SFMAI Kicks Off MADLEAPS To Support Martial Artists Who Dare To Make A Difference!

To Support the Scholarship, SFMAI Will Be Hosting a Fundraising Event
on March 7, 2010, Featuring Board Breaking, Japanese Sword Cutting and kata,
 demonstration, a Marathon-Fighting Event, and a Silent Auction

New York – January 25, 2010 – The Society for Martial Arts Instruction (SFMAI), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to offering high-quality instruction in the martial arts, is launching the Martial Artists Developing Leadership, Education, and Peace Scholarship (MADLEAPS). This scholarship is designed to support and empower martial artists who dare to make a difference in their lives, their communities, and their martial arts by sharing the warrior principles of integrity, leadership, self-discipline, respect, peace, and beauty.

The inspiration and first recipient of MADLEAPS is 11-year-old ikkyu, Logan McIntyre, who was nominated to attend the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. After submitting an essay that described the vital role martial arts has played in the development of his character, Logan was selected to represent his school at the conference this spring. Not only is he the youngest person to be accepted from his middle/high school, he was the only one! The following is an excerpt from Logan’s essay:

“As you go on in the many levels in karate, the things that you thought were hard become easier, because you learn to have a stronger mind and can meet the mental and physical challenges…. I think that karate has been very good for me and is why I am doing well in school…. I have learned to stay focused in class … and I like to be a role model for other kids by leading by example.”

To help subsidize the scholarship, SFMAI is hosting a fundraising event on Sunday, March 7, 2010, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at its headquarters. Events include board breaking, which is open to everyone, a Japanese sword cutting and kata demonstration, and an individually sponsored marathon-fighting event for martial artists only. At the same time, a silent auction will be held throughout the afternoon, with items and services including original artwork by Greta Pemberton, a week in Bridgehampton, private sessions with Movement Therapist Michelle Gay, and a tarot session with Enrique Enriquez.

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About the Society for Martial Arts Instruction

The Society for Martial Arts Instruction (SFMAI) is a not-for-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to offering high-quality instruction in the martial arts and related movement sciences. For more information, visit www.sfmai.org.

CONTACT:

Michelle Gay, mgay11@gmail.com