Why Martial Arts?

Through holistic health practices for body, mind and spirit, Thousand Waves offers all its members increased strength, flexibility and stamina. In addition to improved physical health, members develop a strong spirit to deal with life’s problems and challenge its difficulties, and an open heart to appreciate life’s joys and possibilities.

For adults, martial arts training often provides a stress release and a centering influence. It can increase one’s ability to focus on daily tasks and boost self-confidence in scary situations, whether on the street or in the workplace.

Teens and youth who study martial arts often report an enhanced ability to deal with bullies, remain calm in tough situations with peers and teachers, and concentrate better on school work.

Seido Karate

The core program at Thousand Waves is Seido Karate, a Japanese martial art founded in 1976 by Kaicho (Grandmaster) Tadashi Nakamura, a martial artist and teacher of international stature. The name Seido means “sincere way.” Each student’s progress is honored at periodic tests for rank advancement. Learning comes naturally as the syllabus is organized into manageable, skill-building units. A respectful spirit of giving and receiving support characterizes the relationships between senior and junior students. Thousand Waves is a licensed branch school of the World Seido Karate Organization, and members here are also members of the W.S.K.O.

Programs

Additional programs are available at Thousand Waves to enhance health and enrich one's martial arts training:

  • Yoga and Functional X Fitness provide martial arts students, as well as non-martial arts students, the opportunity to increase stretch and strength..
  • We offer a meditation class that provides a longer meditation period and an opportunity to explore the relationship between the sitting meditation of zazen and the moving meditation of karate.  
  • Thousand Waves is deeply concerned with violence in our lives, our community and in the world. The Meditations on Activism series of events provides an opportunity for discussion, reflection and hopefully a spur to action.

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