Recap of 2011: The Year of the Rabbit
- We began the year with a Holiday party at the Carlyle. It included a potluck and gift exchange.
- Kris Haight and I began Tai Chi classes in January of 2011 with Dr. Wang.
- Saman & Chris Moller taught special kumite classes in preparation for NW eliminations.
- We said goodbye to Toyo as he moved back to Japan for work and to raise his daughter.
- We were thankful that all our friends in Japan were safe after the tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011.
- We said goodbye to Sensei Woon-A-Tai and others as they formed another organization.
- Camp Brotherhood was successful with Senseis Larry Loreth, Kris Haight and Joe Dixon.
- Thanks to those who made the trip to Moscow Idaho for the Annual Palouse Tournament hosted by Tim and Scott.
- Thanks to Tina and Kirby who came from Kalispell to Moscow to support Tim and Scott at their Palouse Shiai. Matt Thomas who came from Spokane and John Jaffe who drove from Richland.
- We enjoyed a trip to Spokane to train at Sensei Thomas’ dojo followed by a shiai and celebration in Coeur d’Alene.
- Thanks to Sensei Haight who organized teaching coverage during Sensei Cline’s knee surgery, as well as Beth, Stephan, Beckie, Chris Moller, and Saman for covering my classes.
- Thank you Ashkaan, who brought Jake Magill to our dojo to train.
- Thanks to Mark Luthi for covering Saturday classes for Chee, as well as many of the Google classes in Kirkland!
- We trained with, and got to know, Vernon Owens who taught self-defense classes for the Instructor Trainees.
- Thank you to Bobbie and Monica for coming to Bellevue from Sumner to train at the I.T. classes; as well as Ken, Gloria, Bob Hagan, Rudy and Carl who came from Portland and Vancouver,WA., and Laurie and Matt Thomas who came from Spokane.
- Congratulations to Matt Thomas for starting a new club at Whitworth University.
- Welcome to Ray Bush, from Spokane, who has joined us and is hoping to start a new dojo at Fairchild Air Force Base.
- Congratulations to the entire Thie family, all 4 of whom tested successfully for their black belts this year.
- Congratulations to Cele for successfully testing for her Nidan in December!
- We welcomed Jumbo, Jay and Ben Cheeseman when they came to train in Bellevue over Labor Day weekend in preparation for the ISKF Nationals, where they took 2nd place in Men’s Team Kata.
- Congratulations to Chela on her D Judge’s rank; Beckie, Ken, Stephan on their C rank; and Matt Thomas on his B rank.
- NW Region did well at the Nationals in Denver:
Team Kata: Women -1st , Men -2nd, Youth-2nd
Team Kumite: Men-2nd (Jumbo, Jay, Ben, Mark Hindsbo, Marc Jaffray)
Indiv.Kata: Women – 1st Yvonne Clarabal; Men-1st Jumbo, 2nd Ben Cheeseman; Sr. Men – 1st Joji; Super Sr.Women- 3rd Gloria; Super Sr. Men- 1st Matt Thomas.
Indiv.Kumite: Men – 3rd Ben Cheeseman & Jay Banaria.
Youth Kata: Anmichelle Yabut, Meera Desai, Jesus Reyes, Tosh Sassin, Alyssa Mercado, Hunter Moses.
Youth Kumite: Anmichelle Yabut, Meera Desai, Jeremy Tulawon,Reana Tulawan, Lily Trouchhon
- Chris Moller and Aaron Con celebrated “decade birthdays” in 2011.
- Seven (7) “100 Club” members in 2011: Beth –132; Cele -124; Stephan -113; Bryan -112; Jaclyn -111; John Lane -109; Ashkaan -107.
- News Flash: ISKF Headquarters has invited the following people from our region to test for their next rank while at Master Camp this year – 2012: Mark Hindsbo, Jeff Pearce, Emil Valdes, Chee Chew, Saman Gharai – for Godan; Joji Mercado- for Rokudan; and Cathy Cline – for hachidan.