Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists Spirituality and Martial Arts Editor’s Note: Especially during difficult times, our martial arts practice can build and uplift our spirit. Many people train because of its spiritual component. But what does spirituality in the martial arts mean? How does it affect our training, and if we teach, how does it affect our teaching? How has it changed or affected how we are in the world? I thought I’d pose these questions to a number of PAWMA members. They were asked to respond in Hard and Soft, whatever way worked for them. These are their responses. Working Together, by Sue Leary Become Complete. While trekking in the Himalayas last year with Paula a non-profit corporation Smith, we spoke the word Vol. 32 No. 2 Spring 2009 “Namasté” many times in greeting to those taking care Inside This Newsletter of us, and others traveling the Spirituality and Martial Arts ............ 1 same path. Our Sherpa guide Sue Leary, Sandie Benevides, told us it means, “I salute the Michelle McVadon, Sheila Haddad, god within you.” Kim Ivy, Mamie Chow, Michelle Trudging along up the Pleasant trail, I had a lot of time to Association Update ............................ 2 contemplate the meaning of Sacramento Trainings ..................... 3 “Namasté.” The idea that god 32nd Annual Training Camp ........... 5 exists within everyone seems so intuitive. And yet, I never really thought of god in that way Warrior Woman ............................. 6 because I was raised to believe that god is a separate being. Then it occurred to me that Internal Arts Without Borders .......... 7 perhaps the best way to understand god is to know myself. When I realized this, I also real- Sifu Dan Tien ................................ 10 ized that I already had the perfect tool — tai chi. Up to that point, I had been focused on “getting” tai chi, like tai chi was a goal to be Eating Crabs by the China Sea ..... 10 achieved or a prize to be won. I spent a lot of time looking at my tai chi with a critical eye Tuyê’t Tan Dojo — Cuong Nhu .... 11 and judging myself harshly. Now I see that this was a very external approach to an internal art. Switching from wanting to “get” tai chi to viewing tai chi as a process for understand- PAWMA‘s Mission ing myself has transformed my practice. It has allowed me to let go of judgment and to approach practice with a calmer spirit and a more open heart. I no longer need to “get” Uniting and empowering tai chi. I am more willing to listen and allow the lessons to emerge. My physical body has become the vehicle by which I explore my spiritual self — the me at the core of my being. a diverse community of Before every solo practice session, I pray. Prayer is different now. I do not ask an exter- nal source. I ask myself for the humility to accept what comes up, the courage to be willing women and girls in the to look at it, the curiosity to question and explore, and the patience to allow knowledge to martial arts. be acquired over time. The result has been a clearer connection of body, mind and spirit. Continued on page 4 ➤ Pacific Association 2 of Women Martial Artists BOARD OF DIRECTORS Association Update Officers President: Keldyn West, Redwood City, CA PRESIDEnt‘S MESSAGE Vice President: Susannah MacKaye, Oakland, CA Secretary: Kristen Pfendler, Vancouver, WA Treasurer: Marie Jackson, Eugene, OR Dear PAWMA members, Members-at-Large The PAWMA Board of Directors would like to invite your Michelle McVadon (Elder Counsel), Seattle, WA help to spread the word for Camp 2009 in Olympia, WA, on Aarin Burch, Oakland, CA Labor Day Weekend (September 4 - 7). We are expanding our Joanne Factor, Seattle, WA marketing material to include an eye-catching postcard. With Elaine Powell-Ascroft, Portland, OR this bright new look we hope to appeal to all generations of Keta Tom, Corvallis, OR women martial artists while showing nice memories for mem- bers who have attended Camps in the past. COMMITTEE/CONTACT The new format also makes it easy to carry with you everywhere to give to women you meet at tournaments and Website Coordinator: Joanne Factor events when you tell them about PAWMA. Send the postcards Website Technical Support: Lori Berkowitz to friends, and post them on your refrigerator and on bulletin boards (with permission Membership Coordinator: Joanne Factor if necessary) at your school, local recreation center, gym, martial arts supply stores, or Newsletter Liaison: Sue Leary anywhere it will catch the eye of women martial artists or people who might know a woman or girl in the martial arts. REGIONAL REPS To do a large mailing and apply the postage costs as a donation to PAWMA, you can submit your receipt and receive a receipt for tax purposes. You can also receive direct Canada reimbursement for mailing expenses, but please contact us ahead of time (send email Bowen Island, BC: Jan Parker 604/947-0888, [email protected] to [email protected]) to verify that funds are still available. If you do not have enough postcards to do your mailing, you can send the mailing labels or an Excel spreadsheet of California addresses to me and I will complete the mailing (for addresses in the U.S.). Mailings to Berkeley, CA: Jude Fox 510/525-2963, [email protected] Canada are cheaper if mailed within Canada. By now you will have received the electronic version of the postcard for easy email Santa Rosa, CA: Ceylan Crow forwarding to all your martial arts friends. If you would like more postcards, please write 707/578-5889, [email protected] to me at [email protected]. Thank you all for your help in spreading the word and letting more women, teens, and CONTACT INFO girls in the martial arts know about and benefit from our community. For more information on Camp, please see page 5. For general information about PAWMA or to contact anyone above: Warm regards, Website: www.pawma.org Keldyn West Email address: [email protected] Mailing address: P.O. Box 23157 Seattle, WA 98102 Call for Nominations to the Board Contact Person: Keldyn West The PAWMA Board of Directors needs you. If you have any of a variety of skills to offer, can devote a few hours a month, and have an interest in helping guide PAWMA into the future, please nominate yourself. If you know someone else who fits that description, please nominate them. You can take on different tasks within the Board depending on your particular skills and interests. Some of the skills and attributes needed are enthusiasm, an ability to work well on a team, communication skills, organizational or project management skills, or any other skills you think you could put to use to benefit the organization. We also need people PAWMA News 3 with Internet savvy, and website design and content management experience. We also Favorite raffle and silent auction items need someone with an aptitude for numbers and attention to detail to serve as treasurer, are school T-shirts and other clothing, with our current treasurer, Marie Jackson, available for support and training. This could be quality water bottles, martial arts gear and an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to add that kind of experience to their weapons, videos and music CDs, jewelry, resume. Ideally, the position of treasurer is a multi-year commitment. artwork, gift certificates, lotions and potions, What kind of commitment is involved? A term lasts three years. Time involved and chocolate. So, put raffle and silent auc- includes attendance at one-hour monthly phone meetings, a few hours on special projects tion donations on your shopping list and ‘to between meetings, and various organizing tasks during Camp. Board members are not eli- make’ list. Or dig out that quality stuff in the gible to apply to teach at Camp but their registration fees are waived. closet that you never use but that a woman What are the benefits? You ensure that PAWMA continues, have a voice in its direc- martial artist friend would love to have! tion, and give back to your community. You will also meet wonderful, interesting people and get the satisfaction of a job well done as well as the appreciation of the members. Meet Members on Facebook How? You can volunteer yourself or nominate someone else by emailing info@ pawma.org. The nominee will submit a statement that includes her qualifications and why PAWMA now has a groups page on she wants to join the Board by June 1 for inclusion in the PAWMA News. Elections will Facebook, the popular social networking be held during Camp with mail-in ballots in the next PAWMA News issue for those not site. It already has over 50 members and attending Camp. they want you to join too. It’s another way More information? Please contact any of the current Board members or write info@ to stay in touch with what is going on with pawma.org. PAWMA and its members, and be involved with its community. Come and make new New on the PAWMA Website friends or reacquaint yourself with old ones. Just go to www.facebook.com, create • Camp registration is OPEN and you can register online! yourself a page, look us up in the groups • Members, please update your profiles in the online directory which is in the members- section and search for friends. only pages on our website. This directory is a valuable resource for members to contact each other to network or plan visits.