By Nicholette Marbley
Martial arts is a peaceful yet strenuous practice. Business owner, Tim Loomis, is a married father of 2 kids and has been practicing martial arts for over 50 years. January of this year marks 15 years that the dojo has been open. His hard work and dedication have paid off tremendously, and his spiritual and kind heart reflects his new “nonprofit” business approach. He has fundraisers and banquets to build scholarships for families in churches and who can’t afford lessons. I dive into Tim Loomis’ life and find unique and exciting experiences that influenced his life and his career. When I met with Tim, he was sitting in his office chair, finishing up some late minute paperwork for his upcoming Top Golf fundraiser (we’ll get to that a bit later).
Tim’s martial arts journey began when he was just eight years old. The martial arts class was advertised as an after-school program. ”I stepped on the mat for the first and bam! It was magic!” He was raised in South Euclid and trained there for 27 years, where he acquired a total of 10 black belts. Loomis is the oldest of three children and was raised by two loving parents. He describes it as the “perfect nuclear family.” In Loomis’ eyes, there are two crucial attributes gained from practicing martial arts “self-esteem and “confidence.” We got into how he stays calm and alert during the day. He shared that drinking a glass of water, stretching, and ending his day with mediation before dinner keeps his life in order.
And finally the good stuff. We got into what he offers at hid dojo. The four types of martial arts his dojo specialized in are Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Goshen, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Tai Chi. Loomis does not teach all the classes himself. He has acquired a staff of disciplined instructors with black belts that lead to multiple courses. The dojo offers children’s classes Monday and Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoons. The children’s classes focus on self-defense and how to deal with bullies. The courses include fun martial arts games. He went to brag about having a group of 3-year-olds that can meditate for an uninterrupted five minutes(Those kids must have the happiest parents in their neighborhoods). Now, on to the adult classes. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self-defense class is an intense version of the children’s defense class.
As you know, in the adult world, people have the potential to cause serious harm. The adult classes are more potent than the children’s classes. The types are in the evenings and run all Saturday. You can take Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes as well, but those focus more on the art form of martial arts. The dojo also offers family classes and conditioning or “bonus classes.” The family classes are Jiu-Jitsu based, and the conditioning classes, sometimes referred to as “exercise classes” are Tai Chi. The most extraordinary thing about Tai Chi is that it is a practice you can do well into your 90s. Loomis affirmed that the most thrilling aspect of doing what he does is witnessing his students grow and finish the challenging programs. Some black belt programs can take up to 8 years! The Silent Mind was not his first dojo. His confidence and never quit attitude is what kept him in business for 15 years.
The last thing he wanted to share is that he is hosting a Top Golf fundraiser on April 26th to raise money for his students. The fundraiser offers 3 hours of gold brunch for only $100! Another package offers golfing for a party of 6 and brunch for $600. If you do not wish to golf, and people watching is more your thing, brunch is just $40. Brunch includes scrambled eggs, waffles, hash browns, bacon, coffee, orange juice, and an array of other breakfast items. Loomis will also have food stands for pizza, sandwiches, alcohol, hot dogs, and other various things. The dojo owner will also be hosting a few Chinese raffles. You can register for the fundraiser through his website: thesilentmind.com using a credit card or sending a check, will suffice.
I encourage you to go check out this friendly, energetic staff and participle in the fundraiser. In the meantime, mark your calendars and schedule a class. You are guaranteed to have a good time and possibly find a new hobby.
Tim can be reached: info@thesilentmind.org (888)463-6179
