The Dojo Wisdom project.
Speak up & find your voice!
Entries due by May 11, 2026
What is your first and most powerful tool for defending yourself, getting your needs met, and discovering who you are?
Your VOICE.
Your Sensei and instructors at The Okinawan Karate are encouraging every student to share their VOICE. This is your chance to share something meaningful about yourself with (y)our dojo community!
Your essay or artwork can be about anything that matters to you, such as:
- A story that shaped who you are
- A lesson you learned from karate
- A skill you think everyone should learn
- A special object from a trip or family member
- Something you believe is important in life
There is only one rule – it must be about something very important to you. Tell us:
- Why it matters to you
- How it shaped your life
- What others can learn from it
- Why it might be valuable for the dojo community to understand
When we share our voices, we learn from each other and grow stronger together.
We are excited to hear your stories, learn from your ideas, and celebrate the voices that make our dojo community strong. Have fun, be honest, and let your voice be heard!
The details:
Ages 10 to Adults
- Typed or legibly handwritten essay
- Suggested length 1-2 pages, maximum 5 pages, no essay is too short!
- Refer to the prompts above for topic ideas
Ages 9 and under
- Typed or handwritten essay, as above, or…
- A picture or piece of art expressing your ideas
- Have an adult help write a short description of the ideas being expressed in the art
Tips:
A strong essay often includes:
- Introduction – Tell us what your essay is about.
- Your Story or Idea – Explain what happened or what you believe.
- Why It Matters – Tell us why this is important to you.
- What We Can Learn – What should others take away from your story?
- Conclusion – A great conclusion might include one powerful sentence that captures the lesson of your story; Something we can remember, something we can repeat, something that might even help someone else someday.
Qualities we are looking for:
- Powerful storytelling
- Inspiring lessons
- Relatable experiences
- Creative ideas
How to submit your entry:
- Create a title for your essay or artwork
- Complete the online entry form here
- Attach your submission to the online form, or…
- Indicate you will be turning your entry in to one of the dojos (labeled with name and title!)
Submission deadline is May 11, 2026.
What happens next?
The most thoughtful and inspiring entries will be displayed in the dojos. Students, families, and instructors will be encouraged to read and reflect on them to learn more about the incredible people in our community!
The goal of this project is not competition — the goal is to express our voices, and hear the voices of others in the dojo community.
That being said, entries/authors/artists exhibiting stand-out qualities will be given extra recognition! Examples of this may include:
- Invitation to read aloud or present artwork during a dojo event or classes
- Private karate lesson with Sensei
- Pizza party
- Pro shop gift certificate