Preferred Title:

Shinshii

Began training: 1977

Styles/Arts:

Jian Mei Internal Martial Arts (Branch Chief Instructor)

Shuri-ryu Okinawan Karate (8th degree Black Belt)

Modern Arnis (8th degree Black Belt)

Hall of Fame Award:

2024 - 40 years

Other Awards:

Email:

Location:

Dojo:

Website:

Biography:

Shinshii Janet Aalfs has been an arts activist locally, nationally, and internationally for 45+ years. She is dedicated to helping create sites for revelation, creative understanding, and healing.

Poet laureate of Northampton, MA (2003-2005), Jian Mei branch chief instructor of Tai Chi and Qigong, 8th degree black belt in Shuri-ryu Karate and Modern Arnis Filipino Stick Arts, and empowerment self/collective protection educator, Janet is founder and director of Lotus Peace Arts at Heron's Bridge/Valley Women's Martial Arts, a non-profit community school since 1977.  

Janet is a recipient of the Special Lifetime Achievement Award, Connecticut Martial Arts Masters, 2011; the Leadership and Advocacy in the Arts Award, University of Massachusetts, 2013; the International Modern Arnis Black Belt Hall of Fame Pioneer Award, 2013; the National Women's Martial Arts Federation Founders Award, 2016; and prizes for her poetry.

Janet's writing has been widely published, and she enjoys performing poetic martial arts based movement pieces that she calls Poemotion©.