March 2020 – Enso Karate

We have retired this page as of May 15, 2022.

This page contains a log of all the weekly email messages we have sent to our enrolled students since March 11, 2020, when the Chicago area began practicing strict social distancing.

Message sent on May 15, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

Congratulate yourselves on a week of training in a very hot and muggy environment — everyone was sweating before they even began moving and stayed strong and motivated throughout some tough workouts. Keep it up! (And, remember your water!)

COVID SAFETY UPDATE
Over the last week, we’ve had three reported cases of COVID-19 at the Chicago dojo. In accordance with our procedures, we communicated these cases to all those who were present with the individuals who tested positive. We are also sharing this information now with our larger community in the spirit of transparency and to offer some context around these numbers:

Including these three cases, we have had a total of 10 positive reported cases at both dojo locations since opening our new South Loop location in December 2021.
This 5-month timeframe spanned the intense omicron outbreak around the New Year.
Currently, Enso Karate has approximately 150 students.

Given these variables, we are grateful our numbers have remained as low as they have, and we have decided to hold steady on our guidelines to remain aligned with the City of Chicago. In other words, there are no changes to our current COVID safety protocols at this time. As a reminder, here are the practices we will continue:

Not currently required:
- Masks
- Proof of vaccine
- Advance class registration
Currently required:
- Staying home if you are feeling sick
- Reporting positive cases to us so we can conduct contact tracing steps to all who may have been exposed (email us at info@ensokarate.com to report a positive case)
- Being welcoming and affirming of all those who choose to take additional precautions, such as wearing a mask or training online

We are very much keeping an eye on our own internal data, external public health data, and input from Enso families to constantly reevaluate our protocols and consider changes. We welcome you to contact us at any time if you have questions or suggestions. Your experience at Enso is important to us!

KYU BELT EXAM: JUNE 18
We’re happy to announce that our next kyu exam to provide students with an opportunity to earn their next rank is coming up on Saturday, June 18! Exams will be offered both in-person and online, but we’ll use one set of exam requirements. The eligibility list will be shared soon!

NEW “KATA BUNKAI” CLASS
Would you like to learn more about the application of techniques you learn in kata? A new class option, Kata Bunkai, will be offered on Thursday nights at 7:30pm at the Chicago dojo starting Thursday, May 19. It will be taught by Sensei Marco Martina. This class focuses on kata “bunkai,” or the “analysis” of kata, and involves understanding and practicing the application of techniques in a safe way. This class is open to adults and youth ages 14 and above, orange belts and up. Pre-registration is not required; however, to help get the class started, please submit this quick interest form.

CHICAGO DOJO ENTRANCE
We are happy to report that the entrance is now fixed!! You can now enter through Harrison Street with the call box as usual. Thank you for your patience as we waited for parts to come in and repairs to be made. Thanks especially to Yuma and Sensei Maxine for their extra efforts to help students access the dojo quickly and safely from the alley entrance.

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY REMINDER
In honor of Memorial Day, karate classes will not be held Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30. We encourage students to take advantage of our flexible online and in-person schedule to attend additional classes during the other weeks of May.

We hope to see all of your at the dojo or online!

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on May 8, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

This Mother’s Day, we are especially thankful for the moms and women in our lives, and those we hold in our memories. For all the mothers and the mothers-at-heart, thank you for your care and kindness!

We also want to say WELCOME to students who have recently started training with us. If you see some new faces around, please be sure to say hello and introduce yourselves.

NEW CLASS OFFERING!
Would you like to learn more about the application of techniques you learn in kata? We are excited to announce a new class option, Kata Bunkai, which will be offered on Thursday nights at 7:30pm at the Chicago dojo starting next Thursday, May 19 by Sensei Marco Martina. This class focuses on kata “bunkai,” or the “analysis” of kata and involves understanding and practicing the application of techniques in a safe way. This class is open to adults and youth ages 14 and above, orange belts and up. Pre-registration is not required; however, to help get the class started, please submit this quick interest form.

CHICAGO DOJO ENTRANCE
The call box at the front entrance on Harrison St. is not yet working, so please continue to call up when you arrive.

We hope to see all of your at the dojo or online!

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on April 24, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

We are loving the great energy in classes! Let’s keep it up as we close out another month this week!

Chicago Dojo Front Entrance Update: We are still waiting for the Chicago dojo front entrance to be fixed as the building awaits the arrival of some custom parts. So, we will need to continue entering through the alley entrance for this week. Thank you for your patience! Here are the instructions for entering the Chicago dojo:

Enter through the alleyway just east of the usual entrance on Harrison.
About 50 feet down, you will see a large loading dock, with a doorway to its left.
A member of Enso’s staff will be present to let you in a doorway, which will lead back to our usual elevator. You can call the dojo phone number if a staff member is not present: 312-877-5504

We strongly recommend that parents accompany their children to this entrance to make sure they meet up with a member of Enso’s staff.

Good luck to athletes competing next weekend, both at home and abroad! Next weekend, there are three big events happening for some Enso students. Maile, Mateo, and Milo are heading to Limassol, Cyprus to compete in the WKF K1 Youth League tournament. Sensei Jay and Sensei Denise will be coaching U.S. athletes at the event. Please wish them all safe travels when you see them!

Meanwhile, the rest of the Enso Elite Karate Team are headed to AAU Karate’s Regional Championships in Grayslake, IL, where they expect to face fierce competition in one of the best-attended regional tournaments in recent history. Although it’s a regional tournament, athletes from all over the nation are expected to descend upon Illinois for the event, which has been coupled with a “team trials” event the next day. The trials provide an opportunity for athletes to qualify for AAU Karate’s National Team, which will compete at the WUKF World Championships taking place later this summer in Florida — the first time that tournament has been hosted in the United States. Good luck to all!

Schedule this week: Although we will be traveling out of the country this week, a full slate of classes is still on in both Chicago and Oak Park! That’s possible due to the stellar crew of Sensei we have here at Enso. Big thank yous and much appreciation go out to Sensei Saul, Sensei Sam, Sensei Marco, Sensei Kurt, Sensei Rahmil, Sensei Katie, Sensei AJ, and Sensei Christa, Sempai Maxine, Sempai Ryan, Sempai Lucas, and Yuma, for working so hard to keep our dojo going strong.

May Tuition: Please remember that tuition is due/processed by auto-renew on the 1st of the month. If you’re not set to auto-enroll (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change your tuition option, please email info@ensokarate.com by April 30 at 9pm. If you have friends or family interested in giving karate at Enso a try, you can direct them here where they can learn about trial class opportunities available at the beginning of May.

Have a great week, all!

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on April 17, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

For those celebrating, we wish you and your loved ones joyful and peaceful holidays. We are grateful to be part of a dojo whose members come from many different traditions.

We learned from our landlord that it will take about a week or so longer to get the Chicago dojo front entrance fixed. So, we will need to continue entering through the alley entrance for this week. Thank you for your patience as we wait for the repair, hopefully soon. Here are the instructions for entering the Chicago dojo.

Temporary Alleyway Entrance Instructions:
Enter through the alleyway just east of the usual entrance on Harrison.
About 50 feet down, you will see a large loading dock, with a doorway to its left.
A member of Enso’s staff will be present to let you in a doorway, which will lead back to our usual elevator. You can call the dojo phone number if a staff member is not present: 312-877-5504
We strongly recommend that parents accompany their children to this entrance to make sure they meet up with a member of Enso’s staff.

We look forward to seeing you this week, in-person or online!

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on April 10, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

Over the weekend, a car accident severely damaged the front entrance to the Chicago dojo, rendering the doorway completely inoperable. The building managers are working as quickly as possible to make repairs, but in the meantime we are preparing to possibly enter through the side alleyway for Monday’s classes. Our tentative plan is outlined below, but please keep your eyes open for another possible email from us during the day on Monday in case plans change.

Tentative & Temporary Alleyway Entrance Instructions:

Enter through the alleyway just east of the usual entrance on Harrison.
About 50 feet down, you will see a large loading dock, with a doorway to its left.
A member of Enso’s staff will be present to let you in a doorway, which will lead back to our usual elevator.
If they aren’t there, that means they just walked some students to the elevator and will be back momentarily. We will try to post a sign so you know you are in the right place.
Since this is an alleyway and a new process, we strongly recommend that parents accompany their children to this entrance to make sure they meet up with a member of Enso’s staff.
The dojo phone number is: 312-877-5504

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we work through this unexpected issue! As you know, our students’ safety is always our #1 priority, and we will be working hard to make this process as smooth and safe as possible.

Chicago Blast Karate Invitational is a Wrap!
Were it not for this unfortunate accident, we would have started this week’s email with… CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU to all of our athletes, parents, volunteers, coaches, and referees who helped make today’s event a HUGE SUCCESS. Our tournament ran on time and lots of fun was had by all due to the HARD WORK of a large number of people who lugged equipment, ran rings, ran staging, kept our volunteer station tidy, welcomed guests, solved problems, provided medical care, and so many more functions that are necessary for a fun, safe tournament with over 220 athletes from all across the Midwest. We are always so proud of the number of folks in the Enso community who show up to participate and spectate and who bring the very best of skill and sportsmanship to the tournament floor. We are proud of each and every one of you, and we’re very grateful for this amazing community.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on April 3, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

As we continue full-steam into April, we are focused on our tournament, which is NEXT WEEKEND! We are also hosting trial classes for those who may be interested in trying out karate at Enso for the first time — please see below for details and be sure to tell your friends!

Chicago Blast Karate Invitational — Deadlines, Volunteering, and More!
Enso is co-hosting this event in Hyde Park on Sunday, April 10th, and we’d really love to see EVERY member of our community participate in some way — as a competitor, referee, volunteer, or spectator. Please note:

To compete, late registration is still open until April 8 (that’s this Friday!): There are events designed for students of all ranks, ages, and abilities. This is a great time to give competition a try with so many friendly faces around! Register today.

To volunteer, email us at info@ensokarate.com ASAP!: Successful tournaments require many lending hands. We are looking for volunteers (who can be students, parents, or friends of Enso!) to help set-up, check-in participants, keep score, keep time, and many other tasks that will help this special event run smoothly. Volunteers will get free admission to the tournament, and we’ll train you up in everything you need to know.

To referee (Black belts ages 15+), email us at info@ensokarate.com ASAP!: If you’re interested in helping referee this tournament, we’d love to have you! We will provide training on the rules and procedures prior to the tournament day. Less experienced referees will be paired with senior refs to ensure a smooth and fair experience for all.

Special Trial Class Opportunities in April!
Please tell your friends, neighbors, and followers about this special “trial class” opportunity at Enso. We don’t typically offer trials due to the time-intensive nature of running them, but we know there is increased interest in our new schedule and facility. That’s why we’re offering this opportunity — for a $20 fee — to give Enso Karate a try for a full instructor-led class during one of the following times:

Mon, April 3, 5:30-:6:30pm
Fri. April 8, 5:30-:6:30pm
Sat. April 9, 9:30am-10:30am

Participants should be adults or youth aged 6+, and they can wear comfortable workout clothes to the session. To register, they should create an account in our system and then pay for the trial class. Or, just they can just email info@ensokarate.com to let us know when to expect them!

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on March 28, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

First, congratulations are in order for our Enso Elite Tournament Team, which competed in the 2022 AAU Karate Central District Championships this past weekend (that’s why Dojo Weekly is a bit late — sorry!). As always, our athletes gave it their best and showed strong spirit and sportsmanship, and our parents and coaches were incredibly supportive. See below for photos and more details on individual results. Now, on to this week’s top announcements.

Chicago Blast Karate Invitational — Deadlines, Volunteering, and More!
Speaking of tournaments, Enso is co-hosting this event in Hyde Park on Sunday, April 10th, and we’d really love to see EVERY member of our community participate in some way — as a competitor, referee, volunteer, or spectator. Please note:

To compete, register by March 31 (that’s this Thursday!): Though we will allow registrations through April 8 for an additional fee, we encourage you to register this week so you avoid late fees and have more time to prepare. Remember: There are events designed for students of all ranks, ages, and abilities. This is a great time to give competition a try with so many friendly faces around! Register today.

We need volunteers (and there’s a training meeting this Friday!): Successful tournaments require many lending hands. We are looking for volunteers (who can be students, parents, or friends of Enso!) to help set-up, check-in participants, keep score, keep time, and many other tasks that will help this special event run smoothly. Volunteers will get free admission to the tournament, and we’ll train you up in everything you need to know. A volunteers meeting will be held on Friday, April 1 at 8:00pm at the Chicago dojo, and also via Zoom. Sign-Up to Volunteer

We also need referees (Black belts ages 15+): If you’re interested in helping referee this tournament, we’d love to have you! We will provide training on the rules and procedures prior to the tournament day. Less experienced referees will be paired with senior refs to ensure a smooth and fair experience for all. Sign-Up to Referee

Special Trial Class Opportunities in April!
Please tell your friends, neighbors, and followers about this special “trial class” opportunity at Enso. We don’t typically offer trials due to the time-intensive nature of running them, but we know there is increased interest in our new schedule and facility. That’s why we’re offering this opportunity — for a $20 fee — to give Enso Karate a try for a full instructor-led class during one of the following times:

Fri. April 1, 5:30-:6:30pm
Sat. April 2, 9:30am-10:30am
Mon, April 3, 5:30-:6:30pm
Fri. April 8, 5:30-:6:30pm
Sat. April 9, 9:30am-10:30am

April Tuition
Please remember that tuition is due/processed by auto-renew on the 1st of the month. If you’re not set to auto-enroll (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change your tuition option, please email info@ensokarate.com by March 30 at 9pm.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on March 20, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

For the first time in what feels like a long while, we don’t have any new policy or schedule changes to announce! Having settled into our new dojo home in the South Loop, and with the COVID situation more stabilized, we’re really finding our groove. (Fingers crossed that it stays that way!)

Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re not busy! The Enso Elite team is officially kicking off its season with the Illinois Districts tournament next weekend, and we are gearing up to host the Chicago Blast Karate Invitational in mid-April. We’ll also be in touch soon with some special community events planned for Spring and Summer.

In the meantime, here are some announcements and reminders for this week:

OAK PARK – SPECIAL SESSION THIS TUESDAY: In the Oak Park dojo, we will be holding an extra Beginner’s class on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-7:30pm. This is to make sure you have a full slate of classes in March, despite missing a class during our Spring Break.

ONLINE – SPECIAL KATA SESSIONS THIS FRIDAY: We are holding two special 30-minute sessions on Zoom, focusing on Heian Godan (6:15-6:45pm) and Jion (6:45-7:15pm). These sessions are highly encouraged for students who must focus on these kata for their belt exams.

APRIL TUITION: Please remember that tuition is due/processed by auto-renew on the 1st of the month. If you’re not set to auto-enroll (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change your tuition option, please email info@ensokarate.com by no later than March 29 at 9pm.

CHICAGO BLAST KARATE INVITATIONAL: Enso is co-hosting this event in Hyde Park on Sunday, April 10th. The tournament is open to ALL students — all ages, all ranks, and all abilities. We encourage everyone at Enso who knows the first kata to consider participating so you can experience the fun and challenge of competition on your home court — with Enso’s instructors, students, and families there to cheer you on! The registration deadline is March 31st. More details below. More details are on our special tournament website.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on March 13, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

Please remember that Enso’s 4-day Spring Break will be this Wednesday-Saturday, March 16-19. No classes will be held at the Chicago or Oak Park dojos during that time. We encourage students to take advantage of our flexible online and in-person schedules to attend additional classes during the other weeks of March.

A NOTE FOR OAK PARK BEGINNERS
In the Oak Park dojo, we will be holding an extra Beginner’s class on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-7:30pm. This is to make sure you have a full slate of classes in March, despite missing a class during our Spring Break.

ENSO IS HOSTING THE CHICAGO BLAST KARATE INVITATIONAL
We want to be sure everyone is aware of our upcoming tournament, the Chicago Blast Karate Invitational, which will be co-hosted by Enso Karate and our friends at Adamson’s Karate Studios. This event will be held in Hyde Park on Sunday, April 10 — just about a month away! The registration deadline is March 31, so be sure to check out the tournament website and ask us any questions you may have about preparing to compete.

This tournament is open to ALL students — all ages, all ranks, and all abilities. We encourage everyone at Enso who knows the first kata to consider participating so you can experience the fun and challenge of competition on your home court — with Enso’s instructors, students, and families there to cheer you on.

If you’re new or less experienced in competition, we also encourage you to attend our next Tournament Prep Session, which will be Sunday, March 20, from 11am-12pm at the Chicago dojo. This session will help prepare students for the rules and etiquette that are unique to the tournament experience. The cost is $20. Register here.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on March 6, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

We want to be sure everyone is aware of our upcoming tournament, the Chicago Blast Karate Invitational, which will be co-hosted by Enso Karate and our friends at Adamson’s Karate Studios. This event will be held in Hyde Park on Sunday, April 10 — just about a month away! The registration deadline is March 31, so be sure to check out the tournament website and ask us any questions you may have about preparing to compete!

SCHEDULE REMINDERS
In addition to our regular schedule of classes this month, we wanted to highlight these special events and break reminders:

Friday, March 11 – Special Sessions for Heian Yondan (6:15pm-6:45pm) & Bassai Dai (6:45pm-7:15pm): These 30-minute Zoom sessions are highly encouraged for students who must focus on these kata for their belt exams. Preregistration not required.

Friday, March 11 (7:30pm) – Make-Up Exams will be held in-person at the Chicago dojo. Register here.

March 16-19 – Enso’s Spring Break: We will not hold any classes in Chicago, Oak Park, or online. We encourage students to take advantage of our flexible online and in-person schedules to attend additional classes during the other weeks of March.

March 22 – Additional Beginner’s class. In the Oak Park dojo, we will be holding an extra Beginner’s class on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-7:30pm.

March 20 (11am-Noon) – Tournament Prep Session: Enso is hosting a tournament prep session for students who are new or less experienced in competition. This session will help prepare students for the rules and etiquette that are unique to the tournament experience. The cost is $20. Register here.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on Feb. 27, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

Spring is in the air! Please read below for important reminders about our March schedule and be advised that our new password for the Online Dojo is: springtime.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL UPDATE
As we’re sure you’ve seen in the news, the State of Illinois and City of Chicago have recently changed their COVID-19 mitigation guidance. As such, we have updated our own procedures to align with those recommendations effective on Monday, February 28, 2022. The latest guidance is summarized below and is always available at www.ensokarate.com/covid19.

GET YOUR EXAM RESULTS!
If you haven’t already, please use this form to let us know if you plan to receive your belt and certificate in-person or if you need us to mail them to you.

MAKE-UP EXAM
The make-up exam is scheduled for Friday, March 11 and will be held in-person at the Chicago dojo. Register here.

MARCH TUITION
Please be reminded that tuition is due/processed by auto-renew on the 1st of the month. If you’re not set to auto-enroll (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change your tuition option, please email info@ensokarate.com by no later than February 27 at 9pm.

MARCH SCHEDULE
In addition to our regular schedule of classes this month, we wanted to highlight these special training requests and break reminders:

Hybrid Advanced Kata Classes – Feedback Request: We experimented with a hybrid class model (concurrent online + in-person) during February, and we’d love to hear your feedback! Please email info@ensokarate.com to let us know if you’d like this training option to continue.

Online Kata Sessions: Sensei Denise will lead 30-minute sessions on Zoom, focusing on specific kata. These sessions are highly encouraged for students who must focus on these kata for their belt exams. Preregistration not required.
- Fri. March 11 – 6:15pm-6:45pm Heian Yondan
- Fri. March 11 – 6:45pm-7:15pm Bassai Dai
- Fri. March 25 – 6:15pm-6:45pm Heian Godan
- Fri. March 25 – 6:45pm-7:15pm Jion
Tournament Prep Sessions – In preparation for the Chicago Blast Karate Invitational that Enso is hosting in April, we are hosting two tournament prep sessions for students who are new or less experienced in competition. These sessions will help prepare students for the rules and etiquette that are unique to the tournament experience. The cost to attend is $20 per session, and they will be held on Sunday, March 6 and Sunday, March 20 from 11am-12pm. Register here.
Spring Break – Enso’s Spring Break will be from March 16-19, when we will not hold any classes in Chicago, Oak Park, or online. We encourage students to take advantage of our flexible online and in-person schedules to attend additional classes during the other weeks of March. In the Oak Park dojo, we will be holding an extra Beginner’s class on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-7:30pm.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on Feb. 20, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

This weekend we hosted our first-ever kyu exams at our new dojo location in Chicago, and it was a real pleasure to feel everyone’s energy and a blast to greet many families who were visiting us for the first time. We also hosted online exams earlier the same day, and we were equally impressed by the spirit that those students projected through their screens — no easy feat.

Without further ado, here are the exam results! We plan to award belts and certificates this week. Please use this form to let us know if you plan to receive your belt and certificate in-person or if you need us to mail them to you. The make-up exam is scheduled for March 11 and will be held in-person at the Chicago dojo. Register here.

Exams are a time for students to demonstrate karate skills and knowledge, physical development, and mental fortitude. It’s also an opportunity to recognize progress and set goals. And as we often say, earning a higher rank also means more responsibility to be a good example and help others in the dojo.

As always, we so appreciate the dedication and hard work of all of our students, and the families who support them in their karate journey. We also want to thank the instructors, who spent the day judging exams and reflecting on our instruction.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President’s Day – Yes, classes are on for tomorrow!!

Advanced Kata Class – We are experimenting with a hybrid class model (concurrent online + in-person) for this week’s advanced kata class, which is only open to Brown and Black belts and which will take place on Saturday from 10:30-11:30am. If you normally can’t make it to the Chicago dojo for this class, please do try to join us online and let us know how this class structure works for you.

March – As we approach March, please be reminded that tuition is due/processed by auto-renew on the 1st of the month. If you’re not set to auto-enroll (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change your tuition option, please email info@ensokarate.com by no later than February 27.

Spring Break – Enso’s Spring Break will be from March 16-19, when we will not hold any classes in Chicago, Oak Park, or online. We encourage students to take advantage of our flexible online and in-person schedules to attend additional classes during the other weeks of March. Stay tuned for announcements about additional training opportunities in the weeks ahead as well.

COVID-19 – We continue to follow official guidance from the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Village of Oak Park, and Cook County regarding COVID protocols. There are no changes at this time, but we wanted to remind you that our current COVID protocols can always be referenced here. We still expect all students and guests to wear masks, share proof of vaccination, and register in advance for in-person classes.

As always, thanks for being part of our dojo community and never hesitate to reach out to us with questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,
Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on Feb. 13, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate all the people we love — our partners, our families, our friends, and all those in our dojo community. We hope to see you at the online or Chicago classes tomorrow as we celebrate our shared love of karate!

This week we have Belt Exams on Saturday, February 19th. Here is the modified schedule:

Classes:
9:30-10:30 AM – Youth & Adults: Beginners (Chicago dojo)
9:30-10:30am – Youth and Adult All Levels (Chicago dojo)
9:30-10:15am – Youth and Adult All Levels (Online)
Exams:
10:30-11:45am – ONLINE BELT EXAM
12:00-2:00pm – IN-PERSON BELT EXAM (Chicago dojo)

We are working on the arrival/log-in times for examinees and expect to send that information out early this week.

Have a LOVE-ly week. See you in-person or online!

Sensei Jay & Sensei Denise

Message sent on Feb. 6, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

We were thrilled to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration at Navy Pier this past weekend, where a small handful of Enso students performed three demonstrations in front of hundreds of guests. Happy year of the tiger, everyone!

We also want to give a big welcome to new students who started their karate journeys with us recently – WELCOME! If you see some new faces in the dojo, be sure to introduce yourselves!

As we continue into February, please remember these important dates and special opportunities.

Feb. 19 – Special Schedule for Kyu Belt Exams: On Feb. 19, our schedule will be as follows:

Classes:
9:30-10:30 AM – Youth & Adults: Beginners (Chicago dojo)
9:30-10:30am – Youth and Adult All Levels (Chicago dojo)
9:30-10:15am – Youth and Adult All Levels (Online)
~~10:30am-11:30 Advanced Kata~~ CANCELLED
~~11:30-12:30 Adult All Levels~~ CANCELLED
Exams:
10:30-11:45am – ONLINE BELT EXAM
12:00-2:00pm – IN-PERSON BELT EXAM (Chicago dojo)
Links:
Check the eligibility list
Register for either the online or in-person exam (same link)
Review the exam requirements, which are the same for both online and in-person exams right now
If you will test online, see our guidelines for Online Exams
For examinees: Please note that we will schedule your arrival/log-in times after we know which test you prefer — online or in-person. Please register by Sat. Feb. 12 (or let us know if you do NOT plan to test) so that we can set and communicate the exact exam times.

New Training Option to Try: Hybrid Classes. We are experimenting with some new training formats and options this month. As we work out the kinks, we’ll be offering these courses free of charge for now. So, get in an extra training session with us and weigh in on how this works! Depending on interest and feedback, we may continue these options for some time into the future. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Hybrid Classes: These classes will be taught to online and in-person audiences concurrently. Pre-registration required for in-person.
Sat. Feb. 12. Advanced Kata Class. 10:30am-11:30am.
Sat. Feb. 26. Advanced Kata Class. 10:30am-11:30am.

Private Sessions: Several students have asked us to create some one-on-one training options. These private sessions can be offered either online or in-person, for either 30 or 60 minutes, for a fee. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us.

Enso Elite Tournament Team & Competition Opportunities for All: Interested in getting into karate competitions this year? We have the Enso Elite 2022 season lined up and are inviting all Enso Karate students to consider joining the team. Go to this page to learn more and register for the team. If committing to the team doesn’t work for you, there are other opportunities to compete. We are happy to answer any questions about this – just let us know.

Wishing you a great week – we’ll see you in-person or online!

Sensei Jay and Sensei Denise

Message sent on Jan. 30, 2022

Dear Enso Karate Students and Families,

Whether you are taking classes from home, training at the Chicago or Oak Park dojos, viewing video tutorials in our Online Dojo (password: WinterIsComing), or all of the above, we are happy to see students working hard and staying connected.

Here are important reminders for this week and month ahead:

Feb. 1 – Auto-Renew Payments/Tuition Due: If you’re not set to enroll automatically (which comes with a $5/month discount!), or if you’d like to change

Archive for month: March, 2020

We have retired this page as of May 15, 2022.

This page contains a log of all the weekly email messages we have sent to our enrolled students since March 11, 2020, when the Chicago area began practicing strict social distancing.