Thursday, January 1, 2009
Reflections for a New Year
In 2006 and 2007, we mailed our New Year's letter. This year we are using Constant Contact and our blog to share our reflections on the past and our vision for the future. If you haven't checked out our newly revamped website, what are you waiting for? It's awesome.
In 2008, our core programs grew about 40% across the board, despite the supposed collapse of the US economy. Our Belly Dance program continues to thrive. Cardio Sword debuted and continues to grow. Our first 2 black belts, Thomas Luce and Chris Blum, are steadily training towards ni-dan second-degree black belts. Our meditation program gained new members and new juzu continue to be awarded. And we aren't the only ones succeeding--our students continue to surprise and impress us. When you have a chance, ask Angelique Espinoza about her work on City Council, Jane Bright about her skiing sponsorship, Zipporah Abraham-Paiss about her gymnastics goals, Chris Blum about his thriving veterinary practice, Thomas Luce about his new company Propits, Amanda Mahan about her Life Force business, and many more. Your friends on the mat have great stories--find out about them!
We've found that the recession tends to encourage people to focus on their core values and personal development. We are seeing more people at the dojo because we provide an experience that rivals the educational power of graduate school for a tenth of the price, and an entertainment that rivals the best action movies and outdoor adventure programs.
We were able to make our work here at the dojo much more visible in 2008. It started with Mary Aitoshi making the cover of Women's Magazine in January. Then in May the Boulder Quest Hospitality Team led the private security for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa's public talks at Macky Auditorium. We drew media attention for our martial arts programs several times during the year. Mary Aitoshi won the Sam Walton Emerging Entrepeneur award from a national pool of female business owners. Then, two weeks ago, ABC and the Daily Camera both filmed a women's self-defense segment here.
We continued our personal growth, diving in to the multi-year curriculum for 4th degree black belt as well as the esoteric Ju-Hachi Do ritual from the secret Mikkyo teachings. We also earned formal teaching licenses in bo staff (Aitoshi) and classical taijutsu (Keitoshi).
The dojo at large echoed back our efforts. Thomas Luce and Chris Blum became the first students to achieve a shodan 1st degree black belt at the Boulder Quest Center, during a fabulous weekend presided over by Stephen K. Hayes and 45 seminar participants. Several of our students also earned kihon licenses in various classical disciplines, and we established strong, effective relationships with long-distance students who commute hundreds of miles to train with us.
What will 2009 hold? First and foremost, more people need to know about our incredible and proven programs. Our students know that our programs transform lives and bring clarity, inner strength, and a powerful compassion to our community. We want to see at least 40% growth in 2009, but we have put into action a plan to double our size. This growth will enable the expansion of programs, the vitalization of existing small classes (like meditation and classical weapons), and the dignified support of the few who assist us to run the school.
We would also like to offer a mind-exploration weekend experience with Stephen K. Hayes, so that we can invite in members of the spiritual-explorer community of Boulder. It is our assertion that spiritual training requires physical training and community interaction to anchor, validate, and fuse spiritual truth into one's identity. We have something very rare and very valuable to offer in this regard through the most spiritual and intelligent martial art that we have ever encountered in our 11 years of training.
As always, we will uphold the quality of the training, the sacred trust of our community, and the empowering encouragement that carries us all forward to new realms of growth and development.
To discovery, proserity, and delight in the New Year!
To-Shin!
Kevin Ji-Keitoshi & Mary Ji-Aitoshi Casey
Reflections for a New Year
In 2006 and 2007, we mailed our New Year's letter. This year we are using Constant Contact and our blog to share our reflections on the past and our vision for the future. If you haven't checked out our newly revamped website, what are you waiting for? It's awesome.
In 2008, our core programs grew about 40% across the board, despite the supposed collapse of the US economy. Our Belly Dance program continues to thrive. Cardio Sword debuted and continues to grow. Our first 2 black belts, Thomas Luce and Chris Blum, are steadily training towards ni-dan second-degree black belts. Our meditation program gained new members and new juzu continue to be awarded. And we aren't the only ones succeeding--our students continue to surprise and impress us. When you have a chance, ask Angelique Espinoza about her work on City Council, Jane Bright about her skiing sponsorship, Zipporah Abraham-Paiss about her gymnastics goals, Chris Blum about his thriving veterinary practice, Thomas Luce about his new company Propits, Amanda Mahan about her Life Force business, and many more. Your friends on the mat have great stories--find out about them!
We've found that the recession tends to encourage people to focus on their core values and personal development. We are seeing more people at the dojo because we provide an experience that rivals the educational power of graduate school for a tenth of the price, and an entertainment that rivals the best action movies and outdoor adventure programs.
We were able to make our work here at the dojo much more visible in 2008. It started with Mary Aitoshi making the cover of Women's Magazine in January. Then in May the Boulder Quest Hospitality Team led the private security for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa's public talks at Macky Auditorium. We drew media attention for our martial arts programs several times during the year. Mary Aitoshi won the Sam Walton Emerging Entrepeneur award from a national pool of female business owners. Then, two weeks ago, ABC and the Daily Camera both filmed a women's self-defense segment here.
We continued our personal growth, diving in to the multi-year curriculum for 4th degree black belt as well as the esoteric Ju-Hachi Do ritual from the secret Mikkyo teachings. We also earned formal teaching licenses in bo staff (Aitoshi) and classical taijutsu (Keitoshi).
The dojo at large echoed back our efforts. Thomas Luce and Chris Blum became the first students to achieve a shodan 1st degree black belt at the Boulder Quest Center, during a fabulous weekend presided over by Stephen K. Hayes and 45 seminar participants. Several of our students also earned kihon licenses in various classical disciplines, and we established strong, effective relationships with long-distance students who commute hundreds of miles to train with us.
What will 2009 hold? First and foremost, more people need to know about our incredible and proven programs. Our students know that our programs transform lives and bring clarity, inner strength, and a powerful compassion to our community. We want to see at least 40% growth in 2009, but we have put into action a plan to double our size. This growth will enable the expansion of programs, the vitalization of existing small classes (like meditation and classical weapons), and the dignified support of the few who assist us to run the school.
We would also like to offer a mind-exploration weekend experience with Stephen K. Hayes, so that we can invite in members of the spiritual-explorer community of Boulder. It is our assertion that spiritual training requires physical training and community interaction to anchor, validate, and fuse spiritual truth into one's identity. We have something very rare and very valuable to offer in this regard through the most spiritual and intelligent martial art that we have ever encountered in our 11 years of training.
As always, we will uphold the quality of the training, the sacred trust of our community, and the empowering encouragement that carries us all forward to new realms of growth and development.
To discovery, proserity, and delight in the New Year!
To-Shin!
Kevin Ji-Keitoshi & Mary Ji-Aitoshi Casey
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