30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (12)

Reason #12: 

Thousand Waves is “a great place to grow a child.”  Activities like [karate] are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Some parents may think they also promote violence, but that's a myth, according to experts. The martial arts actually help teach self-discipline and socialization skills. In fact, many parents whose children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids…. 

But, say experts, it's the respect kids learn, whether from bowing or standing still and waiting for the next command, that can be the most important benefit: It often carries over into school, helping to improve behavior and even grades, according to recent research.” (from the Parenting article “Karate Kids: The Benefits of Martial Arts by Alison Hendrie)

Please ensure that all children have access to karate at Thousand Waves by supporting my Spirit Challenge! Click here to donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

Raised over 50% of my fundraising goal! :)

Thanks to Tracy and Clayton for being the ones to push me past the 50% mark of my 2015 Spirit Challenge goal! And big thanks to all of my donors! You all rock!

So, who will help me get to 60%? :)

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9neJnRjY9c

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (11)

Reason #11:

Zen meditation is a part of Seido Karate at Thousand Waves. I have been practicing Zen since 2002 and was blissed out when I found out that Zen was essential to the martial arts of Thousand Waves!

Help celebrate 30 years of peace and restorative meditation practice at Thousand Waves by making a donation! Thanks! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (10)

Reason #10: 

The Adapted Seido Karate program. It has been my privilege to help teach karate to the wonderful children and teens of this program! Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9neJnRjY9c

$500 supports one year of karate for an ASK student. This is part of why I do the Spirit Challege every year: to make sure that the ASK program has the financial means to survive! Thanks in advance for your financial support!  https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (9)

Reason #9: 

Training at Thousand Waves over the past 6 years have helped me gain in self-confidence, helped me believe that I am worth defending and given me the courage to speak up even when it’s really hard and scary to do so. Thanks, TW! 

Help support my Spirit Challenge! I’m at 40% of my goal!

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (8)

Reason #8: 

I believe that everyone the right to know how to defend him or herself. TW serves the community by keeping us well-informed about self-defense and violence prevention. Check this out: Thousand Waves Violence Prevention & Self-Defense News

Supporting my Spirit Challenge provides scholarship assistance for individuals and organizations who would otherwise be unable to afford these programs. https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (7)

Reason #7: 

I love the fact that TW has been providing financial assistance for all who would otherwise be unable to pay for their training. Because of the generosity of TW supporters, partial and full scholarships are available. A donation of $100 supports a scholarship student of karate for one month. 

Why is studying karate so worthwhile? Here is one quote I read recently that resonated with me: “Of the many challenges that [people] face today, one is that we are constantly plugged in. While there are a great many benefits to the Internet, there are many more benefits in stillness and silence. Unfortunately stillness and silence seem to be rare to find. At some juncture in life, every one of us comes to learn that the greatest obstacle we face in this lifetime is ourselves. That battle is fought in the stillness of our hearts and the willingness to confront ourselves. As Bruce Lee pointed out, behind the punches, kicks, and knees, a true martial artist learns to sit with himself and see where his weaknesses are. In years of martial arts classes, I remember many challenges, breakthroughs, and setbacks. What I do not remember are distractions or gimmicks like you often see at your local health club. At the martial arts studios and boxing gyms where I trained, there was no loud music or flat screen TVs, just hard work and sweat equity. As a martial artist, [you and/or] your child[ren] will learn what it is to be still, challenged, and focused.” Eric C. Stevens

Donations supporting my 2015 Spirit Challenge will ensure that all have access to the amazing programs at Thousand Waves! Thanks! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (6)

Reason #6: 

All of the incredibly talented teachers at TW, past and present, trained by the Master teachers Sei Shihan Nancy and Jun Shihan Sarah: Kyoshi Martha, Kyoshi Wai, Sensei Sally W., Sensei Katherine, Sensei Rebecca, Sensei Tom, Sensei Eric, Sensei Alan, Sensei Tristan, Sensei Jonathan, Senpai Yesica, Senpai Carmina, Senpai Jordan, Senpai Amy, Senpai Ryan, Senpai Matt, Senpai Sarah K., Senpai Sayira, Senpai Todd and anyone else I can’t quite recall right now! :) Thank you so much for teaching! I appreciate you all very much! OSU!

In honor of the extremely talented teachers of TW, please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (5)

Reason #5: 

Thousand Waves self-defense and violence prevention programs are world-renowned. TW instructors are certified self-defense teachers and have developed and fine-tuned the self-defense and violence prevention curricula for the past 30 years. 

We all have the right to feel safe as we “move through the world” and TW’s self-defense and violence prevention programs empower us to do so “with less fear and more confidence”. These programs are open to all and scholarships are available. Have you ever taken a self-defense workshop? Check out the programs at TW! http://www.thousandwaves.org/VP.htm

Please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (4)

Reason #4: 

Senpai Sarah Kranz was the first, but there are many fitness and yoga teachers who have helped me and other TW students become stronger and better martial artists over the years. My level of fitness has been the best it has ever been since I started training at Thousand Waves! Thank you Senpai Joshua, Dawn, Tracy, Senpai Matt, and the current dynamic HIIT-IT fitness program teacher, Sensei Alan! 

Please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (3)

Reason #3: 

One of the great former Thousand Waves teachers was one of my first teachers when I joined in 2008 as a “fitness” student. Not only did I benefit immensely from the teaching of the legendary Senpai Sarah Kranz, I realized that she was of the great Kranz family who attended the same high school in northern Illinois as my siblings and me. Small world, but no surprise that we both ended up at TW. In more ways than one, I had found family and a place that felt like home. 

Please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (2)

Reason #2:

The karate practiced at TW is Seido Karate. Seido means “the sincere way” and Seido karate was founded by our incredibly wonderful master Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura. http://www.seido.com/about/kaicho. I love Seido Karate and I love the fact that this is the style practiced at Thousand Waves! 

Please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

30 Reasons Why I Love Thousand Waves! (1)

Reason #1: 

Some of the best teachers in the world teach at TW. The lessons are not just about martial arts, self-defense and violence prevention. Some of my greatest lessons have been about LIFE and how to live outside the dojo. :) 

Please consider making a donation to support my 2015 Spirit Challenge and honor the 30th anniversary of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

2015 Spirit Challenge!

It’s Spirit Challenge time again! And this year is a very special year! Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center is celebrating its 30th year anniversary! Can you help me raise $3,000 in honor of this incredible, life-saving organization? Here is a link to my personal fundraising page: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/

 

As many of you know, I am a member of Thousand Waves Martial and Self-Defense Center in Chicago. TW is a non-for-profit 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://www.thousandwaves.org/AboutUs.htm

 

Spirit Challenge is our annual spring fundraising event. It 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 challenges 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. 

 

The funds we raise (the 2015 goal is $75,000) support Thousand Waves' Scholarship, Adapted Seido Karate and Violence Prevention Programs. As many of you know, I have volunteered with the ASK (Adapted Seido Karate) program for children with special needs for several years now. It is truly one of the most rewarding opportunities I have ever experienced.

 

My goals for this Spirit Challenge are to raise $3,000.00 in support and further the mission of Thousand Waves and to participate in all of the physical events to strive to achieve Sogo. See this link for a complete description of the events: http://thousandwaves.org/docs/SC/SC15InfoFlyer.pdf

 

This past year has been full of ups, downs and challenges for me. My training was interrupted last December when a car hit me as I was crossing the street in front of the school where I work. I am convinced that my martial arts training helped my body react instinctively after being hit to position myself so that I could land in a martial front fall, after flying though the air several feet. I was very lucky. I did not hit my head and my injuries were not as serious as they could have been. I am very, very grateful for my karate practice.

Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Violence Prevention Center, NFP 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. Thousand Waves is non-profit and provides scholarships to those who would otherwise be unable to pay for classes. Part of the money raised through this fundraiser also supports the ASK program for kids with disabilities.

 

If you would like to sponsor me, I would be ever so appreciative! Please help me raise $3,000 for this (literally) life-saving organization!

 

Here is the link to my personal fundraising page: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/218169/