2016 Spirit Challenge - I did it!

The physical challenges of the 2016 Spirit Challenge are complete! And my body, while sore, is ok! Also thanks to my lovely family and friends, I have surpassed my fundraising goal! I'm currently second on the list of top fundraisers (https://secure.qgiv.com/event/sc16). It's not too late to donate!

Day 6: Taught all day at school and then drove to Belmont and Racine area to look for a parking spot (always a challenge when the Cubs have a home game!). My parking karma has been spectacular of late and I found the perfect spot. It was such a gorgeous day that I walked to the beautiful new Margaret Donahue Cubs park where I had a pre-workout snack and wrote my Day 4 & 5 blog post. (This park is awesome and a must for all Cubs fans with kids!) Then I went to the dojo and participated in two events: Black Belt kata (for the second time) and Performance. The kata event was energetic and made me sweat buckets! Performing is always a bit stressful but I did the best I could under the circumstances. My board chose not to break... and that's ok. It will break on another day.

Day 7: LAST DAY of the 2016 Spirit Challenge events! And it was a doozy! An hour and 45 minutes of punching and kicking - 1000 of each to be precise! Jun Shihan Sarah led around 40 of us in a very energetic and tiring workout. 

By the end I was exhausted and elated. I had competed in as many events as I could (15). On most days my energy was good and my body recovered pretty quickly from the abuse of multiple challenges of 7 consecutive days! I just showed up and did it! I battled some personal demons and came out smiling. 

I am so grateful to be where I am in my life: with a loving partner, fantastic family and friends, wonderful colleagues and students, amazing teachers, great karateka buddies and one of the best martial arts and self-defense centers in the world! Thousand Waves! I know that I've said this before, but I will keep on saying it because it is true. I'm the luckiest karateka in the world! Osu, gassho and namaste!

Link to photos from Days 4, 5, 6, & 7

Link to Day 1 - with some new photos

Link to Soul Survivor video

2016 Spirit Challenge - Days 4 & 5 Done!

It's been a whirlwind of a week! And I made it! I taught high school Mon. - Fri. and went to the dojo each night to defy my limits. And defy them I did! I've been so busy that I haven't had time to write. Nor do I have many (any?) photos. I'm hoping that some generous spectators will share a few with me later. 

Day 3: I did all three events of the evening. The first, HIIT-IT Circuit Challenge, was indeed a challenge! We did push-ups, squat-kicks, hammers, jumping jacks, burpees, quick feet, bridge hold, jump lunges, and 4 more that I cannot remember. And we repeated them. All of them. A few times.  

After that I did the Bo Challenge again. Over 40 of us wielded long wooden weapons in the dojo for an hour. It was quite a sight!  

Finally over 40 of us took on the one hour meditation challenge! It was peaceful and beautiful. A great way to end the evening. 

Day 4: I went to the dojo with the plan of participating in only the kata event. I wasn't sure I would feel up to sparring again but in the end, I did. It was a physical, mental and emotional challenge for me. Some of my old insecurities cropped up. A little voice inside me told me I wasn't good enough. But luckily, I had other voices inside me and those of my teachers to remind me that I am indeed "good enough." I'm showing up. I'm defying my limits in each and every event. I'm just doing it. 

Today is a new day and I'm looking forward to tonight's events: kata and performance. And then the last event: punch and kick-a-thon tomorrow afternoon. The 2016 Spirit Challenge has truly been one of the most challenging ones to date. I am so grateful to be able to take on all of these challenges. I'm so grateful to my teachers, fellow karateka, and to all my friends and family who have supported me in my spirit, mind, and body-challenging events over the years. I'm the luckiest karateka in the world! OSU!

2016 Spirit Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 was a challenge from the start! Luckily, Sam reminded me that  it was "meditation morning"--the day that I lead a Leyden staff meditation group from 6:45 to 7:15 AM. I got up at 5:20 and was out the door by 6:00!

Then I taught all day, had a meeting and did some grocery shopping. I made it to Thousand Waves around 5:45, changed into my gi and graded one set of tests as I watched a great group of teens do their Spirit Challenge Sparring event! Equally impressive were some of their parents (a few also TW karateka) doing knuckle push-ups in the warm-up area! The Spirit Challeges never end at TW! ;)
My only event of the evening was Board Breaking 2 (for me). During Board Breaking 1 on Sunday, I broke a very special board with a new technique for me: a short distance palm heel. Last night I conquered one of my greatest fears: using the top of my foot to break a board (round house kick). Admittedly, I used a one-half inch board instead of the usual one inch ones. However doing so enables me to feel more confident that I can indeed break a "big" board with my round house kick some day. :) 
Board breaking is always scary for me. I see lots of my fellow karateka of all ages, sizes and abilities seemingly breaking with ease. This should reassure me, but at times I feel that I just cannot do it. I know that I have certain physical limitations (my right arm--still twisted, scarred and weakened by an old tobogganing accident). But then I think of other people with various limitations who break boards and I know that I just have to keep striving with patience and keep trying to do it. As they say, sometimes boards break, sometimes they don't. We can always learn from the experience. As you can see in this video, I still have a lot to learn!


So, I broke one board last night. The board I attempted to break using a side kick from the ground did not break. I'm going to ask the experts for advice and try again next time! Here are some photos from Day 3:
https://goo.gl/photos/L9LieRAPuNaJEacW6
To finish Day 3, I left the dojo, went to Mariano's, finished the shopping I needed to do, went home and made, literally, five trips up and down the stairs carrying stuff in. Since we live on the third floor and have no elevator, I definitely had my spirit challenged yet one more time yesterday! Poor Sam could not help because she is fighting a nasty cold.
In summary, Day 3 is done! I'm writing this on Day 4, about to make my way to the dojo for three more events!
Thank you so much all you lovely supporters! I am feeling it! It is helping me through each and every challenge! 
AND I AM JUST 38 CENTS AWAY FROM MAKING MY FUNDRAISING GOAL! WHO WILL BE THE ONE TO PUT ME OVER THE TOP?!?! Click here to do so: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 


                                                   

2016 Spirit Challenge - Day Two DONE!

After a full day at school, I arrived at the dojo in time for the 500 Rolling, Falling and Ground Techniques event. Osu, Sensei Thomas West​--this event truly kicked my behind! My limits were defied!

Then, I rehearsed for my performance piece with Senpai Patricia Broughton​, Senpai Amy Jones​ and Senpai Margarita Saona​.

Finally I participated in the fantastic 1000 Bo Techniques event led by Sensei Alan Miller​. Bonus - my mom came to see my first event! I am truly one lucky karateka! My only regret is that I was so dizzy from the rolling that I forgot to get my picture taken with her! Oh well, next time.

Here are some photos from tonight: https://goo.gl/photos/7GDmvSou7SKdy3gV7

Now, I'm ready for bed after food, ice and ibuprofen!

I am so grateful for all of my supporters! Thanks to you I'm now at 93% of my fundraising goal! Here is the link if you would like to help me get to 100%!

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/

Thanks and buonanotte!

2016 Spirit Challenge - Day ONE DONE!

It was tough. I'm sore. And I did it! Four events in one day.

1) Adult Black Belt Kata
2) Soul Survivor Muscle Endurance Challenge
3) Board Breaking (I broke a board using a short technique, palm heel, for the first time!)
4) Sparring: 25 rounds of 2 minutes--SUPER tough after the other 3 events!

I do not have any photos of my break. I do, however, have some photos of the result!

See the photos from Day 1 here.

Also, I'm at 88% of my fundraising goal. Please help me make it! My personal fundraising page link

Thanks so much for all of your support!

2016 Spirit Challenge - Update 3 – At 84% of my goal and just ONE DAY away from the start of the physical challenges!

Tomorrow is the first day of the 2016 Spirit Challenge! Here are my events of the day: 

9:30 AM – Adult Black Belt Kata

11:00 AM – Soul Survivor Muscle Endurance Challenge

12:30 PM – Board-Breaking Challenge

2:00 PM – Sparring: Light / Middleweight division. 

I’m doing all the events of the day except for Sparring: Middle / Heavyweight division. Here is the link to the Adult schedule of the week: http://thousandwaves.org/sc16/AdultInfoFlyer.pdf

Today I went to yoga with Tracy Von Kaenel at Yoga Experience. As I was lifting my heart to the sky I felt overcome with GRATITUDE for the many people and things in my life: the mastery of Tracy’s teaching and guidance, the love and support of all of you, and the fortune to be in good physical shape to do my best during the physical Spirit Challenges.

Then I came home and found out that a dear person close to my heart will be going through his own physical challenge this week. Therefore I am dedicating my 2016 Spirit Challenge to him and to his family who are so very wonderful and an essential part of my life. They have been through so many spirit challenges and now have yet another one to deal with. I’m thinking of them and holding them in my heart and thinking of all of the challenges of all my loved ones and of everyone in the world. My heart goes out to everyone.

A huge THANKS to everyone who has enabled me to be at 84% of my fundraising goal! Thousand Waves is currently at 51% of the total goal. We need to push to make our goals so that the vital mission-driven work of supporting those in need will continue. If you haven’t yet donated and would like to do so, here is the link:

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/

Thank you all once again for your love and support.

Namaste,

Michele

xo

2016 Spirit Challenge - At 68% of my goal and just ONE week away from the start of the physical challenges!

 The physical portion of my 2016 Spirit Challenge is just one week away! I can hardly contain my excitement! I have pledged to try to do as many of the events as I can and there are a lot more events this year! Here is the complete list: http://thousandwaves.org/sc16/AdultInfoFlyer.pdf

I will also be working full time that week from 7:25 – 3:25 as a high school teacher of Italian (in case you didn’t know) and then I will drive to Thousand Waves each day and work my butt off! I am so inspired by so many things. Here are a few of them:

1. YOU! All of you have supported me in many ways throughout my life. I am so grateful! You inspire me to do my utmost during my Spirit Challenges and during my daily life. Thanks to all who have already donated. If you want to get me closer to my fundraising goal, here is the direct link: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/

2. The kids in the ASK program. They inspire me every time I’m with them or think about them.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9neJnRjY9c

3. My fellow karateka. Thousand Waves and Seido Karate students are some of the best people in the world! A few of us made these videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvL-hOoJzBOsrcNNRXJCIrjiMvnd89fpT

4. Ida Keeling, a 100-year-old woman who is a running champion! http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/at-100-still-running-for-her-life/?em_pos=small&emc=edit_hh_20160422&nl=well&nl_art=1&nlid=66884561&ref=headline&te=1&_r=0

As you know, I could go on and on. So many people and things inspire me. However I want to keep these updates relatively short. I will send more emails and/or update my blog (http://curleyspiritchallengeblog.blogspot.com/) during the actual week of Spirit Challenge (May 1- 7).

In the meantime, thanks again! Here is the link to my fundraising page one more time: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/

I'm going to "Defy My Limits!"

The 2016 Spirit Challenge has launched and I am going to "Defy My Limits!" This year is special because it is the first year that Thousand Waves is holding just one big fundraising event. In previous years there have been two big events: "Spirit Challenge" for teens and adults and "Punch & Kick-a-Thon" for kids. Now both events have been combined into one huge extravaganza! And our fundraising goal has been combined too. Our total goal is $110,000. That is one impressive number, isn't it? I know that, with your help, we can achieve it! :) Here is the link to my personal fundraising page: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/.

My 2016 fundraising goal is $3140: "31" to represent Thousand Waves' 31st anniversary and "40" to represent Seido Karate's 40th anniversary. 

For those who may be wondering what Thousand Waves is, Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center, NFP is a non-for-profit center dedicated to the fostering of "fitness, healing, empowerment and peacemaking by promoting healthy minds and bodies through violence prevention, self-defense and traditional martial arts programs for adults and children of all ages." http://thousandwaves.org/about-us/

Thousand Waves is not just a karate school with amazing teachers.  It is also a vital community organization that provides self-defense, empowerment, stress reduction and violence prevention courses and workshops. The funds raised help to provide scholarships to those who would otherwise be unable to pay for TW programs. Part of the money raised also supports the ASK (Adapted Seido Karate) program for kids with special needs and Violence Prevention Programs. As many of you know, I have volunteered with the ASK program for several years now. It is truly one of the most rewarding opportunities I have ever experienced.

Spirit Challenge offers Thousand Waves members (like me) the opportunity to take on both physical and "fiscal" challenges in support of Thousand Waves. We sign on for athletic trials and set a fundraising goal for ourselves. We train for the events we will be entering and solicit pledges from our dear family, friends and colleagues. This year, I plan to “Defy my limits!” (our slogan) and do as many events as I possibly can – which means I will push myself to do more than I have ever done in previous Spirit Challenges!

My physical goal is to participate in as many of the events of the week as I can! Kata, Soul Survivor Muscle Endurance Challenge, Board-Breaking Challenge, Sparring, 500 Rolling, Falling, and Ground Techniques, 1000 Bo Techniques, HIIT It Circuit Challenge, One Hour Meditation Challenge, Performance Challenge, and Punch & Kick-a-Thon. See this link for a complete description of the events: http://thousandwaves.org/sc16/AdultInfoFlyer.pdf

If you would like to sponsor me, I would be ever so appreciative! Please help me raise $3,140 for this life-saving organization!

Here is the link one more time: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/357616/