Press "Enter" to skip to content

Shinshii Janet Aalfs

Greetings! As one of the NWMAF founders, it has been my honor, privilege, and pleasure to serve as Chair and Secretary of the Board, co-founder of the NWMAF newsletter, founding member of the Empowerment Self-Defense Instructor Certification program, member of ARC/Anti-Racism Committee, a trainer at about 2 dozen Special Training events, and a participant at about 3 dozen ST's.

My work as founder and director of Lotus Peace Arts at Heron's Bridge/VWMA currently includes teaching 3 types of martial arts and empowerment self-protection skills and strategies. I'm an 8th degree black belt in Okinawan Karate, an 8th degree black in Modern Arnis under the late Professor Remy Presas, and a branch chief instructor of Jian Mei Internal Martial Arts under the late Grandmaster Wen Mei Yu (1936-2023).

I've been a featured presenter & instructor at numerous conferences locally, nationally, and internationally, and received a Leadership and Advocacy in the Arts Award from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to being an integrative arts educator, I perform weavings of spoken word, gesture, and dance that I call Poemotion. My poems and essays have been published widely, and my most recent book of poems is What the Dead Want Me to Know (Human Error Publishing, 2022).

Contact email

Email hidden; Javascript is required.

Location: Northampton, MA United States

I teachMartial Arts, Self Defense, NWMAF-Certified Empowerment Self Defense, Healing Arts

My focus is To help create and facilitate sites for revelation, healing, empowerment, integrity, holistic safety, creativity of all kinds, equity, inclusion, and joy -- especially for those of us whose voices have been historically marginalized.

One Cottage St. #319

Easthampton, MA,
01027

United States