I’m participating in this year’s Spirit Challenge to raise money for Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self Defense Center, where I have been a student since I was 4-years-old.  This organization and their event are really important to me, and I’m working hard to support them.

In addition to offering classes for children and adults in Seido Karate, Thousand Waves runs a program called Adapted Seido Karate. ASK is for children and young adults with disabilities and welcomes anyone, even those who cannot pay, and the students learn how to defend themselves no matter how severe their disabilities. They also learn to use their bodies better if they have physical disabilities and it helps them to make friends. I volunteer teach in the ASK program and it gives me a great feeling to see the kids working hard and I always know that I helped someone to move a step forward. Even if it is just helping him to move his arm an inch. 

Thousand Waves also offers low-cost and free self-defense classes for children, adults and victims of domestic violence. They work hard in the community to fight violence and they have taught me a lot about how to handle conflict peacefully.