Adults
Training Events
Beach Training
Once a year members gather on the shore of Lake Michigan to sit in meditation as the sun rises and then work out together on the beach and in the water. Meeting the challenges of sand and water builds camaraderie and reminds us of our art’s connection to the natural elements.
Kagami Biraki /Annual Member Meeting
The second Sunday of the new year, Seido members around the world celebrate Kagami Biraki, which means Mirror Opening Ceremony, with a vigorous early morning workout for students of all levels. We use this opportunity to reflect on the year that has ended and recommit to our training in the coming year. Afterwards, we share a communal breakfast and hold our annual member meeting, at which the staff and board of directors appreciate the efforts of the community that furthered our mission in the past year and announce plans for programming in the coming year.
Special Workshops for Adults
Throughout the year, Thousand Waves provides extracurricular training opportunities for members and guests. These include workshops on specialized aspects of Seido, as well as introductions to other martial arts provided by guest instructors. These opportunities serve to open students’ minds to other arts and to deepen our appreciation of Seido karate.
Spirit Challenge
Each year, regular classes are cancelled for one week while our whole community undertakes athletic challenges in conjunction with our annual pledge drive. Events include kata, sparring and board breaking. Funds raised support our scholarship, Violence Prevention, and Adapted Seido Karate programs. Fundraisers are rewarded with prizes and parties to celebrate our collective accomplishment.
World Seido Karate Events
Our members have the option of participating in the annual Seido Anniversary Tournament held every year in New York City. Proceeds of this event support Seido programs for students with special needs and other charities. While there, we also take classes at the honbu dojo (headquarters) and connect with people who train at United States and international branch dojos. Black belts have an additional opportunity to visit honbu for the annual black belt clinic.
Non-Training Events
Dojo Clean Up
Soji, (housekeeping), is a ritual found in many traditional arts. By coming together to care for the dojo, members not only show respect for their training space but also are believed to polish their own minds. We hold soji twice a year on Sundays and ask our adult members to try to participate in at least one.
Holiday Party
We celebrate all the winter holidays with a fabulous pot luck feast held on a Saturday evening in mid-December. Family members are also invited to this celebration of the Thousand Waves community.
Meditation Programs
Every Wednesday evening from 8:00-8:45 pm, Thousand Waves hosts a free public meditation session which includes a facilitated discussion on topics relevant to our martial arts practice and/or our non-profit mission. These serve as an introduction to the philosophical side of our practice for members and non-members alike.
Kids
Members-Only Events
Some members-only events are also open to family members. Parents’ & caregivers are always invited to watch their children’s activities.
Beach Training for Kids
Once each summer, instead of holding Saturday morning classes at the dojo, we all go to Montrose beach at the lakefront for some fun karate and training games on the beach followed by swimming and a barbecue.
Holiday Party
We celebrate all the winter holidays with a fabulous pot luck feast held on a Saturday evening in mid-December. Family members are also invited to this celebration of the Thousand Waves community.
Kids’ Tournament
Once a year we host a friendly tournament for our child members. Competitions include kata, kumite (for green belts and above) and board breaking (for junior black belts). First, second and third place finishers are acknowledged, and all participants receive medals. Within our supportive environment, children get to experience the positive benefits of competition including polishing their art, facing their fear, and trying their best and accepting the outcome.
No-School / Spring Break Day Camps
Thousand Waves provides all day enrichment activities and supplemental karate classes on select “no school days” for our members who are Chicago Public School students. Camp hours are from 9 am to 3 pm.
Parents’ Nights Off
Several times a year, Thousand Waves offers parents a break by providing dinner and a movie plus a karate class for child members and their siblings. 6 to 10 pm on Saturday evenings.
Special Workshops for Kids
Throughout the year, Thousand Waves provides extracurricular training opportunities for our child members. These include workshops on specialized aspects of Seido, as well as other martial arts. Some workshops are open to parents also and give families the treat of training together.
Open to the Public
Camp Kokoro
Thousand Waves offers a popular summer day camp for children ages 6 through 8th grade. The camp is open to members and non-members. Activities include Seido karate classes, martial arts enrichment classes and daily outdoor recreational activities at the lakefront plus a day-long excursion to Mystic Waters water park. Special features include a chess and checkers tournament, leadership training for 7th & 8th graders and a performance for parents. Camp Kokoro is staffed by dynamic older teens and young adult black belts who have grown up at Thousand Waves.
