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from the July, 2014 issue of Kiai!
Spirit Challenge 2014: Photos & Numbers
A few happy faces of the many who completed the Super Circuit
challenge on day 4 of Spirit Challenge.
Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2014 Spirit Challenge the most successful ever! Spirit Challenge is our annual fundraiser for our adult and teen students. We organize a week of karate and physical endurance challenges that inspire us to fundraise in support of all of our not-for-profit programming, including our violence prevention, ASK and scholarship programs. Here’s a report in numbers and pictures:
128 Participants reached out to 862 donors, who have collectively given 90,000!
Our average donation size was $77.28, and those donations helped 31 individuals and teams complete the Ultimate Fundraising Challenge – each of them raised over $1,000!
A record-breaking 19 people completed all challenge events for which they were eligible, earning the distinction of SOGO, or All Around Spirit Challenge Champion! They are:
| Amy Jones Anne Gregory Arturo Jauregui Gabby Afable Jane Kollmer Jordan Garcia |
Joseph Friedman Kenji Muro Lauren Schwendimann Mark Hubert Matt Birnholz Michele Curley |
Nancy Lanoue Natalie Kendall Patricia Broughton Ryan Libel Sarah Ludden Yesica Barrera |
Watch for their names to appear on the permanent plaque in our hallway! Maybe you’ll join them next year?
Donations continue to roll in, and it’s not too late for you to make a contribution and be a part of our most successful Spirit Challenge ever!
Day 1: Race Against Hate
For the opening event of Spirit Challenge, 67 Thousand Waves participants, a record number gathered in Evanston on Fathers' Day for the Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate.
Day 2: Shodan/Nidan Kata and Middle/Heavy-Weight Sparring
Strong spirit shines in the eyes of the Shodan/Nidan kata participants.
Shodan/Nidan kata: Senpai Annie, Bill, Matt & Denise.
Shodan/Nidan kata group, led by Sensei Eric, with Sei Shihan Nancy as a participant.
Monday's sparring challenge for medium to heavy-sized people was the first of three exhausting but exhilarating sparring events during Spirit Challenge week. In this photo (left), Sensei Rebecca attempts a sweep on Senpai Annie.
Middle/Heavy-weight sparring group
Day 3: Sandan & Up Kata and Light/Middle-Weight Sparring
The weapons section of Sandan & Up kata, with Sensei Sally, Senpai Yesica, Sensei Marla, Senpai Pat Kane & Senpai Carmina.
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Light & middle-weight sparrers: What a sweaty bunch they are!
Day 4: Teen Sparring and Super Circuit
You'd think they were done for the night, but most of these teen sparrers stayed for the Super Circuit event!
Super Circuit was hard, but fun. That's Senpai Bryce airborne in the background, Senpai
Pat Broughton in the middle, and Karen Weiner on the right.
Super Circuit finished with a huge circle for one hundred punches with kiai.
Left to right: Senpai Adam, Senpai Amy and Dharma.
Super Circuit participants: Biggest photo group of the week!
Day 5 and 6: Blue to Advanced Brown Belt Kata and Art With Heart Performance
We have no photos of Thursday's Blue to Advanced Brown Belt Kata because our usual photographer, Senpai Yesica was busy leading the event. For the rest of Thursday, we rehearsed for Friday's Art With Heart Performance.
The Hubert/Eichleay family combined talents for a version of Seido 2 that included
flamenco dancing.
Art With Heart included several synchronized board-breaking pieces.
Jun Shihan Sarah and Sei Shihan Nancy performed kata Sei Ryu Dai.
Day 7: Boot Camp and Board Breaking
Amidst the flock working their back muscles during the Boot Camp event, Jane Kollmer manages a smile.
Beginner and intermediate board-breakers received dedicated help and guidance.
Advanced breaking included a suspended board challenge.
At the end of the last event of Spirit Challenge 2014, the Advanced Breaking group gathers for one last group photo.