Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center
Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, 1220 West Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
About
Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center offers Karate for Kids, Youth & Teens - All Levels classes, Juniors classes, and empowerment self-defense, along with programs such as Camp Kokoro Summer Camp and Sunrise Beach Training. The program also offers Adult Karate Class, Karate for Adults, Adult White Belts, Adult Blue to Black Belts, Adult Black Belts, and All Levels - Conditioning classes. Karate for children is presented as a body, mind, and spirit practice, and kids learn age-appropriate skills for dealing with bullying and other forms of violence.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Hours of operation are Monday 3–8, Tuesday–Thursday noon–8, Friday noon–6, Saturday 9–3, and Sunday 9:30–noon, with classes offered on multiple days and times.
Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center teaches martial arts as a holistic fitness program to build strength, stamina, and spirit, with workouts that are described as vigorous and challenging for adults of all ages, physical abilities, and fitness levels. Immediate benefits named by the program include increased flexibility, balance, and muscle tone. Empowerment self-defense at Thousand Waves is rooted in mental, verbal, and physical skills that address violence in all its forms, and programs range from short workshops to in-depth courses for individuals and groups. The organization states that it encourages everyone’s participation regardless of racial or ethnic background, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or fitness level.
Thousand Waves began as the Women’s Gym, a feminist health club that offered training in Seido karate, and later also included Kajukenbo kung fu taught by Sarah Ludden. In 1984, founders and early leaders Nancy Lanoue and Jeannette Pappas moved from New York to Chicago, and in 1995 the organization began offering programming for all genders and adopted the Thousand Waves name. In 2001, it incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors, and by 2016 Lanoue and Ludden had transitioned out of their roles as Co-Executive Directors. The organization reports that it currently serves over 225 members of all ages and genders, and notes Ryan Libel as a longtime Director of Operations, instructor, and first non-founding Executive Director.
The stated mission of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center is to foster fitness, healing, empowerment, and peacemaking by promoting healthy minds and bodies through violence prevention, self-defense, and traditional martial arts programs for adults and children of all ages. Through partnerships with schools, other non-profits, businesses, and government agencies, Thousand Waves brings its violence prevention and personal empowerment tools to diverse communities.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Hours of operation are Monday 3–8, Tuesday–Thursday noon–8, Friday noon–6, Saturday 9–3, and Sunday 9:30–noon, with classes offered on multiple days and times.
Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center teaches martial arts as a holistic fitness program to build strength, stamina, and spirit, with workouts that are described as vigorous and challenging for adults of all ages, physical abilities, and fitness levels. Immediate benefits named by the program include increased flexibility, balance, and muscle tone. Empowerment self-defense at Thousand Waves is rooted in mental, verbal, and physical skills that address violence in all its forms, and programs range from short workshops to in-depth courses for individuals and groups. The organization states that it encourages everyone’s participation regardless of racial or ethnic background, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or fitness level.
Thousand Waves began as the Women’s Gym, a feminist health club that offered training in Seido karate, and later also included Kajukenbo kung fu taught by Sarah Ludden. In 1984, founders and early leaders Nancy Lanoue and Jeannette Pappas moved from New York to Chicago, and in 1995 the organization began offering programming for all genders and adopted the Thousand Waves name. In 2001, it incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors, and by 2016 Lanoue and Ludden had transitioned out of their roles as Co-Executive Directors. The organization reports that it currently serves over 225 members of all ages and genders, and notes Ryan Libel as a longtime Director of Operations, instructor, and first non-founding Executive Director.
The stated mission of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center is to foster fitness, healing, empowerment, and peacemaking by promoting healthy minds and bodies through violence prevention, self-defense, and traditional martial arts programs for adults and children of all ages. Through partnerships with schools, other non-profits, businesses, and government agencies, Thousand Waves brings its violence prevention and personal empowerment tools to diverse communities.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
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