IkigaiWay Moving to Colorado!
Thanks for dropping in! I've got some interesting news – IkigaiWay will be moving to Colorado. Actually…the website is staying right here but I will be moving.
This is a big change for me as I am a born and bred Pennsylvanian. I've visited Colorado multiple times, but planning the full time move has been a complex and educational process. Over the next two weeks I'll be packing up what remains of my belongings, driving out, and settling near the mountains in an area just south of Denver.
While I still love Pennsylvania (my immediate and martial families are here), opportunities for my significant other to attend grad school and work in her field are just too tempting to pass up. We'll head back east in 2-3 years, but for now we're westward bound.
The Martial Plan
One of the tricky (but exciting) things about this move is figuring out how I'm going to approach training and teaching. I plan on visiting a bunch of nearby schools just to get a sense of the local flavor and see what's happening. I'd also like to broaden my experience with arts I have little experience in (perhaps bjj, qigong, kung fu…who knows?).
I'll then have to decide if I want to start my own program fresh or work as an adjunct program with a nearby school. If I start my own program I'll be able to teach my full curriculum of Okinawa Kenpo Karate, Classical Kobudo, Toide, Swordsmanship, etc. If I work with a local school I can offer whatever doesn't interfere with their main program.
I'd also like to start up a series of seminars. Seminars are a great way to share pieces of information and cultivate cross exposure of styles and experiences. They're also not too difficult to execute and can range in size from multi-school events to single dojo visits.
The Curriculum
I've gotten to train with some great individuals over the years, and they've been generous with their knowledge. I've only extracted a small fraction during my time, but I'm still motivated to share the classical ways as much as I can. My curriculum will take shape pulling from the following material:
Te: Okinawa Kenpo karate, Motobu Udun Di concept, toide, practical kata application, classical kata, shizen te combat drills
Kobudo: rokushaku bo, tonfa, nunchaku, sai, tekkos, tinbe rochin, kuwa, kama, eiku, nunti
Weapons Conflict Forms: Bo vs Bo, Bo vs Tonfa, Bo vs Sai, Bo vs Kama, Bo vs Tinbe Rochin
Japanese Budo: Iai forms, sword vs kobudo, weapons fighting, budo mindset
Mental Aspects: Okinawan culture, mindset of learning, martial science vs martial art, martial arts writing, self defense awareness, wellness
Are You In The Area?
For most of you these little life updates are just for fun, but if you live in Colorado or one of the adjoining states we might be able to plan something cool together! Reach out and tell me about yourself and your school, and how I might help:
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Keep an eye out for more updates as the program evolves. I look forward to meeting some Western artists and contributing to the martial culture in whatever way I can.
Welcome to New Site Partner Karatemart.com!
Hello everyone! I'd like to take a brief time out from the usual content to extend a special thanks to Karatemart Martial Arts Supplies. They have been kind enough to join IkigaiWay as a site sponsor.
IkigaiWay only teams up with other online resources that are specifically useful to readers. Karatemart is an excellent new addition as it provides top deals on all sorts of martial arts equipment.
When navigating to Karatemart the first thing you'll notice is their daily price cuts. These are special reductions on equipment ranging from fun games to serious weapons. You never know what bargain you might stumble across, so it's great to check back form time to time just to see.
The quality of the products throughout the site range from toylike to high test, depending on your needs. The variety is also highly useful, helping visitors find the right style for their particular training.
Karatemart's biggest claim to fame has been their customer service and shipping policies. They have received top marks in helping customers navigate the ordering process, answering questions and willingly assisting in whatever way they can. After a customer has found the right product and placed their order, Karatemart attempts to conduct same-day-shipping at no extra cost. All orders over $60 receive free shipping, resulting in a fast and inexpensive shopping experience.
For individuals looking to score some free swag, the Karatemart facebok page is the place to be. Karatemart conducts weekly giveaways based on customers supplying their order ID #. The odds of winning are pretty good, so shopping at Karatemart can pay dividends even after your purchase.
Keeping a site like IkigaiWay up and running can be costly, both in terms of resources and time. It's thanks to companies like Karatemart and readers like yourself who visit them that allow me to keep doing what I'm doing. So give em a click, and I'll see you soon with more articles and videos!
P.S. They have a fun 'weird weapons' section:
Free Shipping Today On All T-Shirts
If you've been dabbling with the idea of grabbing a sweet IkigaiWay T-Shirt, today might be the right day to do it!
According to Spreadshirt (the company that produces the IkigaiWay Shirts) today is International T-Shirt Day. In order to celebrate, they are offering a free coupon code that eliminates all shipping fees. I wasn't aware of International T-Shirt Day, but what the heck – let's take them up on the offer.
To score free shipping, just NAVIGATE HERE to the Shirt Shop and use the following coupon code when you check out:
T-DAY2012
That code can be used for as many or as few shirts as you need. Visit the Shirt Shop Today!
