The students of Spirit Forge Martial Arts are strongly encouraged to engage in community outreach. In fact, service in one’s community is a requirement for promotion to Sho Dan, 1st degree black belt, in Judo and Il Dan, 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo. The idea that martial arts practice benefits not only the individual practitioner but has a broader impact on society is embodied in a fundamental principle found in Judo, Jita Kyoei, often translated as, “mutual benefit,” or more broadly:
…this concept emphasizes that Judo may be used as a means to cultivate
the self and that the self thus cultivated may be used to contribute to the prosperity of others and society in general.”
-Kodokan New Japanese English dictionary of Judo
Currently, a number of Spirit Forge Martial Arts members are actively engaged in community outreach.
In the past two years, the Patel Family-Spirit Forge Martial Arts members Dr. Sheral Patel and her two teenage children Kaushal and Isha-dedicated over 300 hours to feeding the homeless community in Pittsburgh at the Light of Light Rescue Mission. The light of Light Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization located on Pittsburgh’s North Side that provides food, shelter and hope to men, women and children experiencing homelessness, poverty or addiction. Rising at 5:00 AM, the Patel family devotes at least two Saturday mornings each month preparing and serving meals at the shelter. Their service connects strongly to the core Judo principle, Jita Kyoei and the key Taekwondo tenet, Indomitable Spirit, commitment to 100% effort in all endeavors and full confidence in one’s beliefs.
Long-term Spirit Forge Martial Arts member and Taekwondo instructor Master Cornelia Moore has made providing Taekwondo and Self-Defense instruction to those who need it most her personal calling. Master Moore currently provides Taekwondo instruction to students of the Woodland Hills Elementary School in an after-school program, teaches women’s Self-Defense at the Rankin Community Center, teaches Taekwondo during the Community Center’s Summer Camp Program and is in the process of starting an adult Taekwondo class, also at the Rankin Community Center! Master Moore has also previously provided Self-Defense instruction to women’s shelters and a number of schools in the Pittsburgh area, including the Oakland Catholic High School, the Academy of Westinghouse and through the Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST) and well as numerous small church and family groups.