May 2015

In This Issue

Community

Fitness & Healing

30th Anniversary

Violence Prevention News

Not Just for Parents

Promotions

Community

Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for Kyoshi Martha Fourt

Kiai!:  Briefly, how did you come to train Seido Karate at Thousand Waves?  

Kyoshi Martha Fourt:  I was actually looking for a new Tai Chi teacher (after becoming estranged from my previous teacher), when the Women’s Gym first opened in 1985.  Instead of Tai Chi, I found Sei Shihan Nancy and Seido Karate there.  Although I didn’t think I was interested in karate, I gave it a try and fell in love with it.  More importantly, I had found the right teacher.  (Many years later, I also found the right Tai Chi teacher.)

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

KMF:  Stopping and reversing global warming and environmental degradation.  Unless we find a way to keep our only planet habitable, all other problems – violence, poverty, hunger – will be impossible to solve and will only get worse.

Kiai!:  What is one thing you do well? 

KMF:  I’ve always enjoyed puzzles and problem-solving, and am pretty good at it.

Kiai!:  What is one thing you do not do so well? 

KMF:  I don’t sing very well.  And as I child, I tried piano lessons, but lacked either the talent or the patience, or perhaps both!

Kiai!:  Who from history do you admire, and why? 

KMF:  Harriet Tubman was my childhood hero, and remains one of my top heroes, because she risked her life many times freeing others from slavery; and later stood up for her own rights to her Civil War pension, and for women’s rights.  By the same token all of the courageous Underground Railroad heroes, and the “Righteous Among the Nations” who risked their own lives to save their neighbors from certain murder during the Holocaust are among my top heroes.

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

KMF:  I really enjoy Scandinavia (although I probably wouldn’t enjoy winters there!)  My spouse is partly Norwegian, and we’ve greatly enjoyed discovering the people and the natural beauty there.

Kiai!:  What quotation have you found inspiring or interesting?  

KMF:  Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?  But if I am only for my own self, what am I?  And if not now, when?”

Kiai!:  What foods do you like best? 

KMF:  I’m an omnivore, and I try to make sure I eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grains.  Answering this during Passover, while eating whole-grain matzah, I’m reminded of how much I enjoy really good bread!

Kiai!:  What is a book that has been significant to you?  

KMF:  The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, probably did more than any other to help shape my values.

Kiai!:  What are your musical favorites?   

KMF:  Since my mother moved into assisted living, I’ve had the privilege of enjoying many live concerts by extremely talented and generous singers and musicians.  Whether it’s classical, operatic, show tunes, or Klezmer, I’ve enjoyed it all; and I’m so deeply grateful to them for brightening my mother’s last years.

“Thousand Waves Member Spotlight: Ten Questions for…” is a regular feature of Kiai! In the next issue, Senpai Amy Jones will answer these same ten questions.

ASK Volunteer Senpai TJ Participates in Dare2tri with Rudolfo, Wins Award


Senpai TJ Nakano and Rudolfo participating in Dare2tri last year.

Senpai TJ Nakano volunteers with Dare2tri as a guide to improve lives of athletes with physical disabilities and visual impairments. TJ is a longstanding advocate for people with disabilities – he has been an active volunteer in both our own Adapted Seido Karate program and in Tellin' Tales Theatre for many years. For all of his work, TJ was recently honored with Tellin' Tales' TaleBlazer award, given to an individual who truly embodies the Tellin' Tales mission to shatter the barriers between the disabled and able-bodied worlds. Congratulations, Senpai TJ and Rudolfo!

Community Book Discussion: Power & Love

How can we address the toughest societal challenges? How can we break through the most entangled, stuck problems? How can we create social change?  And what do power and love have to do with it?  Adam Kahane grapples with these questions in Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change, which is the source for our meditation on Wednesday, June 3.

In this short (140 pages, with drawings!) book, Kahane tells stories of his failed and successful attempts to lead change efforts in India, South Africa, Israel, Europe, and more. In our discussion we’ll look at two fundamental forces: power and love (also characterized as driving towards self-realization or driving towards unity, respectively).  How are these forces at play within our persons, in our dojo, in the social change movements we’re engaged in individually and collectively. What can we learn from Kahane’s experiences, and how can we be more engaged individually and collectively in (positive) social change.

Join us Wednesday, June 3 at 7:45 p.m. And while you don’t have to have read the book to participate, it would make for a much richer conversation if you did!  – Senpai Pat Broughton

Fitness & Healing

Tracking Your Training with Fitness Wearables


Senpai Ryan models his Fitbit
Charge HR.
By Senpai Ryan Libel
2nd Degree Black Belt and TW Director of Operations

“Wearables” might finally have arrived – Apple, Google and Microsoft have all brought robust, wrist-based devices to market recently.  While Google Glass and Microsoft’s Hololens are not quite ready for prime time, wearable electronics that do more than tell the time are definitely proliferating. 

Fitness enthusiasts know that wearable digital devices have been around for quite a while, actually – these have been mostly watch-type bands with built-in pedometers and/or GPS integration that enable metrics-happy runners like me to track our workouts.  I had one of those earlier devices and, while it did its job, there’s no doubt this next generation of devices has come a long way.  Recently, I’ve been able to experiment with three: the Fitbit Flex, the Fitbit Charge HR and, in a separate category due to its richer feature-set, the Microsoft Band.

Read the rest of Senpai Ryan’s review of fitness wearables.

30th Anniversary

Compassion in Action: TW Collecting Goods for Community Organizations

By Erica Eichleay
Advanced Blue Belt and Member of the TW 30th Anniversary Planning Committee

Thousand Waves has been committed to health, personal empowerment, and peace within our immediate community and beyond since its beginnings. This mission is an extension of the martial art and gives each of us the opportunity to put compassion into action. 

The 30th anniversary provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize not only Thousand Waves, but some of the like-minded organizations that work so hard every day to change lives.

Thousand Waves is hosting a series of collections for local community organizations over the next several months. As each event approaches, we will provide more details.  Here is a preview of the three organizations we will recognize over the next several months, one for each decade of Thousand Waves’ 30 years.

Our first collection benefits Chicago Books to Women in Prison. Thank you to those who have already donated. A collection box will be in the Thousand Waves lobby until the end of May, so you still have a day or two to participate. You are invited to donate books, which will be delivered to CBWP for distribution to women in prison.  CBWP is dedicated to the education and empowerment of a largely marginalized group of women. You can find a list of the most requested books on their website, and learn more about the organization’s work.

In September, donations of clothing will be collected for Bridge to Success. Bridge to Success enhances employment opportunities for at-risk, low-income/no-income men, women, and young adults by providing high-end interview and workplace appropriate clothing, coupled with a personal stylist and coaching, to build self-confidence through appearance, interview preparation and sense of belonging at the workplace.

Come November, Lakeview Pantry will be the recipient organization. Lakeview Pantry is one of Chicago’s largest, longest lived food pantries. They provide on-site food distribution, deliver food to home-bound clients, distribute free clothing, and have a social services program that helps clients connect with other services they need to address the causes of food insecurity. Opened in 1970, this is their 45th anniversary.

Fund The Floor Campaign Going Strong

Our beloved training floor still gleams, but it’s showing its age. The seams are splitting in places, the boards buckling in others. So, in honor of Thousand Waves’ 30th anniversary, we’re installing a new state-of-the-art hardwood floor. And we need your help.

No, we’re not asking you to help install it – not like the first time 20 years ago! Rather, we're asking you to sponsor one or more squares. Here's how it works:

The new floor will cost $30,000. We're divided the floor (figuratively, of course!), into 100 squares. And we’re offering Thousand Waves training members, families, alums and friends the opportunity to sponsor one or more squares at $300 each. 

Sign up on-line now to sponsor a square – they’re going fast! More than half the squares have already been sold. You can buy multiple squares and combine them into one large square. Or, feel free to form groups to get to the $300. The donation form provides a space for group name, as well as for information about group members. For collective donations, please provide group member names and amounts so we can provide each one with a tax receipt/acknowledgement for their contribution.

Thank you and we look forward to training together on our beautiful new floor! 

Questions? Contact Pat Broughton: chair, Thousand Waves fundraising committee at broughtonp@sbcglobal.net or 837-894-9272.

Violence Prevention News

Thousand Waves’ Mother/Daughter Self-Defense Intensive a Big Success

By Senpai Amy Jones
3rd Degree Black Belt and TW Violence Prevention & Self-Defense Program Manager

In April, Thousand Waves had our first (or at least, first in recent memory) Mother/Daughter Self-Defense Intensive course as part of our annual series of 12-hour courses.  We’ve had courses limited to women and teen girls in the past; what made this one different is that we encouraged people to sign up with family members.  There were a few adult women and teen girls who didn’t come with anyone close to them, but the majority of the fully-enrolled class were there with someone who was important in their life. 


It looks like a dance party, but it's not! Graduates of the 12-hour Mother/Daughter Self-Defense Intensive
release a flurry of fighting combinations to celebrate their success in the course.

Families come in all different configurations, and structures represented included nieces and aunts and family friends as well as literal mothers and daughters. We were gratified to see that students got into the familial spirit of the course.  One of my goals for next year is to come up with a phrase that communicates our intent of “adult woman and teen woman in the same family” that isn’t as limiting as “mother/daughter.”  Suggestions welcome!

Read more, and see pictures of the successful Mother/Daughter Intensive.

Self-Defense for Martial Artists

By Tabitha Balakumar
Advanced Brown Belt


Tabitha gets up her fighting energy during the combinations that begin the self-defense physical skills class.
Self-defense. That can mean different things to different people. Most will conjure an image of learning how to hit an attacker effectively so they can get away from a fight. Thousand Waves’s Violence Prevention program goes further and teaches verbal skills that can prevent a fight from breaking out in the first place. It’s meant for anyone: the physically fit and the coordination-challenged. When you walk out of that class, you will have a good set of tools for keeping yourself safe in multiple ways, particularly in keeping a situation from becoming physical.

But, what if, despite our best efforts, it becomes physical? Our Violence Prevention program’s self-defense courses and workshops teach a set of skills that will inflict enough damage so that you can get away. These skills can be taught to anyone. As martial artists, though, we have an advantage because we are more familiar with these kinds of techniques.

Sei Shihan Nancy has been teaching a self-defense physical skills class specifically for martial artists and advanced self-defense students that utilizes self-defense techniques in a martial way. The techniques she teaches begin where de-escalation is no longer possible and you will have to fight. She takes the skills we learn in our karate classes and turns them into self-defense moves.

Read more about the Self-Defense Physical Skills class and see pictures.

Not Just for Parents

Spirit Challenge: Something for Everybody

Spirit Challenge: Something for Everybody

Parents, Alum, and H.I.I.T. It Fitness Members:  This one’s for you!  Spirit Challenge is our annual fundraising opportunity for Adult and Teen members, and this year we’re making it easier than ever for non-karate training folks to participate.  The event is a fundraiser organized around a weeklong series of physical events that are challenging and fun, and can encourage your friends and loved ones to support Thousand Waves.  Check out this linked flyer, where you’ll see that many events are open to anyone age 12 and up. 

Events include Super Circuit, a fast-paced and fun circuit training workout led by H.I.I.T It Fitness Instructor Alan Miller.  Ever wanted to try your hand at sparring safely?  Check out the Sparring Skills Challenge.  We’ll keep you safe.  We also have a Karate Boot Camp, suitable even for those who have never thrown a punch.  Saturday’s board breaking workshop is also open to all – yes, you CAN break a board!  We’ll show you how.  Finally, we’re walking as a community in the 2015 Pride Parade – children under 12 can accompany you on the parade route without registering for Spirit Challenge themselves.  This year’s Spirit Challenge truly offers something for everyone! 

Take on four of five of these athletic challenges, add the $1,000 fundraising challenge, and you can even be Sogo (all around champion); your name will be engraved on the permanent plaque we house in the hallway at TW. If you’ve never experienced the fun and camaraderie of Spirit Challenge, you don’t know what you’re missing.  Register now at this link!


(left) Last year's Spirit Challenge Super Circuit was great fun, and a great workout as well.
(right) Karate Boot Camp during last year's Spirit Challenge had everybody sweating in community.

Junior Black Belt Test Promotes Eight Young Martial Artists

Thousand Waves held a junior black belt test on Saturday, May 16, 2015. The four new junior Nidan (second-degree black belts) are (back row between Jun Shihan Sarah and Sei Shihan Nancy): Senpai Evan Burleigh, Senpai Sophie Ljung, Senpai Joseph Friedman, and Senpai Ana Gore. Newly promoted to junior Shodan (first-degree black belt) are (front row left to right): Senpai Jack Savoie, Senpai Michael Goodall, Senpai Joshua Arias, and Senpai Bahar Berksoy.  More coverage will follow in the July issue of Kiai!

See their official promotion photo.

Promotions

Testing Alone for Shodan

As a rare confluence of circumstance, when it came time to compile a testing group for the April 25, 2015 black belt test, Arturo Jauregui was the only student who was ready. So with the support of the entire dojo, he tested alone for first degree black belt.

See more photos from Senpai Arturo’s test for Shodan.

Report on the Report Back from the Nidan/Sandan Test

By Sensei Katherine Nichols
4th Degree Black Belt and Kiai! Newsletter Editor

Thousand Waves sent twelve students to New York City’s Honbu (Seido headquarters) to be tested for Nidan (second degree black belt) and Sandan (third degree black belt) on Friday May 1 as part of Honbu’s Black Belt Clinic weekend. There they joined a group of 32 people from such far-flung places as Brazil, California, Florida, Cape Cod, the Adirondacks, and our sister school in Texas, Sun Dragon.  In addition, a number of Thousand Waves black belts went along to support the test, myself included. Upon their return to Chicago, the new Nidan and Sandan gathered on May 6 for a “Report Back” to the Thousand Waves community.

Following Senpai Pat Broughton’s summary of the demographics of the testing group, each spoke briefly about some aspect of the test, and in order of speaking, here is my summary of what they said:


New second and third degree black belts are (front row): Senpai Amy Jones, Senpai Kate Phillippo, Senpai Rachel Holtzman, Senpai Jeff Edwards, Senpai Carol Allenson, Senpai Shelby Donahue, and (back row): Senpai Pat Broughton, Senpai Annie Gregory, Senpai Mary Wei, Senpai Lucia Frisancho, and Senpai Mattie Greenblatt. Senpai Jacob Laden-Guindon joined the report-back by Skype.

Pearls from Godan/Yondan Promotion Essays

5th Degree Black Belt, March 29, 2015

Kyoshi Wai-Kwong Kwok
If I have learned anything from karate and from raising a family, I have learned the importance of 'patience' and 'taking the broad view'. Anything that is worth achieving or perfecting requires patience, diligence and a broad view to meet the challenge. Read more
Kyoshi Marla Cohen
On a physical level, Seido karate has helped my body age with many physical qualities such as flexibility, strength and balance. On a emotional level my training goes much deeper. It has forced me to focus my mind and pay attention to areas I have struggled with for much of my life. Read more

4th Degree Black Belt, March 29, 2015

Sensei Jean Petersen
One of the things that karate emphasizes is "showing strong spirit". There are so many reasons why this is important, but one of the reasons that stands out as the most important to me is that showing strong spirit can be a way for practicing how to be brave. Read more
Sensei Jo Willis
Once during my early color belt training, in a sparring class, Jun Shihan Sarah asked everyone to raise their hand if they felt fear. Everyone raised his or her hand, except for me. She raised her own hand, and acknowledged that it was an emotion common to everyone ("Except for Jo, who is not in touch with her fear.") We all laughed. Read more
Sensei Erin Marks
I am slowly learning that the outcome of our interaction is less important than how we're relating to each other. My piece of advice that I'm so proud of may or may not be helpful right now, but my calm and cheerful attitude will almost always be. It also helps to remind myself that every moment is the perfect moment for something. Read more
Sensei Alan Miller
I am open to taking chances and confronting the obstacles life will set in my path. I no longer feel the need to avoid potential conflict and I am looking forward to a new stage in my life. I am not sure exactly what it will hold but I know that I can face it, and that I will have plenty of people by my side that will help me when I struggle. Read more
Sensei Susan Barney
I felt free, eye of the tiger, bad ass, nothing's gonna stop me, FIERCE. It felt like my spirit had gone from being curled up in the corner to standing up strong, hands on hips, head up, cape flying out behind me. Finally, I felt hope – tangible hope that stayed around and didn't evaporate. Read more

Click here to see the official photo of the new 4th and 5th degree black belts.

Congratulations to our March, April and May 2015 Promotees

See who advanced in rank:

Junior Color Belts
Youth & Teen Color Belts
Adult Color Belts
Junior Black Belts
Adult Black Belts