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August 2013
In This Issue
Not Just for Parents
Hot Summer Happenings
- National Women's Martial Arts Federation Special Training Camp Stories
- Spirit Challenge 2013 Stories
Violence Prevention Field Notes
Spread the Word
Member News
Camp Kokoro: Another Success in 2013
By Senpai Gabby Afable
1st Degree Black Belt and
Camp Kokoro Counselor
The very first day of Camp Kokoro 2013 seemed to be a promising start to one of Thousand Waves' most beloved programs. Amid the laughter that comes along with a group of happy campers, one karateka was not so pleased. Max Rosen, the youngest Kokoro student, sat in a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose!" pleading with some of his peers. His request? That they stop teasing the person that got caught in the "cookie jar." Guys! Stop making such a big deal out of it! It might make him feel bad. Max himself was safe on the outside of the circle, and the other children had not meant much by their actions, but here was a six year old aware enough to make sure everyone around him was having a good time.
 Campers show their enthusiasm for the Camp Kokoro experience. |
 Senpai Gabby, Senpai Saul and some Camp Kokoro campers celebrate after board breaking. |
This is just one reason I love working at Camp Kokoro. Each day, I am surrounded by my senpai, both on and off the staff, teaching me about what it means to be a karateka. At our very first staff meeting, Jun Shihan Sarah gave us three overall goals for the camp. First, that the students have a martial arts intensive experience. Seeing kids decline their snack to practice for the kata tournament or pick up nunchaku the second they reach the training floor proved that this goal had come to fruition. Forming friendships anytime they could - during team time, on the bus, at the park - demonstrated a similar success of the second goal: that the campers deepen their relationships with each other, their teachers, and the overall Thousand Waves community. Finally, actions such as Max's accomplish the third goal of encouraging the campers to apply their Seido skills outside of the dojo. I think Camp Kokoro 2013 can be considered another success!
Stories from Special Training
I feel like a kid in a candy store at Special Training, the National Women's Martial Arts Federation's annual camp for women and girls. I first went in 1986, and I keep going year after year because I learn so much that informs my teaching and deepens my personal practice. The conference was recently held in our own backyard, at North Central College in Naperville, and Thousand Waves was there en masse. I asked three TW members to share their experiences in hopes that more Kiai readers will be inspired to join us at camp next year. — Sei Shihan Nancy
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Ana Gore, age 11, who attended the Young Martial Artists program When I first heard about Special Training I wasn’t really excited. I thought I’d be the only kid there. When we got to registration I was really nervous. By the first class I noticed just how many girls there were. There were almost 20 girls. They had a whole program just for us called Young Martial Artists, so we took classes together and got to know each other. By the time we got to our dorm I was saying: “This is so cool! This is going to be so much fun!” Read more. |
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Eric Francque, who attended the Super Saturday classes that were open to male allies This summer, I had the privilege of attending one day, “Super Saturday,” of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) Special Training Camp in Naperville, IL. For only the second time in the NWMAF’s history, men and boys from affiliated dojos were invited to join in the fun and I jumped at the chance. Read my adventures here. |
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Kate Webster, who taught a 6-session Self-Defense & Empowerment Course, required for all those seeking NWMAF Instructor Certification Ever since attending my first Self-Defense Instructor’s Conference at the National Women’s Martial Arts Special Training in DeKalb IL, I have wanted to teach the empowerment-based self-defense course and highlight Thousand Waves’ Five Fingers of Self-Defense model. Seven years later I was finally ready to apply, and with the support of TW, Susan Barney and I submitted a comprehensive proposal to teach six sessions and it was accepted. Read more about Kate & Susan’s experiences here. |
Stories of Spirit Challenge 2013
Spirit Challenge is Thousand Waves' annual fundraiser designed for the participation of our adult and teen members. Participants choose from a variety of athletic "Challenges," and take them on with zeal, hoping toinspire their friends and loved ones to make contributions that 
support the mission driven work of Thousand Waves.
Start by reading about the success of Spirit Challenge 2013 with this Letter from Board Chair Annie Gregory, then check out the experiences of three participants, in their own words:
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Violence Prevention Field Notes
Violence Prevention Happenings
June-July 2013
Stress Management & Wellness Workshop—offered to some of the IT staff at McDonald’s Corporation in Oak Brook.
Five Fingers of Self-Defense workshop—provided to refugee adolescent girls at GirlForward, to domestic violence survivors at Rainbow House, and to interns at Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture.
Girls Scout Camp CEO—for the third year in a row, we served 25 Girl Scouts and 10 female Chicago CEO mentors with a Personal Safety & Empowerment workshop.
The Viola Project—for the second summer in a row, we provided 15 young girls studying women warriors in Shakespeare’s plays our Five Fingers of Self-Defense workshop
Private Session—wanting to prepare her daughter for high school, one mother organized a private Personal Safety & Empowerment workshop for her daughter and 7 of her friends.
National Organization for Women, National Conference—click here for details.
NWMAF Self-Defense Instructors’ Conference—Click here for details
Click here to support our mission-driven work!
Addressing Mis-Perceptions About Self-Defense and Feminism:
Reflections from the National NOW Conference
By Martha Thompson
Fourth Degree Black Belt and IMPACT Self-Defense Teacher
It may surprise you to learn that many feminists don’t see self-defense as a feminist issue. Programs that focus on transmitting prevention skills to individual women tend to be dismissed as potentially “victim blaming” and rejected for foundation grants. Read on to learn how three academically trained self-defense teachers presented a groundbreaking panel at the annual NOW (National Organization for Women) conference to address these misunderstandings of our work and help feminist anti-violence advocates view self-defense providers as allies in the struggle to end violence against women.
Five Fingers of Self-Defense:
A Personal Safety Workshop
Come learn to:
• Improve your street smarts
• Recognize danger sooner
• Broaden your response options
Wednesday, September 11, 7:00-8:30 pm
Click here for flyer.
Click here to register.
Fall Weekend Intensive Self-Defense Course:
Personal Safety & Empowerment
You will learn to:
• Stand up for yourself
• Resolve conflicts peacefully
• Feel safer
Friday, October 25, 6:00-9:00 pm
Saturday, October 26, 1:30-5:30 pm
Sunday, October 27, 1:30-5:30 pm
Click here for flyer.
Click here to register.
Pearls from Promotion Essays
 | Sei Shihan Nancy Lanoue …The insight gained from struggling with our strong emotions is elusive, and will be lost to us if we don't wrestle with it again and again. Read more... |
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Senpai Yesica Barrera We are all in the grey area, whether we are student or a teacher. We are all learning from each other and helping each other do our best. Read more... |
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Senpai Carla Riggs Our practice has helped me learn to receive critique and feedback in a constructive way, and this makes it possible for me to accept critique in other areas of my life. Read more... |
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Senpai Joshua Keesecker Training in Seido karate over the last 13 years has helped me to develop calmness, awareness, spirit, physical and mental endurance, reactions and focus, balance, flexibility. Read more... |
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Senpai Margarita Saona Karate has been vital in helping me take the wide view and learn to appreciate the present moment. Read more... |
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Senpai Pamela Robert While it may be a human propensity to strive for balance, there is almost as much to be gained in facing imbalance. Read more... |
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Senpai Sayira Khokhar I am beginning to learn the meaning of "striving with patience". Read more... |
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Senpai Sam Boyer I have learned that balance is not a stopping point. Instead, it is a continuous process. Read more... |
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Senpai Bill Kouis I need to be at the dojo as much as I need to breathe air or eat a healthy meal. Read more... |
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Senpai Matt Birnholz I expect to grapple with the fundamental lessons of patience and perseverance for many years to come. Read more... |
Congratulations to our Promotees
May 2013
Junior Color Belts
Youth & Teen Color Belts
Adult Color Belts
Adult Blue Belts
Adult Black Belts
July 2013
Junior Color Belts
Youth & Teen Color Belts
Adult Color Belts