Zanshin Karate

01/09/2026

2026 training has begun— and our dojo is full of energy, focus, and new beginnings. 💥

At Zanshin, we’re more than a karate school. We’re a place where kids grow stronger, more confident, and more connected— one class at a time.

Whether you're stepping onto the mats for the first time or picking up where you left off, there’s still time to join the Zanshin family.

You’re right on time.🥋💙

Karate Classes for Awesome Students Join our Martial Arts Family! Zanshin Karate offers engaging, fun, practical martial arts training for everyone in your family Zanshin Karate is a martial arts club in Chatham, Ontario.Our classes build stronger individuals, both in body and in mind. Zanshin stude...

11/26/2025

I love this crew. 💙

Not all are pictured, but those not in the photo should feel the love too. This is a bunch of the students from our Intermediate Class last night.

At this stage, they have been learning martial arts with Zanshin Dojo for several years. You might not know it, and they might not either, but they are quietly becoming FORMIDABLE martial artists and FANTASTIC people. 👊😁

Their seniors, the Advanced Class, is on the small side right now, mostly as a result of the COVID gap where we lost students that would now be at our advanced level. As a result, much of the leadership falls on the shoulders of this troop, and they are rising to it! 🎆

They keep showing up, keep pushing themselves, sometimes failing at something, but then pushing through and learning, then improving… again and again, over years… and slowly but surely, this results in the power houses that they are becoming - each in their own way! 💪

If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, just know that you are doing something huge by supporting them as they continue to forge this path. You’re looking at people who are equipping themselves with grit, resilience, dedication, compassion, and community - traits that are lacking in so many ways in our society and in our youth, but not here.

They are Zanshin strong!!! 🌊👊😁🥋💙

10/07/2025

NEW BOOK!

Now available in Kindle format!: Teaching 101

Teaching the fighting traditions of the past is both more difficult and more essential than ever before. Where Principle-Driven Skill Development laid the foundation for understanding how principles shape movement and effectiveness in combat, this new volume carries that vision forward—showing how to turn skilled practitioners into capable, effective teachers.

Drawing from decades of study in fighting traditions as well as modern educational methods, the author lays out a comprehensive framework for teaching as an “overlay skillset.” Readers are guided through the full spectrum of responsibilities a teacher faces: understanding student motivations, setting expectations, balancing safety with growth, and fostering a supportive yet disciplined community. Parents, peers, and aspiring teachers all enter the picture, each with their own roles and responsibilities in sustaining a living tradition.

At the heart of this work is curriculum design. Readers are shown how to catalog the building blocks of a fighting tradition, organize them into knowledge, attribute, coordination, and skill development categories, and then transform these into training goals, measurement systems, lesson plans, and class structures. Step by step, teachers learn how to create a curriculum that is not only true to the art but also adaptable, measurable, and sustainable for the long term.

The book then bridges theory and practice. From practical teaching processes to the deeper “art” of instruction—constructivist learning, andragogy, adapting to individual goals, teaching children and adults, and even online instruction—this volume equips instructors with tools to move beyond rote transmission into guided discovery, progressive learning, and genuine student empowerment.

Whether you are a seasoned martial artist stepping into teaching, a teacher seeking to refine your approach, or an organization working to stabilize and improve your curriculum, this book provides the roadmap. By combining timeless martial principles with modern educational insight, it shows how to preserve, promote, and transmit martial traditions in a way that is both faithful to the past and effective for the future.

Link:
https://a.co/d/gZ6EGT8

09/28/2025

Congrats to jimmy_pitblado on his promotion to 2nd kyu brown belt today! Great job, Jimmy! 👊😁

09/09/2025

🥋 Back in Action! Fall Karate Classes Start This Week! 🥋

Welcome back, Zanshin family! We’re thrilled to see new and returning students stepping back onto the mats today.

Whether you're a white belt beginner or a seasoned student working toward your next rank, this is your place to grow stronger, train smarter, and be part of something special. Let’s kick off the year with focus, energy, and community!

We can’t wait to see what you accomplish this season. Did you miss out on registration? There's still time to join us for a fantastic year!

09/03/2025

At Zanshin Karate, we’re proud to have one of the most welcoming and girl-powered dojos in Chatham-Kent. 💪

Our classes are full of strong, confident women and girls, and over 50% of our Yudansha (black belts) are women. Our classes are all about building confidence, resilience, and friendships that last beyond the mats.

Whether your daughter is looking to gain strength, learn practical self-defence, or find a place where she can shine just as she is, Zanshin is the perfect place to start.

👧 Ages 7+
👩‍👧 Beginner and advanced options available
🫶 Supportive instructors, encouraging environment

Fall classes start soon—join a dojo where girls lead with strength and grow with purpose.

09/02/2025

Happy back-to-school week to all of our Zanshin Karate families! 📚👊

We hope your return to routine is full of focus, friendships, and a fresh mindset.

Karate classes begin next week, and we’re ready to kick off another incredible season of training, growth, and community. Whether you’re brand new or returning for another belt level, we’re so excited to see you.

Let’s start the season strong—see you on the mats!

08/25/2025

🥋 Karate at Zanshin builds the skills kids need to succeed — on the mats, in the classroom, and beyond. 👊

Zanshin programs are all about building strong, confident students - inside and out.

✅ Practical, progressive martial arts training
✅ Ages 7 through adult — beginners welcome
✅ Discipline + fun in every class
✅ A supportive community where everyone belongs

📍 330 Richmond St, Chatham, at @
🌐 https://welovekarate.ca
👉 Registration now open — limited fall spots!

08/10/2025

Check out this blog post from The Martial Arts Muse. Very insightful! 👊😁🥋

I’m sure most of you know the feeling, even if you’ve never named it: impostor syndrome. That restless knot in your gut that says, Any minute now, they’ll realize I have no idea what I’m …

07/20/2025

Great article!

Bunkai and oyo, the essential study and applications of kata in karate, often lack practical effectiveness, confusing practitioners. Many sessions detach from real fighting dynamics, leading to ine…