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/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (30)

Reason #30:  

I am so grateful that Thousand Waves has been around for 30 years! Here’s to 30 x 30 more years! Coincidentally, $30 more dollars will bring my total raised to a nice even number! There is still time to donate! Our overall Spirit Challenge Fundraising goal is at 92%! Click here to donate to me: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/ or click below to help some of my Senpai reach their goals! Osu and grazie!

Teen camp counselor and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/232468/

Staff and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/229444/

ASK teacher and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/241665/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (29)

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, NFP

Reason #29:  “KIAI!” TW bi-monthly electronic newsletter! http://thousandwaves.org/Kiai.htm

“The study of Japanese characters gave me some clue to the meaning of ‘kiai.’ The first character, for ‘Ki,’ is the symbol for spirit, mind, energy, force. The second character, for ‘ai,’ is the symbol for meeting, or coming together. ‘The coming together of mind’ – what could this mean?”  –  from C.W. Nicol’s Moving Zen

We sometimes translate Kiai! – the name of Thousand Waves’ bi-monthly electronic newsletter – as “yell of spirit.” In Seido Karate, we often forcefully exhale with just such a yell at key moments in our practice to gather our energy, ward off opponents, or simply express a non-quitting spirit.  In some traditional Japanese understandings of the kiai concept, the audible utterance itself is entirely secondary – Kiai simply refers to a strong convergence of energy.  We know that staying in touch with our community is a powerful tool for creating a more peaceful world; we think our newsletter’s name accurately captures its purpose!

Kiai! readers vary.  Many are Thousand Waves members and friends, others are self-defenders, martial artists and instructors, colleagues and people interested in our organization.  Subscribers learn about Thousand Waves’ work in Chicago and the martial arts world, upcoming events, community outreach and opportunities for involvement.

If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to Kiai! Subscribing is free and will keep you informed about Thousand Waves’ work in support of our important mission.

We are inching closer to achieving our overall Spirit Challenge Fundraising goal--we are at 90%! Thanks to YOU, I’ve made my personal goal. Click below to help one of these great volunteers make her goal!

Teen camp counselor and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/232468/

Staff and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/229444/

ASK teacher and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/241665/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (28)

Reason #28: 

The way Thousand Waves does rank promotion testing. Something unique about TW is that the teachers pre-test kids a few weeks before their scheduled tests to make sure that they are ready to test and are on track to be successful during their test! What a great way to boost confidence! Also, we write essays for every level of promotion. TW maintains a library of these essays and members can read them. It is very moving to read these essays.

We are inching closer to achieving our overall Spirit Challenge Fundraising goal--we are at 89%! Thanks to YOU, I’ve made my personal goal. Click below to help one of these great volunteers make her goal!

Teen camp counselor and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/232468/

Staff and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/229444/

ASK teacher and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/241665/

2015 Spirit Challenge Update - the last Challenges

I did it! Thanks to all my supporters I achieved all of my 2015 Spirit Challenge Goals! I accomplished all of the physical challenges and raised over $3,000.00 for my fundraising challenge! :)

This past weekend was TOUGH! I started out on Saturday morning running the Proud to Run 10K race with Sam. She totally rocked it - coming in 1st in our age group (I was 4th).

Then we grabbed a bagel on the run and I went to the dojo for Karate Boot Camp!

From 12:30-1:30PM we punched, kicked, blocked and did various fitness intervals! I was dripping sweat by the end! 

Then we had a 15 min. break before the real breaking began! I assisted the beginner/intermediate breakers by coaching them, helping them practice and holding boards for them (which is tough, by the way).  Then I also helped hold the boards for the Advance Breaking Challenge. The order of breaking was in the traditional martial way with the most experienced (i.e. higher ranked) karateka going first. 

My turn was near the end of the session which meant that I did a lot of holding! We were not just breaking though. Most people gave moving dedications before their breaks: some in remembrance of those we lost too soon be it from violence like the kind that occurred recently in Charleston, from illness or from mental illness-suicide. Others dedicated their breaks to other people or causes. I dedicated my boards to YOU - my supporters, my family, my friends, my students, my colleagues, and to victims of violence and to people who suffer from mental health issues. Here are the boards that I broke. I broke 5 out of 6. The 6th board just did not break on Sat. I plan on breaking it soon. Maybe tomorrow!

Here is link to the videos of the Advanced Breakers. They are very, very inspiring!!! 
2015 Advanced Board Breaking Videos

As you can tell, my Spirit Challenge Saturday was pretty jam-packed with challenging events!

On Sunday, my friend Senpai Pat Broughton picked me up and we went to park near Thousand Waves. We dropped off some food for the pot luck party that was to happen later that day. Then we each carried 4 5-foot staffs (a martial weapon, called "bo" in Japanese) on the Red Line train north to Wilson. We got off and mingled with the large rainbow colored crowd as we worked our way to the designated meeting place. We found the TW contingent and rehearsed our karate demo. We had to wait a long time, but eventually we marched in the Chicago Pride Parade, practicing our karate, doing pushups, breaking boards and showing our Seido Karate stuff! The crowd loved us! We spent 5 hours on our feet and many of us had had a full day of karate the day before, but we did it! It was a lot of fun.

 

Finally we walked from the end of the parade route back to Thousand Waves where lovely TW Board members had prepared a BBQ potluck feast! It was good to finally be able to sit down!

All-in-all, this was one of the most physically difficult Spirit Challenges for me. I wasn't quite as fit this year. But YOU all helped me soar to achieve my fundraising Spirit Challenge. I am so lucky to have all of you in my life! A deep gassho (appreciation) to you all! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Osu!

P.S. We are getting closer to achieving our overall Spirit Challenge Fundraising goal--we are at 88%! Thanks to YOU, I’ve made my personal goal. Click below to help one of these great volunteers make her goal!

Teen camp counselor and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/232468/

Staff and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/229444/

ASK teacher and super volunteer: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/241665/