June 2009

In this issue:

Feature Articles

Self-Defense Course Teaches Life Skills for Teens and College Students

Jacob blocks!By Kate Webster

High school and college are exciting times for teens and young adults as they stretch new-found wings of freedom and independence from their parents. However, with this new autonomy come safety issues and concerns about difficult situations that teens and young adults may face. At Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, we help to provide teens and young adults with a wide range of life skills that can be used, and have been used successfully by others, not only to stay safe, but also to feel more confident, grounded, and aware.


Upcoming Events

FREE Self-Defense Refresher Class
Saturday, June 13th, from 1-4pm.
Open to adults and teens who have taken Thousand Waves’ 12-hour course any time in the past. RSVP required.

Dojo Clean Up
Sunday, June 14th, from 8:30am to 2:00pm
See the sign up sheet for tasks and times. Read Jim Winfrey's article to learn about the practical and martial importance of cleaning your school.

Dojo clean up!

Self-Defense Course for Adults and Teens - Mixed Gender
4 Saturdays, July 11th - August 1st, from 1-4pm
$95, $115 after June 20th. Scholarships available.

Jamaica West Indies Seido Tournament
Saturday, June 27th

National Women's Martial Arts Federation Special Training 2009
July 9th – 12th, in Oberlin, Ohio

Adult Promotion Exam
July 15th, from 6:30 to 9:30

Children's Promotion Exams
July 18th
Little Kicks & Juniors 9-10am, Youth & Teens 4-6pm

Nunchaku for Kids
Saturday, July 25th, 4-6pm
Instructor: Sensei Triston Alvarez, Fee: $25

Nunchaku for Adults
Saturday, August 1st, 4-6pm
Instructor: Kyoshi Sarah Ludden, Fee: $25

Saturday, August 8th Beach Training

Beach training!



Community Impact

Spirit challenge!Spirit Challenge: By the Numbers

By Rebecca Epstein and John Pappas

On May 24th, May 30th and May 31st, Thousand Waves held its annual fundraiser: Spirit Challenge 2009. Nearly 200 individuals and families raised much needed funds and completed a variety of athletic and martial events. Take a look at the accomplishments everyone achieved!

Violence Prevention Training Impacts Chicago Schools

By P. Marie O’Brien

Thousand Waves is committed to providing programs for high school and college students, and equipping them with important life skills for violence prevention. So far in 2009, nearly 200 students have already connected to Thousand Waves through programs for their schools. Many of these classes came about when a teacher or professor, concerned about student safety, took the initiative to contact us about providing a workshop for students.

Palm heel!

One Day, One Lifetime & Ten New Black Belts!

By Caroline Guindon

“We all stumbled over Thousand Waves”.
Bill Kouis, adult Shodan

We all have a story of how, when and perhaps even why Thousand Waves became a part of our lives; all of us who train or support others who do, remember the circumstances that made it happen. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are many people like Clara L.-G. who first entered Thousand Waves in utero or in stroller and thus will never remember getting there for the first time. I know about Clara’s first visit because I was 8 ½ months pregnant at the time; we were there for Jacob, her then almost 6 year old brother who was a shy klutzy boy just about to become a big brother for the second time. I felt sorry for the little fellow. I wanted him to have something that was just his… Why not karate? Maybe he’d always be a klutz but at least he’d have an interesting activity away from the babies, just for himself…That’s our story. That’s the story of how we got here the first day. Yours is different. Probably more interesting, too...The much more important story though — and I know it’s just as true of all of us who make Thousand Waves a part of our lives as it is true of my own little family unit — is the story of how and why we all stayed.

Congratulation to all Karate-ka that promoted in May 2009:

 

Adam Toepfer
Aiden Grant
Amy Wechsler
Anna Questal
Becky Kidd
Ben Rachlis
Braden Seavoy
Brendan Heavey
Brianna O'Malley
Bryce Bezirgan
Clara Laden-Guindon
Claudia Beltran
Eric Graham
Geoffrey Lawrence
Graham Burleigh
Graham Paterson
Hannah Rachlis
Henry Moskal

Ione Dellos
Isabel DePaul
Isabelle Mallet
Jacopo DeMarinis
James Woodruff
Jason Dulberg
Jeffrey Gore
John Cusick
Jonah Fleisher
Jonah Lindau
Jordan Roderick-Fried
Joshua Bustos
Julissa Tapia
KJ Hogenson
Lars Dellos
Laura Glenzer
Lulu Daly
Madeleine Greenblatt		 Margarita Saona
Mark Hubert
Miles Robinson
Nastasia Scales
Nicholas Woodruff
Nora Begy
Rebecca Epstein
Ricky Rivera
Robert Kania
Sara King
Sarah Day
Shelby Donahue
Steven Norinsky
Sui Lin Tam
Teddy Bahu
Valerie Diaz