Shihan
LAWRENCE D. ZAHAND,
Sichi-Dan (7th Degree Black Belt)

• 1974 - Entered the Martial Arts at age 8.
• 1984 - Two-time AAU All-American in Kata and Kumite.
• 1985 - Beat the Japanese Team Captain at Goodwill Competition in New Orleans and at the National Championships.
• 1986 - Won 10 fights, undefeated at the Goodwill Games in Tokyo, Japan.
• 1987 - Won 1 Gold and 2 Bronze medals at the Olympic Festival in Mexico City, Mexico. - Won a Gold medal in Kata and a Silver medal in Kumite at the Pan-American Karate Invitational in a San Pedro, Honduras.
  - Took a Bronze medal at the Olympic Village in the Dominican Republic.
  - Captain of the U.S. team at a major Karate Championship in Guadeloupe.
• 1988 - Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the Olympic Sportsman of the Year for the year 1987.
• 1988 - Took two Bronze Medals at the Pan-American Karate Championships.
• 1989 - 53 fights undefeated in State, Regional, National, and International Competition. - Took a Gold Medal at the Pan-American Karate Championships in Maricarbo, Venezuela winning 11 straight fights in one day of competition.

• 1993 - Opened Zahand's Martial Arts in Akron, OH.
• 1996 - Won Three Gold Medals at the 1st Irish Cup in Dublin, Ireland.
• 1998 - Moved Dojo to Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
• 2000 - Inducted into the International Black Belt Hall of Fame for "International Achievement".
• 2001 - Awarded the "Pinnacle Award of Success" by the International Black Belt Hall of Fame.
• 2002 - Won Nationals in Kata and was awarded the "Masters Award" by the Hall of Fame.
• 2003 - Won Nationals in Kumite and was awarded the "Silver lifetime achievement award" by the Hall of Fame.
• 2005 - 9th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland- KATA GRAND CHAMPION
  - Synchronized Kata Champion with Matthew Zahand
  - 3 Gold Medals
• 2006 - 10th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland- 1 Gold Medal (Weapons)
  - 3 Silver (Kumite, Synchronized Kata, Team Fighting)