Help me support the dojo I love!

Welcome friends and family!

This is a big year for my dojo - our 40th anniversary! I am so proud to call this school my home and I believe strongly in the impact of the work we do. As I look at the world around us right now, I see how crucial it is to foster inclusivity, peacemaking, and healing to combat the normalization of hate and discrimination. The work is as important today as it was 40 years ago, when my teachers recognized the need for an empowering feminist space. How lucky I am to have grown up with queer role models around me.

Your money goes towards three important programs (this is how Thousand Waves walks the walk):

• Empowerment Self-Defense programming across Chicago. This critical Violence Prevention work is provided at extremely low cost (or free) so that all communities can benefit. Empowerment Self Defense is a research-backed method that provides safety skills across the spectrum of violence, from harassment and abuse (being assertive and setting clear boundaries) to physical violence (fighting skills to protect yourself from someone who is much bigger than you). Thousand Waves has been pioneering this important practice since 1985, working to provide protection from gender and sexual based violence. In the past five years, more than 1200 people have participated across 130+ sessions.
• Adapted Seido Karate (ASK), in partnership with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, provides karate instruction for children with disabilities free of charge with a staff to student ratio of ~1:1. This program ensures students have the support and personalized instruction they need to be successful. This program just promoted its first student to black belt - a testament to the impact it has on students who otherwise do not have avenues to learn strength and confidence.
• Thousand Waves Scholarship Program allows anyone to participate in karate classes or Violence Prevention workshops regardless of ability to afford it. Scholarships allow children who do not have access to extracurriculars to get access to summer camps, regular classes, and loving teachers that support them. This fund has distributed over $200,000 since 2019 alone.

In addition to the milestone anniversary, this is a big year for my personal practice as well. My teacher and the founder of Thousand Waves, Shuseki Shihan Nancy Lanoue, is stepping back from teaching after 40 years for a well deserved retirement. It’s time for new teachers to continue her work and I’ve joined a small but mighty crew of instructors to take up the mantle. Teaching adults is not something I imagined for myself at 24 - but it is so rewarding and I am so grateful for the students that put their trust in me. I have big shoes to fill but I’m confident I will continue learning and growing in my teaching.

We need to raise $120,000 this year to keep the organization running and I hope you will consider helping me reach my fundraising goal - please remember any amount helps! Donations are 100% tax deductible.

One wave sets thousands in motion

With love and gratitude,

Aaron