1576 Akron Peninsula Rd, Akron
Main Phone: (330) 926-2001

OUR MISSION

Zahand's Martial Arts Academy is a dynamic school of traditional karate-do, judo and jujitsu dedicated to providing its members with elite martial arts instruction. We are committed to our students developing the attitudes and behaviors to reach for EXCELLENCE in all aspects of their lives as they become focused, self-disciplined and confident persons who are respectful of others.

We REACH for EXCELLENCE

Zahand's Martial Arts is dedicated to the arts of Shotokan Karate, Kodokan Judo and Seiei-kan Ju-jitsu:

"...Karate is a noble martial art, and [one] can rest assured that those who take pride in breaking boards or smashing tiles, or who boast of being able to perform outlandish feats...really know nothing about karate. They are playing around in the leaves and branches of a great tree, without the slightest concept of trunk"

"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants."

Gichin Funakoshi, The Father of Shotokan Karate

Professional Staff (Senseis, Instructors)

Shihan Larry Zahand 7th Degree Black Belt Master Chief Instructor	Sensei Christian Kuehm 4th Degree Black Belt Chief Instructor	Sensei Tammy Zahand 2nd Degree Black Belt Pre-School Instructor Office Manager
Sensei Matthew Zahand 2nd Degree Black Belt Pre-School Instructor	Sensei Jason Anderson 1st Degree Black Belt Brazilian Jujitsu Instructor	Kristopher McLeod BJJ/MMA Master Instructor Mixed Martial Arts Instructor

Certified MMaxout Fitness Instructors

Tim Blazak	Sensei Tammy Zahand	Seth Sharp
Soo-Yeon Chun	Kristopher McLeod

As a part of our commitment to Excellence and the development of Leadership,
we conduct a two-year, four-level 'Instructor Certification' program.

These Instructor Candidates/ Student Leaders assist in class instruction under the guidance of our experienced professional staff. They also participate in regular instruction seminars as they become professional 'Certified Martial Arts Instructors'.

Certified Instructor Trainees (in alphbetical order):

Sempai Miriam Bennett Level 1 Certified Instructor Grand National Kata & Kumite Champion	Sempai Brendan Fox Level 1 Certified Instructor 6 Time National Champion	Sempai Ben Harris Level 1 Certified Instructor
Sempai Will Holland Level 1 Certified Instructor	Sempai Jerome "Jerry" P. Laing Level 1 Certified Instructor National Weapons Champion BJJ/MMA Instructor	Sempai Michael V. Seal II Level 1 Certified Instructor Grand National Kata Champion
Sempai Seth D. Sharp Level 1 Certified Instructor 4 Time National Champion

Biographies

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 - 1st Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
-3 Gold Medals
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 - (August) AKJU Nationals - Gold Medal (Kata)
and was awarded the "Masters Award" by the Hall of Fame.
2003 - (August) AKJU Nationals - Gold Medal (Kumite)
and was awarded the "Silver lifetime achievement award" by the Hall of Fame.
2005 - 9th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- Synchronized Kata Champion with Matthew Zahand
- 3 Gold Medals
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION
2006 - 10th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 1 Gold Medal (Weapons)
- 3 Silver (Kumite, Synchronized Kata, Team Fighting)
2009 - Three International Karate Tournaments as Judge and Competitor
13th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 2 Silver (Weapons, Team Fighting)
- 1 Bronze Medal (Kumite)

2nd Bangkok Cup, Bangkok, Thailand
- 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)
- 1 Silver Medal (Kumite)
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION

1st Nepal Cup, Kathmandu, Nepal
- 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)
- 1 Silver Medal (Kumite)
- KATA & WEAPONS GRAND CHAMPION
2010 - International and National Tournaments as Judge and Competitor
14th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)
- 1 Silver Medal (Duo)
- 2 Bronze (Kumite, Team Fighting)

2010 (August) AKJU Nationals Championship
- 4 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons, Kumite, Synchronized Kata)
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION

2010 (December) FATHER CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
(formerly SEIEI-KAN Grand National Championship) (
- 4 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons, Kumite, Synchronzied Kata)
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION
2011 - AKJU Ohio State Championships
- 3 Gold Medals (Kata, Synchronized Kata, Weapons)

Matthew Zahand,
Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)

2001 - Matthew Zahand, age 6, named the "Most Outstanding Junior Competitor of the Year" by the International Black Belt Hall of Fame.
2005 - 9th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- Synchronized Kata Champion with Shihan Zahand
2006 - 10th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 2 Gold Medals (Weapons, Kata)
- 2 Silver Medals (Kumite, Synchronized Kata)
- IRISH CUP GRAND CHAMPION (under 16)
2009 - 13th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 1 Gold Medal (Kata)
- 2 Bronze Medals (Kumite, Weapons)
2010 - International and National Tournaments
14th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland
- 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)

2010 (August) AKJU Nationals Championship
- 3 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons, Synchronized Kata)
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION

2010 (December) FATHER CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
(formerly SEIEI-KAN Grand National Championship) (
- 3 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons, Synchronzied Kata)
- KATA GRAND CHAMPION
2011 - AKJU Ohio State Championships
- 3 Gold Medals (Kata, Synchronized Kata, Weapons)
- 1 Silver Medal (Kumite)
- GRAND CHAMPION (ADULT DIV)

1576 Akron Peninsula Rd, AkronMain Phone: (330) 926-2001

OUR MISSION

We REACH for EXCELLENCE

Professional Staff (Senseis, Instructors)

Certified MMaxout Fitness Instructors

Certified Instructor Trainees (in alphbetical order):

Biographies

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

Matthew Zahand,Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)

1576 Akron Peninsula Rd, Akron
Main Phone: (330) 926-2001

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

Matthew Zahand,
Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)