It’stimetostartthinkingaboutsummercamp!Savethedate:July20through24,atNorthCentralCollegeinNaperville,Illinois.Thisisacampuswehaveenjoyedseveraltimesrecently,withafabulousmoderngymnasium,excellentclassroomfacilities,andnearenoughto“downtown”towalkforaspecialmealoryourfavoritecoffeestop.Thisyear’seventisafirst-evercollaborationbetweenallthreepremierorganizationsservingwomenandgirlsinmartialandhealingartsandself-defense–aTri-AllianceGatheringofsistergroups.NWMAFisteamingupwiththePacificAreaWomen’sMartialArtists(PAWMA)andtheAssociationofWomenMartialArtsInstructors(AWMAI)topresentacamptoappealtoeveryonefromthosewhohaveonlyrecentlybeguntheirtrainingtoadvancedpractitioners.Forexperiencedinstructorstherewillbe“trainthetrainer”sessions.ForourYoungMartialArtists(YMA),age6andup,therewillbegamestohelpbuildstrongskillsandbodies.Foreveryone,therewillbeopportunitiestosamplestylesthatarenewtoyou,fortifyyourexistingskills,buildstrongfoundations,andstretchtowardnewgoals.Registrationwillopensoon:watchforit.

AfteraseriousArnisclasstaughtbySenseiMariStenger(standingatthefarleft,rearrow),participantshavealittlefunatSpecialTraining2015.(photocourtesyofTihPenfil)

NWMAF Winter Update – January 2016

News for Our Members, Friends, and Supporters

CallingalltrainersForthosewhowouldliketobeconsideredfortrainer/presenterpositionsduringthissummer’sTri-AllianceGathering,downloadanapplicationfromwww.trialliancegathering.organdbesuretosubmititbyFebruary29,2016.That’sleapyearday,meaningyouhaveanextradaytogetitin.NotificationsofacceptancewillbesentbyMarch31.Thethreeseparateorganizationsshareacommonmissiontoempowerwomenandgirlsthroughmartialarts,self-defense,andhealingartseducation.Eachorganizationhonorsacommitmenttodiversityinthetrainer/presenterselectionprocess.Theselectioncommitteewillworkdiligentlytohireinstructorsfromawiderangeofstylesandculturestoteachclassestopeopleofallagesandskilllevelsandatvaryingexertionlevels.DuesareDue!Ifyouhaven’tyetrenewedyourannualNWMAFmembership(dueJanuary1),doitnow!Memberratesforthesummereventaresignificantlylowerthannon-memberrates.NWMAFoffersafabulouswaytoexpandyourtrainingexperienceswhilemeetingwonderfulwomenandgirlsfromalloverthecountry.ThenetworkingavailablethroughNWMAFcanhelpyoufindaplacetopracticeanewart,findanewschoolwhenyoumove,andconnectwithnewfriends.Besideshavingaffordableratesforsingleadultmembership,NWMAFalsooffersspecialratesforstudentsandspecialmother/daughterpackages.Joinorrenewonlinetodayatwww.nwmaf.org/join

SenseiJayeSpiroHonoredwithNWMAFAwardofExcellenceDuring2015SpecialTraining,SenseiJayeSpiro,aFoundingMotherofNWMAFandrecipientofNWMAFFoundersHonorsin2012,founderofMejishiMartialArts(nowinFerndale,Michigan)36yearsago,co-organizerofthefirstself-defenseinstructorcertificationprogramatSpecialTraining2000,seventhdegreeblackbeltinAiMuteShotokan,memberofAWMAIandModernArnisHallsofFame,andall-aroundinspiration,wasrecognizedforherlifetimeofachievements.TheAwardofExcellenceisthehighesthonorourorganizationcanofferthosewhostandasrolemodels.Onacceptingthisaward,SenseiJayeisrecognizedasoneofanelitegroupofthebestintheworld.NWMAFispleasedtohonorthispractical,downtoearth,supportive,creative,caring,andoutstandingteacherandpractitionerforherlifetimeofdedicationandachievement,andwelookforwardtomanymoreyearsofherpresence.

(photocourtesyofTihPenfil)2016AwardnominationsnowbeingacceptedNWMAFrecognizeswomenmartialartistsandself-defensepractitionerswiththreedifferentawards,witheachawardfocusingonadifferentcharacteristic.ForthedocumentedAwardProcessfollowedbytheAwardscommittee,seewww.nwmaf.org/policiesunder“OrganizationPolicies.”Submitall

nominationsandsupportingdocumentationtoJoanneFactoratjfactor@strategicliving.org(withacopyalsosenttochair@nwmaf.org)byJanuary31,2016.

• AWARDOFEXCELLENCETechnicalexpertise,aremarkableteachingcareer,inspirationalleadershipandmeaningfulcontributionstothecommunity.

• COLEENGRAGENAWARDOFINSPIRATION

ForNWMAFmemberswhohaveinspiredotherwomeninthemartialarts.Thisawardwascreatedin2001andformallynamedin2002:“LastyearNWMAFcreatedtheAwardofInspirationtohonorColeenGragen.Consideringtheseverityofherillness[cancer]wewereconcernedwewouldnothavethechancetoofferthishonorinthefuture.Wedecidedonthisparticular,specialawardbecauseofthemanywomenmartialartistsColeeninspiredthroughherteaching,hermartialartsskill,herphilosophy,hervision,andhercharisma.Butwehadnotformallynameditafterher.Wedosonow,theColeenGragenAwardofInspiration,torememberthemartialartist,teacher,andfriendwhoinspiredsomanyofus.”

• FOUNDERS’HONORS

ForwomenwhohavemadesignificantcontributionstoNWMAFovertheyears.CallingallLeadersNWMAFislookingforleaderstofillboardpositions.Bringyourvisionandleadershipskillstoanorganizationthathasbeenattheforefrontofequalityandempowermentforwomenandgirlssinceourfirstcampin1976–yes,40yearsago!Timeshavechangedalotsincethen,butthereisstillimportantworktodo.Interested?Contact:members@nwmaf.organd/orchair@nwmaf.org TheBoardwillbeholdingaLeadershipSummitVideoChattodiscussthefutureofNWMAF.Staytunedforinformationonwhenandhowtoparticipate.Gotstufftosell?ThebazaarheldatSpecialTrainingaoffersafantasticopportunitytopickuphandmadejewelry,weapons,bagsforweapons,artwork,t-shirts,bookshandcrafts,cookies,videos,shouldermassages,andanynumberofotherpossibilities.TheTri-AllianceGatheringwillbenoexception!Tableswillbeavailabletovendorsat$30foronetable,$55fortwotables.Seethecampregistrationformtomakeyourvendortablereservations.ST2015Memories-photoscourtesyofTihPenfil(TP)andJenPara(JP)NextPage-Top–MasterSuteachesYMAXingyiquan,“Body-Mind-Fist”(TP)Centerleft–SenseiJamieZimronteachingAikido(TP)Centerright–Self-defenseinthedark(TP)Lowerleft–NWMAFChairTeddieLinder(left)withMemberoftheYearWendyLathrop(TP)Lowerright–AsuccessfulhandstrikeinMyTienDuong’sbreakingclass(TP)Lastpage-Topleft–SenseiMorganPlowdeninstructsSpeedFighting(JP)Topright–SenseiMyTienDuongmidairforherbreakingdemo(JP)Centerleft–MakinghatsinTihPenfil’sOrigamiclass(TP)Centerright–YMApals(TP)Lowerleft–SifuJessicaHothiinstructsdaggerform(JP)Lowercenter–SenseiTerriGiamartinodemonstratesinSpins&Sweeps(JP)Lowerright–SifuSaraGellhorn’staichifanforminthedemo(JP)