Thousand Waves Launches Member Drive

02.10.2020 by Ryan Libel

Dear Thousand Waves Community,

Over the years I’ve heard a lot about what members get out of their karate training at Thousand Waves.  For some, karate is the antidote to the monotony of a gym – they want an exciting physical practice that provides the motivation needed to counter naturally sedentary ways.  Others seek a purposeful pursuit – a mind/body/spirit practice that also works on character development over time.    More often than not, parents who seek martial arts training for children are looking for activities that promote discipline and self-confidence.  And some – young and old alike – start training to enact martial arts dreams that have been stoked by pop culture – movies from my childhood, like The Karate Kid, or, more recently, Kung Fu Panda.

Read more about our member drive.

Whatever people are seeking when they join, they are often surprised to find that in addition to meeting their original goals, Thousand Waves provides a place of acceptance and community.  They find a place where striving with patience is much more important than being the strongest or the fastest or the most adept, where supporting our training partners is as important as supporting ourselves.  They find our spirit of community alive in many ways off the training floor as well, from our dedication to tending to our shared space, to helping with Thousand Waves’ fundraising needs, to caring for a fellow member during a health crisis.

At Kagami Biraki, our annual New Year’s training back in January, we launched a member drive with the goal of increasing our membership from where it is right now – about 300 members – to 350 members.  350 members will better position us financially to be the best school we can be, one that keeps as its highest goal our nonprofit mission to foster fitness, healing, empowerment and peacemaking.

There are several ways you can help.  Consider:

• Securing an invitation for a Thousand Waves Demo Team to introduce our art in a school assembly.
• Bringing your children’s friends along to one of our Parents’ Nights Off.
• Trying karate yourself if you haven’t already!
• Inviting a friend to take a trial class – and take the class with them!
• Distributing our literature in other community groups in which you are active.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on staff if you have other ideas – the member drive is just getting underway and will continue all year long!

Senpai Ryan is the Executive Director of Thousand Waves, and a 3rd degree black belt.

TW Offers Camps & Other Fun Extras for Kids

02.10.2020 by Thousand Waves

Thousand Waves kids, and their non-dojo friends too, have many opportunities to get together outside of regular karate class for a little karate and a lot of fun! In addition to our ever-popular Camp Kokoro, for which registration is now open for two two-week sessions in July, we offer a Spring Break Day Camp, No-School Day Camps and Parents’ Nights Off Saturday evening events. And by special arrangement, we also offer birthday parties! Click here, or give us a call at 773-472-7663 for more information on any of our special children’s programming.

Thousand Waves looks to Positively Impact Communities beyond 2020 in New Ways

02.10.2020 by Nancy Lanoue

Thousand Waves has always been more than a karate school. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization because rather than being driven by commercial success, we are driven by our mission to foster fitness, healing, empowerment and peacemaking through our martial arts and self-defense programs. We prioritize inclusivity and provide scholarships for individuals and groups who would otherwise not be able to participate in our programs. Last year our scholarship fund, thanks solely to our members’ donations and fundraising efforts, allowed us to waive approximately $50,000 in tuition and fees for children, teens and adults.

Read Sei Shihan Nancy’s articulation of TW’s new outreach goal.

But we all know that removing financial barriers is only one piece of what’s necessary to make an institution truly inclusive. That’s why we provide our Adapted Seido Karate (ASK) program for kids with disabilities in partnership with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago’s premier provider of services to this population, and why we run it at the Drucker Center, a site our families are familiar with and comfortable in because they go there for other programs. Now in its 16th year, the ASK program remains small but mighty, with a handful of dedicated volunteers providing fun and empowering classes for a dozen or so children and young adults.

While the ASK program remains dear to all our hearts, we’d like our outreach efforts to be serving a larger number of people.  In our current strategic planning process which is happening right now, we have articulated a goal to identify new ways – in addition to our scholarship fund, ASK and self-defense programs – that Thousand Waves can positively impact under-resourced communities with Seido karate outreach programs in the coming years.

One idea we hope to explore is creating a volunteer-driven satellite dojo in partnership with a community organization that serves economically disadvantaged families in a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. Such a partnership has the potential to positively impact everyone involved. Kids and adults who could train at our satellite dojo would be getting healthy exercise, self-defense and conflict resolution skills, mindfulness training and stress relief – all within their own neighborhood. Thousand Waves volunteers who participate as students and teachers could share their Seido karate with deserving and appreciative new training partners as well as to learn about life in a part of our city they may not know much about.

We know that training in Seido karate can be transformational. We see its positive impact on our own lives as we gain strength, confidence and compassion from taking on challenges and persevering until we conquer them. Together we can assure that many more people in our divided city, where resources are distributed so unevenly, can reap these same benefits.

If you would like to be part of a task force to help us identify and connect with an appropriate partner organization to help us bring Seido karate to an underserved community on the north side of Chicago, we’d love to work with you on this exciting new project. Please contact Senpai Ryan (rlibel@thousandwaves.org) or me (nlanoue@thousandwaves.org) if you are interested.

Sei Shihan Nancy Lanoue is the Founder and Head Instructor of Thousand Waves, and a 6th degree black belt.

TW Plum Blossom Society Recognizes Major Donors

02.10.2020 by Thousand Waves

As a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, Thousand Waves relies heavily on the generosity of our donors to accomplish our mission-driven work.  In 2012, we established The Plum Blossom Society, a way of recognizing households whose gifts during the course of a calendar year total $1,000 or more.  Plum Blossom Society members receive ongoing recognition via a plaque that hangs in the Thousand Waves lobby.  They are also invited to an annual thank you dinner – this year’s soiree will be held February 15 at the home of board member Ed Flam and Mary Lee Schneider.  Please join us in thanking our 2019 Plum Blossom Society members for their generous support.

2019 Plum Blossom Society

• Aileen Geary & Margaret Gardel
• Ann Morris & Vada Woods
• Arturo Jauregui
• Becky Kidd
• Brian Eble
• Chris & Joanne Killackey
• Cindy & Peter Shearn
• Clinton & Dina Wolf
• Edward Flam & Mary Lee Schneider
• Jean Petersen
• Jeff Stone & Mario Cruz
• John Cusick
• Kenji & Trisha Muro
• Laura Cuzzillo
• Mari Philipsborn & Eric Terman
• Mark Hubert & Erica Eichleay
• Marnie & Keith Schwartz
• Martha Ha
• Martha Thompson & Jim Lucas
• Michele Curley
  
• Michelle Koerbel & Darren Tuggle
• Mike Mazzeo
• Nancy Lanoue & Sarah Ludden
• Pat Broughton
• Pat Kane & Kim Osgood
• Patricia Shaw
• Ryan Libel & Michael Moss
• Ted & Kathleen Halloran
• Tim Gerios & Betsy Pancik
• Todd & Ana Scales
• Wai Kwong-Kwok & Kathy Strandburg

02.10.2020 by Thousand Waves

Marti Mendoza is a Brown Belt training member, and the parent of an Adult-ranked teen Black Belt.

Briefly, how did you come to train in Seido Karate at Thousand Waves?
My daughter Liliana started at TW in 2011.  I always loved staying and watching in admiration and getting to know some of the members.  After some encouragement from a friend I finally decided to join, and three years later I still love the teachings of Seido and the amazing friendships I’ve made here.

What is one thing you’d like to change about the world?
Tough question, so much!  Inclusivity and Diversity.  I wish we could all embrace a variety of people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, and just support and try to understand each other compassionately.

What is one thing you do well?
This one took me forever to write (thank you to my friend, you know who you are, who helped draw it out of me). I believe I’m good at nurturing people through turning points in their lives, through hard times, challenging times and exciting times.

Helping people feel safe and comfortable has been part of my work since I started as a massage therapist and continues now in my work as a birth doula.

That is one thing you do not do so well?
Answer questions like the previous one! Lol!  I guess I am not as gentle with myself as I am with others. I can have a tendency to close myself off and try to handle things on my own.

Who from history do you admire, and why? 
So many! I love reading history about strong women who overcame the impossible. Lately I’m loving Maya Angelou.  What an amazing woman in American history, poet, writer, singer, civil rights activist and on and on.  I was always mesmerized hearing her speak and tell a story.

Other than Chicago, where have you most enjoyed spending time? 
Anywhere in nature or by the ocean.

What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?  
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude about it.” –Maya Angelou

What foods do you like best? 
I cannot possibly pick one.  I just love food!

What is a book that has been significant to you?
The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz.  I always come back to this book – it just speaks to me.

What are your musical favorites?
I have a very wide and eclectic taste in music. I can go from classical to latin to pop rock and even a little rap!  It depends on the mood I’m in, I guess.

“Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for…” is a regular feature of Kiai!
In the next issue, Michelle Koerbel will answer these same ten questions.