2021 Retreat Information
The retreat is a great opportunity to connect with your Seven Star community, deepen your knowledge of the art, challenge yourself, and have fun practicing Kajukenbo together! Whether you’ve been training throughout the pandemic, just coming back to training, or recently started on your training path, this retreat is for you. Let’s connect in nature and rediscover the joy of the art together. All belt levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. Classes are free. Attend where you can. We encourage you to attend all three days. Register for the retreat so that we can appropriately staff both the in-person and Zoom component of the retreat.
Schedule and Class Descriptions
Friday, June 4th: Seward Park Amphitheater
6pm-7:30pm—Opening Ceremony/Mindful Movement & Flow: Co-taught by Sifu Gina and Judith. Kick off the retreat with some movement and flow. We’ll start class with meditation, qigong, and mindful movement to get in the retreat mindset. Then we’ll grab some Arnis canes and have fun with weapons. Basics, flow drills, sinawalis and more! Whether you’ve never held an arnis cane, or you are ready to dig deeper in your weapons practice, we’ll have a little something for everyone. Space will be created for individuals to do partner work for practical application of techniques or for solo practice, as feels appropriate for you.
Firepit/Social Times: Seward Park Fire Pit 7:30pm. The Seven Star potluck returns! Bring a “finger food/individual serving size” type dish that is easy to share. Bring food for yourself if you feel uncomfortable sharing food. Bring a camp chair or something to sit on.
Saturday, June 5th: Magnuson Park
10am-Noon—Reground, Reconnect, Recreate: Co-taught by Sifu Allyson and Esther. Reconnect with Kajukenbo and your training community with safe, fun exercises including icebreakers, contact drills, and team building exercises. Fully vaccinated and eager to make contact with partners? You can do that! Not quite ready to be that close? That's ok too! Be ready to train hard and have fun in a class designed to remind us of the joy in our art.
Noon-1pm (BYO Lunch)
1pm-2:30pm—From Punch Attacks to Sparring: Reacquainting Yourself with Targets: Co-taught by Allison and Bonnie. This class is designed to help you regain precision targeting on a partner's body in the context of punch attacks and grab arts. Exercises will include finding targets on your own body and on partners for those who are comfortable doing so. Bonus sparring rounds may be included!
6:30pm: History Potluck/Storytelling (via Zoom). Celebrating our lineage and 40th anniversary—we’ll be sharing stories of folks from our lineage and community.
Sunday, June 6th: Volunteer Park Wading Pool
10am-Noon—Our History is Alive in You: Co-taught by Sigung Michelle and Dawn. At the heart of Kajukenbo is how the Art leverages the strengths of the individual Martial Artist while building on the wisdom of our founders, lineage, teachers and students. We’ll ease into our final Camp 2021 training class with gentle warm-ups, emphasizing mindfulness and joy in training. We’ll then turn to exploring the roots of Kajukenbo, highlighting the parts of our art influenced by each founder. Finally, in honor of Seven Star’s 40th anniversary, we’ll create individual short forms drawing inspiration from our founders, Sifus, each other and ourselves.
Getting There
Friday, June 4th: Seward Park Amphitheater. Park in the south parking lot and walk east on the park trail. At Shelter 2, walk up the steps, cross the upper trail loop, and enter the amphitheater. Follow the Seven Star signage! You should give yourself 10-15 minutes to park and walk to the amphitheater training location. See detailed map.
Saturday, June 5th: Magnuson Park. Park in the Magnuson Park Back Lot. Look for the Seven Star signage. You should see us from the parking lot (walk towards Lake Washington). If you cannot park in the back lot, park in the boat launch area, pass the boat launch, cross the pedestrian bridge and walk along the path for 2-3 minutes. You’ll see us! See detailed map.
Sunday, June 6th: Volunteer Park Wading Pool. If you don’t see us, look for us in the grassy area across the street.
Recommended Packing List
Your belt (if you have one)
Masks (bring a backup in case it gets sweaty)
Sunscreen, hat, layers, water bottle, snacks, lunch
Clothing layers if it rains
Training gear (if you own it i.e. sparring gear, mouth guard, shoes for training outside)
Arnis cane for Friday evening’s class (if you own one). We will have Seven Star’s supplies available. If you are taking class via Zoom, a kitchen utensil, wrapping paper tube, ruler, or chopstick will work.
Training journal and pen
Camp chair or towel/blanket for lunch or social times.
Fun stuff: Swimsuit, water shoes, beach towel, etc for swimming (weather permitting).
Photos From Previous Retreats (Vashon Island, WA)
2020 (No pictures. It was a pandemic, y’all. View Zoom recordings here)
Questions?
Contact: Sifu Gina at gina@sevenstarwomenskungfu.com.