November 2010

In This Issue

Feature Articles

Upcoming Events

Community Outreach

Member News

Feature Articles

Parent Pitch - Sparring for Kids: What’s It All About?

by Jun Shihan Nancy and Kyoshi Sarah

Seido karate includes four distinct areas of training: basic technique, kata (forms), kumite (sparring) and self-defense. Each part contributes something unique and valuable to our child members’ development. For this reason, we require members to engage in ALL parts of the art as they advance through the ranks, rather than picking and choosing the ones they prefer. The following questions and answers will explain the purpose and value of sparring for children, including when and how this key part of Seido karate is taught here at Thousand Waves.

Shout it from the Rooftops! Violence Prevention at TW

by Ryan Libel, Director of Operations

Don’t you love the idea that at Thousand Waves your and/or your kids’ karate tuition stretches much, much further than karate classes on the training floor? Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?

Before joining the staff in March I was a pretty active member of Thousand Waves for about six years. My occasional volunteering and brief tenure on the board of directors had me thinking I pretty well knew what TW is all about. From those vantage points, however, I could not see the day-to-day activities of our Violence Prevention program - and I bet you can’t either!

Sure, you’ve taken our four-week Self-Defense course here onsite, or a Self-Defense Basics three-hour workshop, but do you know that from September to November we’ve put on 30 Violence Prevention program sessions? Organizations as wide-ranging as The Chicago Theological Seminary, The Women’s Treatment Center, The Night Ministry, UIC, Carole Robertson Center for Learning and many more have you - our tuition-paying members - to thank for making these programs available and affordable for their staff, students, and service populations.

The programming we provide for other organizations takes our work into the community, giving us a not-for-profit mission we can shout from the rooftops. Check out these photos from this fall’s programming  - I hope they convey a little bit of that insider’s vantage point I mentioned above. Tell someone about Thousand Waves Violence Prevention work - pull up these photos and brag to your colleagues; take pride in the important work you support with your tuition and your generous fundraising efforts! As always, if you have any ideas about other groups we can connect with contact Marie O’Brien, our Director of Violence Prevention at mobrien@thousandwaves.org.

Punch & Kick-a-Thon Report

Heartfelt thanks to all families who participated in and fundraised for Punch & Kick-a-Thon. We are pleased to report that:

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See more Punch & Kick-a-Thon pictures here.

Upcoming Events

Holiday Events

Sunday, November 21st, 2:30 - 4:30pm.
Holiday Survival Project with Jun Shihan Nancy and Senpai Sarah Kranz.

Saturday, December 11th, Holiday Party, save the date.

Dojo Cleanup

Sunday, November 12th

It has always been the tradition at our dojo that twice a year we undergo a major cleaning. Dust bunnies are our opponents, mildew our enemy. We do it for ourselves, our senpai, our training partners and all who have yet to enter our doors. Read more on how and why to Cleanse your Mind, Cleanse your Dojo. Please sign up for a shift when you see the posted schedule.

Teacher Appreciation Gathering

Wednesday, December 8th, 7:40-9:00pm

Karate and Self-Defense Teachers & Assistants Appreciation Gathering, save the date.

Special Training Opportunities

Sunday, November 7th

Nunchaku Workshop

 

Meditation Programs for Adult & Teen Members

All Meditation Programs are held on Wednesdays, 7:30 – 8:45 pm.

Promotion Tests

Closings/Class Cancellations

Community Outreach

How can Businesses in your Life Connect with Thousand Waves?

Thousand Waves collaborates with local businesses in many ways. Consider connecting your own company, employer, or businesses you frequent with Thousand Waves. They can:

Thanks for giving some thought to how the many businesses in your life could connect to Thousand Waves. We look forward to hearing from you!

Member News

My Experience at the 2010 Gay Games

by Erin Marks

In early August, my partner Ellen and I competed in the martial arts competition of the 8th Gay Games in Cologne, Germany. After months of preparation, I returned with two medals, a black eye and my first few hours of international mixed-style competition judging experience. After competing in the Chicago Games in 2006, I felt fortunate to be able to travel to Germany to compete again this year. I’m grateful to Kyoshi Sarah who helped me with my musical form, Sensei Wai’s Monday night sparring classes that probably kept my injuries to a black eye instead of a broken rib, and to Ellen's support and more importantly, her German skills.

Read more about Erin’s adventure here.

NWMAF Regional Training

by Michele Curley

When I found out that the first American and the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in Tae Kwan Do was hosting a NWMAF (National Women’s Martial Arts Federation) Regional Training weekend at her dojo, I, of course, decided I had to be there! Arlene Limas made history in 1988 and now runs a very successful dojo called Power Kix located in Stafford, Virginia near Washington DC. She and other renowned martial artists from around the nation came together to offer a variety of seminars to give women and girls a taste of different disciplines - from karate and tae kwon do to broad sword and t’ai chi.

Read more about the regional training here.

My Tournament Experience at Honbu

by Eli Leki-Albano

Before October 23rd I had never been to Honbu. I always talked about it with my friends and Senpai, but this year’s 34th anniversary tournament was the first time in eleven years that I finally plucked up the courage to make the trip. Even though the actual dojo remains uncharted ground for me, due mostly to traffic and bad timing, the tournament itself was a wonderful experience.

Read more about Eli's experience here.

Promotion Pearls

"Together with the concept of ’taking the wide view,’ the message of [Taikyoku] kata is persistence, across time and circumstances, toward an end goal." - Sophia Newman, 6th Kyu Yellow Belt

"Sitting in meditation seminars and hearing the different points of view or perspectives from each student and teacher has also made me realize that karate is very personal to each individual. It is almost like a piece of art. In the same way different people find different meaning in a work of art, karate has a different meaning for each person at the dojo." - Arturo Jauregui, 5th Kyu Advanced Yellow Belt

"A strong weapon is important, because if it doesn’t have any strength or power behind it, it’s going to feel like a mosquito on an elephant to the person you’re doing it to." - Halle Gold, 7th Kyu Advanced Blue Belt

"I am looking for self-control, respect from others, and to walk away from trouble. I found peace when I started karate. I also found kindness. I walk better, I have gotten stronger in my legs." - Frankie Trakos, 8th Kyu Blue Belt

"I’ve never been a terribly outgoing person... but in attending a trial class I stepped out of my comfort zone and into something I was completely new to. I found something within myself that made me show up for that first class and subsequently continue my training." - Tiffany Armitage, 8th Kyu Blue Belt

"This is something I choose to do because I like to do it. It is not a hobby or a past time or an optional activity. It is to me a way of life, another part of myself that I choose to pursue, in addition to my profession and family life." - Gina Omiotek, 5th Kyu Advance Yellow Belt

"I can see how ’activity’ and ’the way’ can be the same word in Japanese - a way or road is not just a passive thing - what makes it a way is that it is walked upon, which is an activity." - Dean Radcliffe, 8th Kyu Blue Belt.

"Just like the different punching bags that assist us at the dojo, each person [we partner with] has a different weight, size and density." - Kate Nadolski, 7th Kyu Advanced Blue Belt

Juniors
Alex Kramerich - 8th Kyu
Armand Raichandani – 8th Kyu
Bennett Patterson – 8th Kyu
Colin Linnen – 7th Kyu
David Wong – 8th Kyu
Ella Bruks – 7th Kyu
Elyse Fernando – 8th Kyu
Gabby Kramerich – 8th Kyu
Jack Hampton – 5th Kyu
Jack Savoie – 5th Kyu
Joshua Arias – 7th Kyu
Kaius Floyd – 6th Kyu
Liam Linnen – 7th Kyu
Sui Yee Tam – 8th Kyu
Tommy Cosgrove – 8th Kyu

Youth
Adam Flam – 1st Kyu
Alexander King – 8th Kyu
Ashley Savoie – 5th Kyu
Auden Litke – 6th Kyu
Charlie Swan – 1st Kyu
Clio Kidwell – 3rd Kyu
Daniel De Jesus – 8th Kyu
George McCoy – 5th Kyu
Grace McCarthy – 8th Kyu
Hannah Pross – 8th Kyu
Isaiah Meadows – 6th Kyu
Justin Cose – 8th Kyu
Kylie Palles – 5th Kyu
Roi Norber – 2nd Kyu
Ruben Whitaker – 3rd Kyu
Sara McCoy – 7th Kyu

Teens
Henry Moskal – 5th Kyu
Isabel DePaul – 5th Kyu
Madeleine Greenblatt – 1st Kyu

Adults
Arturo Jauregui – 5th Kyu
Dean Radcliff – 8th Kyu
Frankie Trakos – 8th Kyu
Gina Omiotek – 5th Kyu
Halle Gold – 7th Kyu
Kate Nadolski – 7th Kyu
Sophia Newman – 6th Kyu
Tiffany Armitage – 8th Kyu