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February 2015
In This Issue
30th Anniversary
- Anniversary Year Kicks Off with Stories of TW History
- 30 Years of Thousand Waves: Reflections of a Senior Black Belt
Fitness & Healing
- An Afternoon Walk Became A Journey:
Upcoming Meditation Class on Nurturing Our Bodies - Re-Strengthening After an Injury
Not Just for Parents
Community
- ASKing to be Inspired: An ASK Volunteer's Perspective
- Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for Senpai Ryan Libel
Violence Prevention News
Promotions
Anniversary Year Kicks Off with Stories of TW History
By Senpai Ryan Libel
2nd Degree Black Belt and TW Director of Operations
Sei Shihan Nancy and Jun Shihan Sarah share a funny event
from TW history.
As the slideshow ran, Sei and Jun Shihan spoke about their early martial paths – Nancy’s began “as a young feminist” in Goju Ryu karate, in New York City at the Women’s Martial Arts Center. She embraced the hard training and the activist spirit permeating the school. The school struggled, as many martial ventures do, and when it folded she made the bold decision to begin studying Seido Karate with Kaicho Nakamura in Chelsea in the late 1970s. It was fun to hear tales of a young group of feminists walking into a traditional dojo – Sei Shihan said that there were certainly women already training in Seido, but that there was no doubt the new crew she brought into the fold shook up the place a bit.
30 Years of Thousand Waves: Reflections of a Senior Black Belt
By Sensei Sally Wigginton
4th Degree Black Belt
In January 1985, two women arrived in Chicago from New York with a dream. Both were feminists with a desire to open a gym for women to feel their power, find their strength and explore their potential. Nancy Lanoue and Jeannette Pappas bought a run-down building at 1212 W. Belmont and began their work to build their dream. In August of that year the doors of The Women’s Gym opened. For many of us it was our first time to join a gym. What drew us to the Women’s Gym was the beauty of the space and the desire to be in a gym with other women. What kept us there was the energy and commitment of the two founders.
The first TW black belts were once new advanced green belts, back in 1988. That's
Sensei
Sally
front row left and Kyoshi Martha Fourt on the right. Between them is
Sensei
Laura Tesch. In the back row, left of Sei Shihan Nancy is Jeannette Pappas, her first partner
and TW co-founder. Next to them are Helen Raytek and Carey Boehmer.
30 years later the space has changed, but the spirit of the initial dream remains. Over these 30 years life has brought changes. The death of Jeannette, the change from a Women’s Gym to a Violence Prevention and Martial Arts School, the arrival of Sarah Ludden, the expansion of the dojo, and the decision to embrace men as allies and training partners in the dojo.
I have been a teacher for 37 years. I continue to have the energy and passion for my job. I believe what makes that possible is a desire to learn from colleagues and students and to be open to change. These are the qualities I see in Sei Shihan Nancy and Jun Shihan Sarah. As a student I am so thankful for the energy and openness in their teaching.
2015 is our year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves. For those of us who have trained for most of these 30 years it is a time to reflect on what keeps us committed to growing. For newer members it is a time to learn parts of this history of the dojo. For all of us it is a time to think about the community and what keeps it vibrant.
We hope you can join us throughout the year to celebrate and reflect on these 30 years. The 30th anniversary committee is hard at work planning two special events:
“Art With Heart” Performance: An all-school extravaganza of karate on Saturday, October 3, followed by a special party at the dojo.
“Gratitude”: An opportunity for students to reflect on their participation in Thousand Waves’ 30 year history, in a special meditation class on Wednesday, December 2.
An Afternoon Walk Became A Journey:
Upcoming Meditation Class on Nurturing Our Bodies
Jun Shihan Sarah recommends training amidst nature
whenever you can.
6th Degree Black Belt and TW Co-Executive Director
On Wednesday, March 4th, our meditation class will discuss how our martial arts path encourages us to relate to our bodies with self-love, self-respect and self-care. I have a deep personal interest in this topic because my early martial arts training helped me recover from bulimia, which had haunted me from the age of 16. Though I was extremely athletic in my 20s, seriously training as a dancer, cross training with running and weight work, I related to my body from the outside looking in. As physically demanding of my body as I was, I refused to authentically care for it, concerned more for what I looked like to someone else than for the health and strength of my inner self.
When I began my martial arts training at age 28, my teacher presented it as a mind, body, spirit practice. It is an authentic personal practice, no hiding, no denying the path for the goal. As I strove to achieve my maximum potential physically, my mind and spirit now mattered, too. I began to take more responsibility for my behavioral patterns, and to work harder to understand and heal the pain that contributed to my bulimia. I began to care for my body, from the inside looking out, uniting my mind, body and emotions.
Following our peaceful extended meditation, we will talk about nurturing our bodies and our selves as martial artists. What does that mean to each of us? What does it mean to embark on a path of mind, body, spirit unity? How do we engage in this physical athletic practice in a healthy, disciplined and self-respecting way? From the practical to the philosophical, we will discuss nutrition, diet, rest, balance, body image… and the journey we are on together.
I look forward to our gathering and hope you can join us.
With love,
Jun Shihan Sarah
Re-Strengthening After an Injury
By Tabitha Balakumar
Advanced Brown Belt
Injuries. They happen. Sometimes they’re minor and sometimes they aren’t. They’re never pleasant, and always feel like they take too long to heal.
Last year, I injured my shoulder while playing tennis. It was serious enough that I had to stop using it entirely in order to let it heal. I kept taking karate classes, modifying whenever necessary so I wouldn’t injure it again, and it finally healed. I resumed karate like normal, and then discovered that I’d lost all the strength I used to have. I went from being able to do full pushups to not being able to do any, not even on my knees. Quite disheartening.
In her recent test for advanced brown belt, Tabitha enjoys a
sparring round with Senpai Alan, instructor of the HIIT-IT Fitness
classes which helped re-strengthen her shoulder after injury.
I signed up for Senpai Alan’s HIIT IT Fitness class and told him about my shoulder. He gave me specific exercises that targeted the weak muscle, and that’s what I focused on for the first couple of months. Slowly, I started to regain the strength I had lost. I went from doing pushups on my knees to full pushups, and then I noticed something else: all the muscles around the newly healed one had also gotten weak. This meant I had to work on more re-strengthening, which took yet another round of targeted exercises (courtesy of Senpai Alan). It has now been four and a half months since I began the fitness program, and I’m doing full pushups like I used to. It’s a wonderful feeling, and I’m glad I stuck with it.
Successfully recovering from an injury can be frustrating, dispiriting, and arduous, but it can be done. The keys to success are simple: going slowly, not giving up, and seeking out help if necessary. They are also not easy, and require patience and perseverance. But it is worth it in the end!
Kids of all ages and karate ranks will intermingle in Spring Break Camp, just like in Camp Kokoro.
Sign Up Now for Spring Break Karate Camp!
Don’t let your kids’ spring break mean extra work for you; bring them to the dojo instead! The week of Monday April 6 through Friday April 10, we are offering a Spring Break Camp from 9 am til 3 pm. The cost for members is $225 for the full week with a members-only option of $50 per day if you can’t make the entire week. The cost for non-members is $280 for the full week (karate uniform included.) So, have your kids invite their non-karate friends to join them in all the fun! No two days of the camp will be exactly the same but every day will include at least two karate classes, a snack, outdoor games (weather permitting), and a karate-related project or game! Register at the dojo, or online. Don’t miss out on all the fun! – Senpai Jordan Garcia
ASKing to be Inspired: An ASK Volunteer's Perspective
By Brett Schatzle
Yellow Belt and ASK Volunteer
Since August, 2014, I’ve had the great privilege of being part of the ASK (Adapted Seido Karate) program. When I first decided to volunteer, I didn’t know much about the program other than it is designed for kids with disabilities. Upon completion of my first class, it became obvious to me that this program is much more than just working with children who have disabilities. I quickly learned that it is the heart and dedication from everyone involved – from the teachers, to the kids, to the parents – that keeps the program successful in order to give these kids the best of what Seido karate has to offer.
ASK volunteers celebrate Frank and Tom's promotion at Thousand Waves.
The concept first began when Thousand Waves recognized that people with disabilities experience violence at highly elevated rates, and that youth are among the most frequent targets of bullying. The emphasis was then turned to responding to this particular situation by creating an ongoing program to serve people with disabilities.
Learn about the ASK program, and read about Brett’s experiences as an ASK volunteer.
by Senpai Ryan Libel
This is the first installment of a new regular Kiai! newsletter feature wherein I’ll reach out to a Thousand Waves member and ask them to answer the series of questions below. In the interest of disclosure and fairness and before asking others to share of themselves, I’m taking the first turn myself.
Kiai!: Briefly, how did you come to train Seido Karate at Thousand Waves?
RL: My friend Senpai Joe Eldridge invited me to give it a try when I told him of my interest in pursuing something physical other than my running – back when I was new to the city and also wanting to meet some people.
Kiai!: What is one thing you’d like to change about the world?
RL: I want people to stop killing other people.
Kiai!: What is one thing you do well?
RL: Run.
Kiai!: What is one thing you do not do so well?
RL: Penmanship.
Kiai!: Who from history do you admire, and why?
RL: Courageous humanitarians – Harriet Tubman, Jane Addams, and also great scientists – Galileo, Einstein.
Kiai!: Other than Chicago, where have you most enjoyed spending time?
RL: San Juan and New York
Kiai!: What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?
RL: “A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are for.” – Rear Admiral Grace Hopper
Kiai!: What foods do you like best?
RL: My partner Michael makes me great food regularly. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything!
Kiai!: What is a book that has been significant to you?
RL: Recently I re-read The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb, a book on the impact of the highly improbable (hint: the impact is BIG).
Kiai!: What are your musical favorites?
RL: Strings – as in orchestras and quartets and such, and Rufus Wainwright
Adventures at Heiwa Terrace (or, You Just Never Know)
By Senpai Amy Jones
2nd Degree Black Belt and TW Violence Prevention & Self-Defense Program Manager
Senpai Amy and Senpai Margarita teach the "Fight" finger of
self-defense to a group at Heiwa Terrace.
I eventually learned that Heiwa Terrace is a retirement community for Asian Americans, and that several years ago, youth members at Thousand Waves would do a karate performance for them as part of Camp Kokoro; so we had some ties there. I also learned that the budget for this particular program was quite limited. Happily, we were able to offer them a scholarship, and we set the date for February 7th to do a one-hour program. A couple of weeks ahead of time, I checked in with Nicole. I confirmed that we were coming, and double-checked that our students would be able to understand English. She assured me they would.
February 7th came, and my trusty assistant Senpai Margarita and I headed over...
What Happened at Heiwa Terrace? Read on…
Congratulations to January and February 2015 Promotees
Junior Color Belts
Youth & Teen Color Belts
Adult Color Belts