The dead will rise and roam throughout the Sanderson Center Sunday afternoon as part of the Mississippi State University Taido Club’s event, Zombie and Me: Can Karate Save Me in the Zombie Apocalypse?

With full zombie makeup, props and multiple survival scenarios, the demonstration will create a realistic, hands-on experience for its participants. This event will allow students to learn several basic taido techniques they can utilize against the living dead in an apocalyptic world.

Shelley Keith, sociology professor and sensei of the MSU Taido Club, is the mastermind behind this unique demonstration. She said the idea came to her on one of the club’s trips to Atlanta, in which a student suggested offering a self-defense demonstration to the public. Keith then applied her own twist to the idea by incorporating zombies as a means to grab the interest of more people. 

“Zombies move in a straight line, and taido focuses more on dodging and striking at the opponent,” Keith said. “It is a good means of fully showing what taido is capable of and how it can be applied in different situations.”

This event also serves as a philanthropy event for Starkville in Motion, a non-profit organization dedicated to building sidewalks, bike lanes and trails within the city.

Ron Cossman, president of Starkville in Motion, said the main focus of his organization is to create an environment for healthy living in Starkville.

“We are actually affiliated with most of the organizations in Starkville that promote health and wellness, so when the taido group approached us, we gladly agreed to partner up with them for this event,” he said.

Zombie and Me features instruction from members of the taido group themselves, many of whom are also students at MSU.

Sabrina Swistek, sophomore biochemistry major, said she is greatly looking forward to becoming a zombie and teaching others how to protect themselves against the living dead.

“We are a whole-hearted group that is ready to have a good time and hopefully bond with each other and the students on campus who join us,” Swistek said.

 The event will take place Sunday in the auxiliary gym in the back of the Sanderson Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

 Tickets can be purchased at the door from the Taido Club members for $7. Half of the proceeds raised by the Taido Club will go toward  Starkville in Motion to assist in future projects.

The club highly recommends students dress in comfortable clothing while participating in the event so their movements will not be hindered.

Anyone concerned about lack of experience in martial arts does not need to worry. The event requires no prior experience in taido or any other form of martial arts. The club members will provide instruction and make sure participants learn everything they will need to know in order to successfully fight off brain-eating zombies.