TWIN FALLS • A thief better think long and hard before trying to steal Dana Jacob’s purse.

The College of Southern Idaho student will throw an attacker on his backside before he knows what’s what.

Jacob, 19, of Jerome, hopes to spread those basic self-defense skills across Magic Valley by offering martial arts training through her new Japanese Jujitsu Club, which meets twice a week at the CSIGym.

The club’s age requirements:“anyone from 3 to one foot in the grave,” said jujitsu instructor Caleb Shepard, who leads the free classes.

It hasn’t been easy establishing the CSI club over the past year, but Jacob was determined. Recently, she met all the college’s requirements: recruiting a CPR- and first aid-certified jujitsu instructor, finding a faculty adviser, obtaining insurance, and the list goes on.

Jacob smiled when asked how it feels to see the club up and running. About 20 people showed up Tuesday night to learn to fend off an attack.

“I’m actually quite surprised because at first there wasn’t many people interested,”said the surgical technology major who hung posters around campus to spread the word.

Jacob has been involved in martial arts since age 11.

“It helps people get motivated,”the club president said. “It’s a good exercise source, and it also raises your confidence level quite substantially. When you know you can defend yourself, you feel much more confident in situations.”

Shepard, who owns ISA Martial Arts in Jerome, leads the two-hour sessions.

“We go through basic self defense,” Shepard said. “We teach them a throw or a way to off-balance an opponent.”

Jamie Van Sickle, 18, attended Tuesday’s session. She and Katie Jacob, 16, took turns hurling each other onto the mat with a thud.

“Ijust like being able to know that I can defend myself and my friends if they need it,” Van Sickle said.

Robby Lopez’s reason for attending is simple.

“I’m not going to get beat up,” the 20-year-old said. “I’m going to be coming every week.”

Shepard, who plans to open a new dojo in Twin Falls in April in addition to his Jerome location, is impressed with Jacob’s perseverance.

“She fought all the way through,” he said of her quest to start the club. “It’s rare that you’d see a gal running a martial arts club, so Ithink that’s awesome. It’s always viewed as a gentleman’s game, so to see a gal go toe to toe with ’em is kind of cool, don’t you think?”