Letter from Our Executive Director

09.01.2025 by Sensei Ryan Libel

Dear Thousand Waves Community,

Welcome to the special 40th Anniversary edition of our Kiai! Newsletter! It’s been a good year so far for Thousand Waves. We made our 40th Anniversary Fundraising goal of $120,000 (126k and counting!) and had a wonderful weekend anniversary celebration back in June. Our 40th Anniversary Service project to provide deserving organizations with pro-bono self-defense workshops has also been going well – contact us if you know of a group who could benefit!

Speaking of self-defense, Rebecca Bishop and I just wrapped up teaching a 12-hour Empowerment Self-Defense course. As they have since I began assisting with them over 15 years ago, these courses always inspire me. Seeing the skills of ESD grow in people who are new to the concepts reminds me of the importance of our work. Our 12-hour course, developed by Shuseki Shihan Nancy many years ago, has been fine-tuned over the decades by her and a long line of self-defense teachers at Thousand Waves. If you haven’t had the chance to take it, or if it’s been a while, our next course is coming up November 8-9 – join us!

I hope you enjoy this 40th anniversary issue of Kiai!, with “Ten Questions” responses from Shuseki Shihan Nancy and Sei Shihan Sarah, as well as member and alum snippets about what makes Thousand Waves Special. For my part, like many of the others you’ll read, I have been continually impressed with the people who make Thousand Waves part of their lives. Getting to know so many individuals and families who share the values we strive to embody on the training floor and beyond has long been a source of inspiration for me. Training and teaching Seido Karate and Empowerment Self-Defense demonstrates to me every day that we all have strengths and weaknesses. Working on both in a place that simultaneously offers challenge and refuge helps make us all better humans.

Thanks for being a part of Thousand Waves’ long history.

With deep appreciation,

Sensei Ryan
Executive Director

09.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

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

Ending racism and the patriarchy is always at the top of my list. If those two are ever felled, a mighty wave of positive change will be set in motion.

What is one thing you do well?

Find treasures in thrift stores.

What is the one thing you do not do well?

Understand popular science books written for non-scientists, despite a fervent belief that the next one I tackle will be different.

Who from history do you admire, and why?

Nelson Mandela, for maintaining through years of brutal oppression, an expansive and generous vision of the possibilities of post-apartheid life in South Africa.

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

In the mountains, in contemplation of the glories of nature.

What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less important whether or not I am afraid.” Audre Lorde, in The Cancer Journals. This was the mantra I used to direct my mind towards healing and survival in my own breast cancer journey at age 35.

What foods do you like best?

There are very few real foods I don’t love, and almost no fake foods that I do love. My way of appreciating life and showing love is to create meals that are delicious, nutritious and colorful for myself and those I care for.

What is a book that has been significant to you?

Anything by the Irish novelist, Sebastian Barry, most especially Days without End.

What talent would you most like to have?

To be better at figuring out how to string tarps into clever wilderness shelters.

What is your most treasured possession?

The very few physical mementos I have from my long dead parents, my first partner Jeannette, and more recently departed elder sister Susan, my shero.

“Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for…” is a regular feature of Kiai! We will hear from Senpai Jeff Stone in the next issue.

09.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

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

I met Nancy Lanoue in 1986 right after she and her partner Jeannette Pappas opened the Women’s Gym, with Seido Karate one of the classes offered in its fitness programming. I was living in Oakland, CA, at the time and visiting friends in Chicago. My friends said “you have to go and meet these women! Nancy is a black belt, too!” I did…and… enjoyed getting to know Nancy and Jeannette, Nancy and I helping each other get established in the national network of women martial artists, sharing our dreams and struggles. After a series of both tragically sad and joyous personal events, Nancy and I fell in love and I moved back to Chicago in 1991 to live with her and run what would eventually become Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, NFP.

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

During this time of a fascist political takeover of the US, immeasurable suffering in Gaza funded in large part by our own government, racist fear and hatred stoked by the Republican agenda in every corner of our lives…that’s quite a question. But one we should ask ourselves every day, as well as “and what am I going to do to help this change come about?” I think there are many things we can do, from trying to stay informed to finding whatever activities/actions that work for us personally, that promote communication, healing, love and justice.

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

I love being outside in nature with Nancy, gardening and hiking and biking and camping, enjoying nature’s wonders. Since retiring from TW in 2020, I also have had the immense privilege to volunteer in other countries, Costa Rica and Peru! I have been able to live with families and work in the community for extended times. Life changing! Nancy and I are planning a work trip together to Guatemala in early 2026, to teach at a girls’ school serving rural communities outside of Antigua.

What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?

There comes a time when silence is betrayal.

Black Lives Matter.

Kids learn what they live: Stop the violence.

We are all temporarily not dirt….

What foods do you like best?

Nancy’s cooking!!!!

And chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

What is a book that has been significant to you?

All of Toni Morrison’s work. She is my shero of sheros.

What are your musical favorites?

Music is a gift of life I cannot describe. So beautiful and transformational on so many emotional levels. I love almost all music from around the world but I guess if I had to name my favorite... it would be the singer Mercedes Sosa.

What talent would you most like to have?

Play the piano well and speak Spanish with fluency. I’m trying to improve both….and enjoying the process, step by step, which is the point, isn’t it? Creating beauty and communicating with others…the best we can.

What is your most treasured possession?

The treasured ability to read.

“Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for…” is a regular feature of Kiai! We will hear from Senpai Jeff Stone in the next issue.

40th Anniversary Member Poll Results - Part 1

09.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

Responses to our 40th Anniversary Member Poll are rolling in!

Abby Rogers

How did you find Thousand Waves?
Google search while looking for an active hobby to try out.

What made you decide to become a member?
At the trial class I felt welcomed and I liked the community.

What makes (or made if you are a former training member) you keep coming back?
Supportive community, feeling like I was making growth / progress, variety of class options and teachers

Akinwande Oyebanjo

How did you find Thousand Waves?
Without me knowing, my mother signed me up for a trial class when I was seven years old.

What made you decide to become a member?
In regards to becoming a member, I never had a decision. I chose to remain a member when I was in high school. I earned my adult Shodan around that time and I looked forward to rendezvous with my friends who I trained with in teen class.

What makes (or made if you are a former training member) you keep coming back?
I have always appreciated Thousand Waves for incorporating the idea of spatial awareness and setting safe boundaries in their training. This dojo is unique because it allows people from different walks of life to be comfortable with who they are and better themselves through Seido Karate. I am grateful that I grew up in this community.

Other comments?
I look forward to visiting Thousand Waves the next time I'm in Chicago.

Read more resposes to our member poll.

We will publish more responses to our poll in the December Kiai! Submit your answers by Nov. 1st.

40th Anniversary Dinner Speeches

09.01.2025 by Thousand Waves

Here are some of the speeches given during the dinner celebrating 40 years of Thousand Waves. The audio is not perfect, nor edited, but we thought you might like to hear them again or for the first time. Please excuse the “Woo!” exclamations, the loud laughter, etc.

Kyoshi Sally Wigginton

Sensei Aileen Geary

Senpai Vada Woods

Senpai Arturo Jauregui

Senpai Sandy Taylor

Sensei Margarita Saona

Coach Arlene Limas

Jun Shihan Marla Cohen

Sei Shihan Sarah Ludden

Denise Coleman

Upcoming Events and Useful Links

03.01.2025 by Thousand Waves