What I do
To-Shin Do® martial arts training leads to living life fully, fearlessly, and freely. Let us coach you in how to take command in the kinds of conflict that can surprise us in daily life. Based on ancient protector disciplines handed down by noble Japanese samurai and ninja warrior families, our training offers a very modern approach to self-defense and building the kind of inner strength that makes life work well. We call it adventure-based leadership development through martial arts training. Our staff is available to customize an empowerment seminar for your team, either at our site our yours. We offer training in self defense with special considerations for people who travel a lot or whose professions put them in risky situation (flight attendants, real estate agents, etc). Unleash Your Potential!
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My Story
When I was in college, there was a series of sexual assaults. Since I'm a night owl, I had concerns for my safety but I also knew I was at a cross-roads. Would I become a fearful person or a more capable one? I decided to enroll in my colleges self-defense class and I loved it. I loved the power of being fully in my body and I got a secret thrill at expressing my power. But I felt something important was missing because what I learned only worked against the stranger in the bushes. What about the drunk friend who crosses the line? Do I poke his eyes out or just take it? I believed there was a middle path not being explored in my college's class. In 1996, I moved to North Carolina and began searching for a new martial experience that fulfilled my desire for something more. I found the Chapel Hill Quest Center and loved my training. The elemental model for dealing with conflict, the emphasis on mental and physical strategy, and the scalability of the defenses won my heart. I knew within months of starting that I would open a dojo one day and so I started organizing my life to prepare. In 2002, I earned my black belt, turned 30, and got my Master's Degree in Recreation Administration. In 2004, I moved to Boulder, CO and decided to open a dojo and began teaching classes in my basement. In 2005, the official dojo opened. Today we've grown to 150 students and I plan to double this year.
- My passion:
- Helping women move through the stages of victim and survivor to warrior
- Why I started my business:
- Because the world needs more warriors committed to right action, right thought, wisdom, and compassion
- Why I joined the M3 RACE:
- Because the resources made available to me through Count Me In have helped me improve my business
- Best business advice:
- Life is too long for willpower
- My biggest challenge:
- Managing my energy
- What helps my business grow:
- Connecting with the people whose lives have been changed through this work
- How I balance work/life:
- Keeping sacred times and having a technology free evening at least once a month
- Within five years, my business will:
- Triple
- My professional affiliations:
- Boulder Chamber of Commerce
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My Daily Blog
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How Women Invented Health Care
October 2, 2009
In the early days of the home economics movement, women banded together to teach the science of nutrition, health safety, and empowerment. Although today we often give Home Ec the short shift, it’s foundation is truly as a powerhouse for health. These are the women who first educated women on the importance of cleaning to kill germs (not Mr. Clean but Mrs. clean). These are the women who got the word out about under-cooked meat or how to use spice, like salt and pepper, to bring out the flavors in food. They taught the science of canning and preserving and the critical role of the household manager (mom) in creating a safe and productive environment.In these days of skyrocketing health costs, fears of pandemics, and disparity of access based on geography and wealth, I can’t help but think of these early pioneers. Would they have waited for legislators to create a fair and equitable system or would they have found a new path? Why have we given our health over to the health care system, and how can we get it back?It is no surprise to me that powerhouse women like our First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, understand the critical importance of a physically healthy nation. They have the innate wisdom and education of caretakers. They recognize, as most of us do, that the current system is broken. Debate may rage about the best solution but anyone who truly examines the issue sees that we will cripple ourselves as a nation if we do not address this threat. Our current health care system is negatively discriminatory, over-priced, and controlled by the wrong interests.I think that we all need to start saying: “I am responsible for my health and well-being. I will cover when I cough or sneeze. I will not go to work when I am contagious (or out to dinner or shopping). I will eat food and drink that replenishes my body. I will be active. I will thrive.” With this attitude, we can take back our health, and our wealth.
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I Can't
September 3, 2009
We have a lot of folk wisdom in the dojo. "Keep blood in your skin sack". "It's always your turn". "Hard weapons=soft targets". But I think my favorite is the one we aren't allowed to say "I can't". If you say those words on the mat, you'll quickly find yourself doing push-ups but you'll also have an instructor right there to talk to you to phrase what you really mean. It could be that you think "This is really hard" or it could be "I have no idea what you mean". These two statements are very different and making the distinction between them will allow your training to progress. The words "I can't" stop all future growth; you just stop dead and now you start trying to prove how you really can't. You can. Maybe not today or even tomorrow but if you keep trying eventually you'll say "I did it"!
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Self Defense: A Woman's Perspective
April 28, 2009
I have taken an important step in the blogging world--I am a guest blogger on a blog! I wrote a blog on my feminine perspective on fighting and what draws me to the art I study. The blog and realizations contained within reference a women's entrepreneurship conference and sure enough it was the Charlotte, NC, Make Mine a Million $ Business conference. Many thanks to <b>Isisara Bey</b> for her wonderful exercise that has led to months of insight for me! <p><a href="http://www.stephenkhayes.com/2009/04/a-female-perspective-on-fighting/">Read it now!</a> </p>
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Cool Businesses I Like
April 15, 2009
Here's a list of cool businesses I like, some are M3 Racers and some are even owned by men!Stephen K. Hayes: Martial arts and meditation empowerment training. This man needs to be on Oprah! http://www.skhquest.com; blog http://stephenkhayes.comPropits: Get/Give Money with No Strings; A great way to monetize your blog, videos, or website. http://www.madpropits.comCranky Creative: Awesome M3 Racers who does photo wraps on any surface you can imagine. Check out their cool work at http://www.crakycreative.comBlue Leaf Creative: Awesome M3 Racers who does logo design and website development. http://www.blueleafcreative.com/
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Increase Safety, Decrease Fear with this Seminar (Take 2)
April 8, 2009
Mary Casey, owner and co-founder of Boulder Quest Center, is excited to announce a free women’s event in honor of Rape Crisis Awareness Month. On April 18, 2009, Mary and other teachers at the Boulder Quest Center are hosting Protect Yourself: Ladies Night. This free event is open to women interested in learning how to protect themselves in uncertain times. The workshop will teach scaleable responses for real-world applicability in defeating larger attackers, deescalating potential violence, and getting home safely. 3rd degree black belt Mary Casey leads this powerful seminar drawing on her years as a rape and family violence crisis volunteer, her adventures safely navigating scary locations throughout the world, and her 12 years exploring the secret arts of the ninja. Invite your friends and make this a memorable girl's night out! No martial experience needed -- just the desire to protect yourself and your loved ones.April 18, 20093pm to 5pmBoulder Quest Center1200 Yarmouth AveBoulder, CO(303) 440-3647www.boulderquest.com
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