Kyup Project

As Australia comes together to try and address our current epidemic of domestic violence, one woman is using her own experience to help empower young people to find their voice and learn about positive relationships. Mel Thomas is a writer, speaker, media commentator, mother of two girls a nd black belt with more than 15 years martial arts experience in Hapkido, the Korean art of self-defence. In 2013, Mel was awarded a scholarship with the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation and founded the KYUP! Project in response to a wave of child-on-child assaults and family violence reports in her local area. Pronounced KEY-UP! and and named after a martial arts power shout, KYUP! is empowering Australian's to value and champion their safety and wellbeing with the principles of self worth and the basics of self defence.