 Full Circle
Written by Sensei Jaime Zimron, Aikido and Self Defense Instructor and co-founder of El Halev:
Salaam and Shalom from Israel - my third trip here this year, first with our Aiki Extensions Middle East Aikido Project (MAP), then playing golf in the 18th Maccabiah (international Jewish Olympics) and more MAP work - and now with a group of great women martial arts instructors who have come from the US, Canada and Germany for the "Bat Mitzvah" celebration of El HaLev, the Israel Women's Martial Arts Federation 12th anniversary.
So many thanks to Yudit Sidikman, the founder and director of El HaLev, for her total dedication to empowering women and girls, and for putting together this most unique and wonderful celebration trip. Yudit, Jill Shames and I remember so clearly when we first met at Special Training in the US in 1995 and talked about forming an Israel Women's Martial Arts Federation. How fun its been to think back on the very first one-day "mini-Special Training" we did in Jerusalem in 1997, that launched what they have built and grown into today's truly phenomenal El HaLev center and organization in Israel.
 
This is my only blog post from these very full 10 days here, as we've been so busy living it all and everyone else has so eloquently been describing their experiences on their first trip in this crazy incredible holy land. We've gone on never enough sleep but more laughs, punches, stretches, kiais, hugs, historical sites, spiritual vibrations, complex contradictions, middle eastern spices and tastes, soul-stirring trainings and people and new memories-every-moment to keep a girl going for a very good long time!
  
This "Maagal Otzmah" / Circle of Strength trip has had so many highlights each day. I've had the added personal pleasures of many circles in my life completing themselves and spiraling (aiki-style!) to next new places. Here's an attempt to convey some of these highlights
For more posts on The Circle Of Strength visit "ONCE MORE WITH HEART":
Fire Power and Fun
Chi Gong in the Cardo-What BLISS!
Circle of Strength
Givon Prison, Ramla, Israel
Kibbutz Ein Zurim, Lachan (At Risk Teens)
At the Crossroads of Jerusalem
Mini-Maagal HaOtzma PHOTOS!
Setting Personal Boundaries
North to the Kinneret (i.e Sea Of Galilee)
Instructor Volunteer Day
From the birth to the death & resurrection of Jesus in one day
Budo For Peace
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