Letter from Our Executive Director

06.01.2025 by Sensei Ryan Libel

Dear Thousand Waves Community,

40 years ago, Shuseki Shihan Nancy came to Chicago with a dream to create a space where women would feel welcome to pursue their own power. The Women’s Gym opened hearts and minds to the possibilities of empowerment—a place to heal from trauma, pursue fitness goals, and grow in the martial art of Seido Karate. Over the decades, we’ve moved (two doors down!) and evolved. Our all-genders programs now cater to anyone willing to bring themselves to the path. But our core identity remains—our not-for-profit mission to foster fitness, healing, empowerment and peacemaking continues to motivate us.

Our 40th anniversary is an occasion for celebration, to be sure. But we’re also serving the community. With our 40th Anniversary Service Project, it’s our goal to partner with at least 6 worthy organizations for pro-bono Empowerment Self-Defense programs. We’ve already served the Invisible Institute, The Chicago Therapy Collective, and the 35th Ward of Chicago. Please email esd@thousandwaves.org if you can help connect us to others.

Our anniversary celebration will culminate Friday, June 6, with a martial arts performance at Northside College Prep from 7-8:30 pm. Tickets are available at this link. I hope you’ll also consider supporting our ambitious 40th anniversary fundraising goal of $120,000 with a donation.

Whether you’ve known Thousand Waves for a week or decades, thank you for being a part of our success. In a world where violence and oppression too often dominate, we’ll continue to strive with patience to create a more peaceful world.

With deep appreciation,

Sensei Ryan
Executive Director

06.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

Diane Fields has just retired from training at the rank of Green Belt.

Briefly, how did you come to train at Thousand Waves?

Way back in the day, I was a member of TW in the late 80’s when it was called the Women’s Gym. I only used the gym at that time and not the Dojo. During Covid, due to the isolation, lack of stimulation, lack of the ability to do much physical activity, and generalized fear, I found myself feeling depressed, anxious and vulnerable. I stumbled across TW web site with the abbreviated self-defense classes. While attending that class, I noticed the new member offer. I wasn’t sure if my 68 year old body could do karate, but decided 2 months would give me a brief trial to find out. So, three years later, I’m still here.

Read the rest of Diane’s answers.

What is one thing you’d like to change about the world?

All the hurtful ways used to convince others that “my opinion is right and yours is wrong.” Slow down. Try listening to understand and not judge. Pause to consider your words, you may prevent saying things that might offend, embarrass, hurt or damage relationships

What is one thing you do well?

Being a friend. I value my friendships and hold them very tightly. I feel I am a good listener with friends, I’m supportive, understanding, but also can question things that don’t sound like they are the healthiest approach. I have an ongoing curiosity about human behavior, so I am constantly asking my friends questions and for further explanations. Not to be judgmental or “nosy”, but just an ongoing curiosity and understanding about how people figure out how to manage this thing called life.

What is the one thing you do not do well?

Being patient with myself. When I was younger, I seemed to be able to pick up new things easier and able to perform near the top of whatever activity I was participating in. With age, I have found it more challenging to learn new material and needing to accept what my body will allow me to do.

Other than Chicago, where have you most enjoyed spending time?

My wife and I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 20 years. Being able to explore the beauty and mysteries of the Southwest was an amazing experience. Now that I’m retired, we have begun to do Amtrak train travel. Spending time on a train, watching the world go by or seeing the sun rise over the Rockies while eating breakfast is amazing.

What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?

“This moment is your real life. Your real life is between now and your next breath. The present – the here and now – is all the life you ever truly get. So, practice living each moment in full, in kindness and peace, without fear and regret. And do the best you can with what you have in this moment; because that is all you can ever expect of anyone, including yourself.” from The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

What foods do you like best?

Even though we live in the foodie capital of the world, my wife and I have found ourselves getting into a routine of going to the same restaurants or preparing the same food. Recently, we have decided to “get out of our comfort zone” and begun exploring restaurants and introducing cooked meals at home that we have not tried in the past. Recently, we have begun exploring Japanese food. Although I haven’t yet ventured to try making any meals, just exploring the Japanese restaurants in Chicago has been fun.

What are your musical favorites?

I am an audiophile!! I have a turntable and collect vinyl albums, both used (depending on the condition) and reissues. Nothing is better than staring at album art and listening to vinyl. My favorites are classic rock music, Broadway musicals and women’s music.

What talent would you most like to have?

To be able to sing without people covering their ears and cringing when they realize I’m tone deaf.

What is your most treasured possession?

My relationships with my wife and my friends. Because I understand that these are not things that I own or control and they can end at any time, forces me to work hard at staying present, patient and kind with them to continue to maintain them as a part of my life.

“Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for…” is a regular feature of Kiai!
The next person to answer Ten Questions: Senpai Jeff Stone

Paying it Forward: TW ESD 40th anniversary programming

06.01.2025 Sensei Patricia Broughton, TW ESD Coordinator

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, Thousand Waves committed to providing pro bono empowerment self-defense programming to six community groups. I’m pleased to report we’ve provided three community programs serving a total of 57 individuals so far.

The series began January 11 when Michele Curley and I delivered a three-hour workshop for 18 team members of the Invisible Institute, a non-profit journalism production company on the South Side of Chicago that works to enhance the capacity of citizens to hold public institutions accountable.

On March 12, Michele and I conducted a three-hour workshop for 9 members of the Chicago Therapy Collective which promotes citywide action to alleviate LGBTQIA2S health disparities and advance queer liberation through therapy, education, and the arts.

And on March 15, Nancy Lanoue delivered a three-hour workshop to 30 residents of the 35th, 26th, and 1st Wards at Kosciuszko Park after a series of sexual assaults shook the Logan Square community. A mighty team of seven self-defense instructors, including Aileen Geary, Michele Curley, Marti Mendoza, Cely Garcia, Aria St. James, Loren Velasquez and me, assisted Nancy.

Thousand Waves’ ESD programming along with some key principles of empowerment self-defense was featured prominently in a Block Club Chicago article published April 21; it included photos from the March 15 workshop.

Thanks to Thousand Waves’ members Silas Leslie who connected us to the Chicago Therapy Collective, and to Mark Hubert who connected us to 35th Ward leadership. If you’re connected to a community-based non-profit and would like to see Thousand Waves offer a free workshop to its constituents during this 40th anniversary year, please email information to me: pbroughton@thousandwaves.org.

Upcoming Events and Useful Links

03.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

Full list of 2025 TW Calendar of Events