“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
— World Health Organization, 1948
“The ‘I’ in illness is isolation, and the crucial letters in wellness are ‘we’.” — Author unknown, as quoted in Mimi Guarneri, The Heart Speaks: A Cardiologist Reveals the Secret Language of Healing
Why is Hiruko committed to a global movement for wellness and vitality?
Hiruko specializes in cultivating wellbeing. Our work extends from our homes, schools, and workplaces to the environment, and the rest of humanity. Our organization is tailored to support the cultivation of wellness and vitality at all stages in our life cycle. We begin our work with children because the practices taught will provide exponential benefits in the long run.
Children’s health and wellness are vital to the sustainability of our communities. Our concerns for children’s physical health can be seen in campaigns to address children’s welfare at a time when ailments such as asthma and diabetes are on the rise among the youngest members of the population. Mental and social wellbeing are of concern as stress in the lives of children increases. It is a priority at all levels, from families and schools to universities and government.
In 2005, Hiruko launched its first school for wellbeing in Los Altos, CA. The idea was to reconnect modern martial arts practices with traditions rooted in healing and community wellness, hence the Healing Martial Arts™ framework was created. We saw that while most people have become aware of what martial arts can do for individuals’ physical health and confidence, most have lost sight of the foundation of wellbeing for the whole community from which the philosophies and practices were developed.
At Hiruko, we believe that wellness for one truly must come from a place of wellness for all, and we know this requires an ongoing commitment. The study of Healing Martial Arts™ opens the door to a daily cycle of wellbeing and vitality when it is combined with the cultivation of awareness, compassion and responsibility for each other and our world. For these reasons, we have brought together a team who collectively provide expertise an all aspects of community wellness and education.
Our team is available for interviews on subjects ranging from children’s physical and social development to learning environments and community development:
