years, including training in hand-to-hand combat techniques, tactical defense, weapon use and retention techniques, and successful tournament competition in both weaponsand form divisions.
She teaches meditation, including esoteric forms of meditation such as kuji kiri which has been taught in Buddhist temples, and is a certified Reiki Master. Her teaching style has been described as captivating and empowering. She communicates well and understands the protective needs of the active, modern business professional and teenage Americans.  She created a special Self Esteem Workshop Instructor for Pre-teen Girls for Soroptomist Intl.  and taugh this program from 1997 until 2000.

In addition to martial arts, Ms. Kilgore serves on the Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL) Board of Directors and the Executive Board of Southern Arizona Environmental Management Society. She chairs GTL National Security Day and 2008 and 2009 Environment Day. She has trained in incident command and emergency response techniques for protecting public safety, and has managed environmental hazardous operations.

Rescue & Safety/Response Training - Certified Scuba Divemaster - 1996; Medic/First Aid Certified - 1994; Certified Rescue Diver - 1994; Red Cross First Aid/CPR Trained - since 1988; OSHA Health & Safety Certified for Hazardous Waste Operations (40 hours) -1988; OSHA Certification for Supervising Hazardous Operations - 1988-1998; MSHA Health & Safety Certified - 1988; Arizona Department of Emergency & Military Affairs First Responder/First on the Scene Training - 1991; Maricopa County Sheriff's Department Mounted Search & Rescue Training - 1991; Maricopa County Paradise Valley Posse Member for Search & Rescue - 1989-1991; Phoenix Police Department Mounted Patrol Guest Instructor/Horse Trainer and Volunteer - 1997 & 1998

Martial Arts & Weapons Training
Conceal & Carry Weapons Certified - 1998; Corona's Martial Arts Academy Training - 1993 to present; CMAA Sulsa 3-day Intensive Tactical Training Camp 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000 (knife, rope, baton, gun retention, archery, sentry removal, infiltration, rock climbing & rappelling); Achieved Rank of 1/2 Black Belt in Hwarang Do - CMAA 2000; Awarded Rank of Blue Belt in Machado Brazilian jujitsu - 2000; Dynamic Combat Method™ (Private Instruction - March 2001-November 2001); Edged Weapons Training Seminar - Instructor Vince Perez-Mazzola, December 2001; Family Academy of Martial Arts - Dr. Marco Walker, 6 days private and semi-private training in martial arts and yoga; Tactical Shooting Class 2002 - Sixoclock High Training. Academy; Spring 2004 Defendo Unarmed Combatives Seminar with Bill Wolfe (Mesa, Arizona)

Media Experience and Freelance Work. Kristie Kilgore has been a repeat special guest on the Ken Hamblin Show, featured as the "Exceptional Woman" on the Kate Daniels show on KRWM in Seattle, and the "Featured Newsmaker" interviewed by Kelly Mack on KNBC in Los Angeles. Her interviews have aired on the USA Network, and on radio broadcasts in: Cinncinnati, Ohio; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington. She has been a guest on the Daybreak Show for the USA Network and the Jordan Rich Show.
Articles based on interviews with Kristie have been published in Successful Meetings Magazine, The Folsom Telegraph, The Roseville Press, The Standard Speaker, and the Chicago Tribune. She has been a guest author on the subject of leadership featured in the Tucson Citizen.

Healing and Meditation
Certified Reiki Master – 2000
Kuji Kiri Practictioner – 2000
International Academy of Medical/Clinical Acupuncture – Class Series and Former Operations Director