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PAWMA News Uniting and Empowering a Diverse Community of Women and Girls in the Martial Arts

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PAWMA News Uniting and Empowering a Diverse Community of Women and Girls in the Martial Arts PAWMA News Uniting and empowering a diverse community of women and girls in the martial arts. Vol. 37 No. 1 Summer 2014 In Appreciation for Those Serving You A Letter from our President, Sonya Richardson The Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists has been holding training camps for thirty-seven years. Behind the curtain, thirty-seven groups of organizers have brainstormed, created, re-shaped and turned the gears that move women and girls in their exploration and deepening of their relationship with the martial arts. A bow of gratitude to all who served on the PAWMA Board before us from conception to this day. If you’ve ever been on a non-profit board, you understand those first few months of feeling like you’re jogging underwater. Simply stated, it takes a minute to plant one’s feet firmly, let alone run boldly on the road. Last year’s Board, small but mighty, was amazing. They not only left us breadcrumbs to find the path, but a host of thoroughly organized “how to’s” and a healthy fiscal purse to advance us forward. Please take a moment to literally read each Photo by Catrina Marchetti. name aloud in full appreciation: Roseanne Boudreau. Helen Yee. Patty O’Linger. Nikia Fenlin. Justine Simkins (continuing board member) and Michelle McVadon (Elder Counsel). Inspired to serve, superhero capes in place, this year’s Board grew in number. We are Restita DeJesus (secretary), Marieta Delacruz, Margot Ernst (treasurer), Erin Huey, Judith Pile, Justine Simpkins, Nikki Smith (vice president), and myself, Sonya Richardson (president). We are honored Michelle McVadon will stay on as our Elder Counsel, a non-voting voice offering a broad historical perspective when needed. We have the good fortune of being a martial arts family that cherishes one another. A number of our founders continue to train and teach at camp, generously sharing their wisdom and telling stories about those first few years at annual gatherings. As the legend goes, they slept where they trained, on concrete slabs or dirt floors, heads pointing toward each other and feet out. PAWMA News • Vol. 37 No. 1 • Summer 2014 2 Perhaps that configuration facilitated nighttime conversation. Perhaps it warded off would be attackers. Ask a founder and get the full story. Returning to our roots by laying a tarp down on the ground and calling it housing may not meet the needs of our current membership. We opted for more comfortable digs and invite you to join us. Our 37th annual PAWMA camp takes place September 19 – 22, 2014 and is themed “Diversity. Empowerment. Community.” We will return to the lovely Aldersgate Retreat Center in Turner, OR, one hour’s drive from Portland. It’s certainly not too late to sign up for camp. Your Board looks forward to meeting, assisting, and training with you. Finding My Voice By Ana L. Sheriff “Mommy wait for me over there!” my six year old son enthusiastically directed me to wait for him on the other side of the pool as he finished his first swimming event, towel in hand. His voice echoed across the 25 yards separating us. He was so loud. I felt so proud, but not just because he was about to come in first place in this event, but because his voice was full of confidence. So different from when I was six years old. Growing up in a small Mexican town, I was treated as a possession and not allowed to speak up for myself. Instead of earning first place ribbons like my son, I was hiding behind my mom’s apron learning to be invisible… and silent. A daily reminder would reach my ears: The place for girls was in the kitchen learning to become a wife by the ripe old age of 16 years. My traditional parents did not want my life to end at 16. So, at 12 years old they moved my two brothers and me to Los Angeles. There I was escaping this inevitable future to create a new destiny and searching for my own voice in a foreign land. I promptly realized that doing well in school allowed me to discover my talents, but it wouldn’t be until college where I would realize my independence. My true freedom and voice. On Sundays and every Sunday without fail, my family would walk a few miles to attend mass. It was my favorite day of the week, but not because of the extensive sermons on how to be a better Catholic. On the way to church for five magical minutes I got to stand outside the gate of a martial arts school observing through the bars on the window these mysterious and unfamiliar movements. Yet I was completely mesmerized by the patterns of the class; it fed me spiritually. This was my church! I felt free. I felt at home. But it was forbidden that I partake in such unlady- Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 2 PAWMA News • Vol. 37 No. 1 • Summer 2014 3 like behavior. My destiny as a marital artist would not be in the cards for me for another six years. I feel like it was yesterday when I collided with my path. There I was dressed in my gi awaiting Professor Coleen F. Gragen to begin the class at Mills College. It was an easy decision to fulfill my P.E. college requirement with my first martial arts class. Finally, that little girl that would stand outside the gate was standing eagerly, first in the room 30 minutes prior to the start of classes. For six consecutive semesters, I signed up to take this class, no longer for credit, but for the sacredness that training became. The next logical step after graduation was to follow my teacher to her school. Training at Hand to Hand to this day has guided me to discover that with each punch and kick thrown, I become more whole. The lessons that my first teacher Professor Col bestowed upon me about using my voice, self-love, being present, and walking in peace are now carried on by current teacher Chief Instructor Sonya Richardson. As I hear my loud kiai echoing throughout the training hall, I come to the realization that I found my voice just like my son was allowed to do so at such a young age. And through its discovery, I yearn for the day when all other little girls in the world are able to find their own voice without oppression preventing them for being their own whole self. Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 3 PAWMA News • Vol. 37 No. 1 • Summer 2014 4 Lim Po By Prema Polit How do you remember to love? Every time you do this form double spear hand tiger claw, bent knee outside crescent kick each strike reminds you of what you love and who you love each breath reminds you of why you love this art and why this art loves you Take a moment to remember: This is not a struggle but a triumph This is a path that we walk on a moment that we relive again and again choosing to move forward choosing to love again and again that which is in front of us our hands, our fists our side drop stance our palm-heels pressing groundward Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 4 PAWMA News • Vol. 37 No. 1 • Summer 2014 5 PAWMA Camp By Nikki Smith, Vice President Register for the 37th Annual PAWMA Camp September 19 - 22 • Aldersgate Retreat Center, Turner, Oregon Diversity, Empowerment, Community Join us and learn from these wonderful camp teachers Sifu Aarin Burch Kajukenbo Sifu Robin Dahlberg Shaolin Kung Fu Michele Elefante Sensei Shorin-Ryu Karate Sensei Delina Fuchs Danzan Ryu Jujitsu Shifu/Sensei Kore Grate Wu Chien Pai Sifu Lynn Keslar Kajukenbo, Doce Pares Escrima Dara Masi Shihan Hakkoryu Jujutsu Lori O’Connell Sensei Can-Ryu-Jiu-Jitsu Sifu Sana Shanti Taiji Sifu Gin Yang Kajukenbo Jamie Zimron Sensei Aikido Classes cover a diversity of arts and styles, so there is something for everyone: From open sparring and grappling to guided meditation How to break bones and how to tape injured joints Weapons from bo to knife to bullwhip, and how to defend yourself against them all. here’s even a movie stunt class! Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 5 PAWMA News • Vol. 37 No. 1 • Summer 2014 6 All this within the green and peaceful setting at the Aldersgate retreat center. We enjoyed the location so much last year we came back this year. There are two social events planned, the demonstration followed by social time in the main hall on Saturday, and the bazaar and another get together on Sunday night after a whole camp class with Sifu Michelle McVadon. There will be lots of opportunity to meet women who share similar interests. We are trying something new to facilitate social interaction and to improve inclusion for women & girls who are coming to camp for the first time or on their own. Every camp participant will be given a colored PAWMA silicone wrist band. Experienced campers and women who are travelling with a large group will receive a green band. First time campers or women travelling to camp alone may choose to wear a red wrist band. Everyone will be encouraged to make a special effort to welcome the women wearing these bands. Youth attendees (under 18) will wear a pink band. Board members will wear black bands and teachers will be given white ones. We hope you will enjoy the bands as a gift from PAWMA and will choose to wear them after camp.
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