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from the November, 2010 issue of Kiai!
NWMAF Regional Training hosted by Arlene Limas
by Michele Curley
When I found out that the first American and the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in Tae Kwan Do was hosting a NWMAF (National Women’s Martial Arts Federation) Regional Training weekend at her dojo, I, of course, decided I had to be there! Arlene Limas made history in 1988 and now runs a very successful dojo called Power Kix located in Stafford, Virginia near Washington DC. She and other renowned martial artists from around the nation came together to offer a variety of seminars to give women and girls a taste of different disciplines — from karate and tae kwon do to broad sword and t’ai chi.
There were two choices for each session and 5-6 sessions each day. I chose the early morning workouts with Arlene Limas on both days and received wonderfully vigorous conditioning and weight-training sessions. Gia Wilson introduced us to the broad sword and we learned the first moves of a beautiful intricate Chinese kata form! Very cool! We also got to do swashbuckling partner drills in which we fought each other up and down the floor just like in the movies! It was a lot of fun!
I picked up some tips for developing intensity for kata with Lauren Wheeler and learned some self-acupressure techniques from Master Wasentha Young. I got to work on my sparring skills with Arlene Limas and learn more about proper nutrition from Trish Bare. Finally I practiced Warrier Yoga with Helen Yee using a staff (like a thin bo) to help stretch more in the poses and I practiced blindfold self defense with Kyoshi Zosia Gorbaty in which I learned to use my whole body to figure out the position of an attacker and how to respond. It was a blast trying new things and getting to know other martial artists from around the country! NWMAF will be organizing other regional trainings in the near future, so I highly recommend that women and girls try to attend one. You will love it! Here are the ones that have been scheduled so far:
- NWMAF is now co-sponsoring Shifu/Sensei Kore Grate’s FEMA 21st Anniversary Seminar in Minneapolis, MN on November 12-15, 2010 featuring Wushu, Kajukenbo and more!
- NWMAF annual Summer Special Training and Self-Defense Intructors’ Conference for women and girls will be held July 21-24, 2011 at SUNY Brockport, near Rochester, NY.