DOJO DYNAMICS CELEBRATES 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LOVE AND SUPPORT

HELLO TO OUR FRIENDS,

Who would have thought that a dream I had so many years ago would actually take off and still be running strong 30 years later?

In late 1995, I bought an old building downtown in Sandwich, IL, with a vision of opening a martial arts school—a place to grow, thrive, and build a home for the style of martial arts I had been studying. A style I started learning as a very young man with a great Sensei. A style that was about far more than just karate—it was also about family. A family that has remained with me for 48+ years and continues growing.

The tear-out started in October of 1995 as soon as I took possession of the building. Everything was removed, plans were drawn, walls were built, electric was wired, plumbing put in place—and even though it wasn’t finished, by late December we hosted a 50th birthday party for my Sensei, Tom Heriaud.

Three weeks later, we opened our doors for the very first time and hosted our first classes. All of this was done within three months by an almost entirely volunteer team.

We officially opened in January of 1996. Over the years, we’ve had a stable of kickboxers and many tournament competitors who have competed all over the Midwest. I’ve trained students as young as 3 and as old as 70. There have been many great experiences, classes, fun moments, and lessons taught—and many more to come.

We hope that during their time with us, students not only enjoyed themselves, but also learned life skills, self-defense, discipline, and respect that will follow them for the rest of their lives.

It has been a long 30 years filled with joy, happiness, rewards, and family. Along with that came sadness, loss, stress, and even the fear that all we had built would come to an end during a time called COVID.

Thank you to those who remained with us during the COVID crisis. I apologize that I haven’t sent you a thank-you before now, but our celebration of 30 years is a perfect time to reflect. These past six years have kept me busier than I ever could have imagined. My family and I helped in any way we could, to anyone who needed it.

I was able to participate in over 100 birthday parades by pulling a tiki float, bringing smiles to people of all ages. I ran in uniform for months carrying the American flag, trying to inspire not only myself but others—and I enjoyed it even more as my students ran along with me.

We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did—and certainly wouldn’t still be in business—if it weren’t for so many great people. Gifts were dropped off on our porch. People showed up to make sure we kept running, both at the dojo and at home. Some even kept paying for classes while we were closed.

A fundraising link was set up, and many people contributed so the dojo could reopen as soon as restrictions were lifted.

We also took in a very special friend, Master James “Jim” White, a friend and a Marine Brother I have known through our Martial Arts Family for 45+ years. He needed help getting back on his feet and making a plan for his future. So many people stepped up—building a ramp, equipping his house, moving, cooking meals, donating furniture, making phone calls, and simply coming to visit.

He passed on May 30, 2023. We set up a college scholarship fund, and donations can be made in memory of Jim at the James White Scholarship Fund if you would like to help keep it funded.

We lost the patriarch of our martial arts family, Grand Master Tom Heriaud, on June 6, 2022. In lieu of flowers, his family requested donations be made to our existing scholarship fund, so we renamed it the Tom Heriaud “No Student Left Behind” Scholarship Fund.

This fund covers all expenses from student needs to building needs and repairs.

We have recently set up a nonprofit called the Tom Heriaud Scholarship Fund, which allows donations to be tax-deductible. We will also be seeking corporate donations and applying for grants. We hope this nonprofit will open new doors for us.

If you can help with grant writing, please let us know.
If you choose to donate, you can visit our website at www.dojodynamics.com and click the Donate button at the top of this page.
You can also mail a check payable to Tom Heriaud Scholarship Fund to:

Dojo Dynamics
131 S. Wells St.
Sandwich, IL 60548

If it weren’t for all of the above, we wouldn’t be here today. We will never be able to repay all the kindness shown to us, but we will continue to pay it forward. I can only hope we continue to make Grand Master Heriaud, Master White, and all of you proud in the way we serve our community.

We would like to thank all of our black belts, brown belts, and their families for their time and dedication. Thank you to some of the very best students a Sensei could ever ask for. Thank you to all the Dojo Moms and Dads who step up when needed. And thank you to our little community and surrounding towns for supporting us.

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Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being not only our friends, but our family—and for supporting us so we can continue our mission.

From my family to yours,
God bless.

Master Scott Francis & Becky Francis

Zoe, Bailee and our Entire Dojo Family!