BELOIT, Wis. -- The Beloit Police Department is asking two martial arts instructors to help create a renewed sense of awareness in downtown Beloit.

It has been more than a week since the murder of Beloit businesswoman Julienne McGuire, 44, sent shockwaves through downtown businesses.

Martial arts instructors Jeff Bown and Bennie Gonzalez said it's time for downtown Beloit to feel safe again. The two will teach a free self defense class to members of the Downtown Business Association and Beloit College students.

The class will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 9, inside Beloit College's Flood Arena.

"The way that I look at self defense and doing a seminar like this is, number one, the response has been incredible for this, and so it's kind of bringing the community together," said Bown. "When we bring them together for the actual seminar, that's just one indication of just how strong the community is ... to come against an attacker of this sort."

"Beyond the technique that we're going to be teaching, and the escapes and the moves, I think awareness is going to be key," said Gonzalez, who grew up in Beloit. "That's your first line of defense. Knowing your surroundings, knowing what you're getting into."

One of Gonzalez's Tae Kwon Do students, 65-year-old Susan Elmer, said it's never too late to learn a few simple moves.

"It's not that I think I would ever use it," said Elmer, "But it's kind of a feeling of security, knowing that I could maybe defend myself if someone got too aggressive."

Bown said if the class is crowded on Sunday, there could be a possibility for another session.