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In the Community

Lynn Fabia Sensei has been active in the community teaching Aikido since the early 1990's and continues to find avenues of bringing Aikido to the community.  Below is a recap of organizations and schools with testimonies from participants:
 

• December 8, 2007 - Lynn Fabia presents a free Aikido For Women Introductory Class.  Some sample comments from participants include:
  Question:  What did you personally like about the class?
  Answers:
  I like the whole mental concept and using the least amount of force
  
  That it was free!  Relaxed.  Friendly.  The students were not intimidating.  They were helpful and open.
  
  Everything.
  
  I enjoyed the presentation and the demonstrations of the art of Aikido.  I was not familiar with what it was before today.  I was impressed with how little energy has to be used to be in control of a threatening situation.  I learned a lot in the class.
  
  I loved that it was interactive.  I'm surprised at how much I learned.  Also the students demo at the end was so exciting.  I especially loved hearing about how the mind moves the body.
  
  Particularly like the fact that you covered the philosophy of Aikido and allowed participants to practice moves (rather than just observing).  In this way the participants can feel the art of Aikido….experience it.
  
  Very informative, I really enjoyed the class, the teacher and the students.
  
  
  Question:  Please comment on the instructor's presentation -
  Excellent presentation.  She gave us a basic understanding of how and why Aikido should be used.    
  
  Lovely – Insightful.  Approachable.
  
  I really liked it.  It was very impressive.
  
  I think it was great.  The explanations and demonstrations were very helpful and easy to follow.  I was surprised that I was able to accomplish the moves that were shown today.  I also enjoyed the enthusiasm for Aikido that Lynn has.  She motivated me to want to continue learning Aikido.
  
  She was so inspirational.  I was surprised at how much I could accomplish.  I will definitely take the 8 week class.
  
  Great flow of presentation and sequencing of components from philosophy of Aikido to final demonstration by students.
  
  Very clear, detailed!   Very clever.
  
   
• November 13, 2007 -  Lynn Fabia presented insights from Aikido to a group from Attitudes and Attire in Dallas -
  Gayle G.:  I liked the calmess of the instructor's personality. I learned how to be positive and how to save my energy. I also learned that to find my future by thinking about what I'm doing right now.
  I liked the way she taught us about our inner self and how to relax and to be in control and how to get out of negtive surroundings.
  
   
• November 3-4, 2007 -  Al Gedicks, Chief Instructor, UWL Aikido Club -
  Lynn Fabia Sensei (6^th dan) taught an inspirational seminar to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Aikido Club on November 3 and 4, 2007. Her main theme of the weekend was that less is more. Through a variety of techniques, she emphasized that nage must be sensitive to the energy of uke's attack so that nage can use uke's energy to redirect and neutralize the attack. Whether we are beginners or more advanced students, there is a tendency to want to exert one's own energy in performing a technique, rather than allowing uke's energy to assist in the final technique. Fabia Sensei describes this as being sensitive to the "vibrations" given by an attacker. Many of us are so focused on doing the technique that we end up stopping uke's energy, rather than blending with that energy and being totally relaxed in the way we redirect that energy in a particular technique. She demonstrated how we can be more sensitive to this energy flow with a variety of both empty hand and weapons attacks. Both beginning and advanced students were appreciative of this new way of seeing how to practice techniques we already know with a new insight.
  
   
• early part of 2006 –  Lynn Fabia lectured and instructed a class in Fort Worth hosted by Brenda and Vern Jackson of the Battered Women's Foundation.   Ms. Jackson was very appreciated of the class instruction and principles to assist women in their new direction.
  
   
• late 1990's –  Aikido Seminars were held in Fort Worth and Weatherford, TX with the intent to share this art to the public.  Dr. Domingue, a Speech Professor gives his insight of the seminar:  "The instructor was disciplined and powerful.  Her instructions were clear.  As a speech professor, I found this instructor very articulate and a powerful presence as a speaker.  I was immediately able to utilize the principles from this workshop with my students.  The seminar was excellent."
  
  Fort Worth seminar attendee:  "The instructor was very clear and excellent.  She broke down the movements into steps as well as demonstrating the flow and repeated the movements enough times for us to grasp them.  This particular instructor had a peaceful presence that gave the class a good example.  I believe having a woman instructor provided a more sensitive presentation."
  
   
• April 1997 –  Dance for the Planet Festival, Dallas, TX.  Lynn Fabia and students performed in an Aikido demonstration.  The purpose was to bring the community together through dance and movement arts.
  
   
• May 1996 –  A workshop for women of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms.  During ATF's annual 3-day Support Staff Conference, Monica VanderMiller suggested martial arts.  Special Agent Lester Martz had a brief introduction to Aikido that made a lasting impression and recommended Aikido.  Mr. Martz, wrote a letter of appreciation and sent a Certificate of Recognition to Ms. Fabia for taking part in this special project.
  
  Valerie Rowden, Treasury Department gives this testimony of the workshop:  "The instructor demonstrated more grace and poise than I have ever seen in a woman.  She was always in control with what appeared as absolutely no effort on her part.  I expected to be extremely uncomfortable, but I felt extremely relaxed and still.  The workshop was exhilarating."
  
   
• March 1996 –  Lynn Fabia teaches I Have a Dream Workshop, a 4-day basic Aikido workshop for 10-12 year old "at risk" children in Fort Worth, TX.  This taste of Aikido was designed to give them a sense that constructive cooperation can prevail over what might at first seem insurmountable odds.
  
   
• 1995 –  TCU, Fort Worth, TX. - For several years, Lynn Fabia  instructs "seminars for women only" under the continuing education program. 
  
  Susan D. Roberts, Assistant Professor of Ballet and Modern Dance (TCU) says of Fabia:  "Role model, definitely.  There's a communion of spirit and intent that I think is channeled through women – an understanding of a different kind of courage, potential and power than men have.  Lynn's delivery (clear, direct, quietly insistent) couple with repetition is really effective.  Also – the message that "you can do this" was clearly communicated.  I am continually amazed and humbled in her presence."
  
  A participant from the TCU workshops:  "The instructor was definitely clear in her instructions as well as her descriptions of what each technique should look like, feel like, and accomplish.  She was also very relaxed and I feel because she was so relaxed, it was easier to learn these new techniques."
  
   
• May 1995 –  In Fort Worth, TX the Arthritis Foundation Sponsors Awareness Day at the Convention Center, among the lecturers Lynn Fabia introduced Aikido to those with limited mobility, focusing on the principles of Aikido.
  
   
• October 1993 –  A presentation of Aikido was given by Lynn Fabia hosted by the PTA of the Rockwall Intermediate School for 420 6^th graders with the theme toward "A Positive Option".