Kaizen Martial Arts Academy

🏆 SHOTOKAN KARATE – STUDENT OF THE QUARTER 🏆
April – June 2026

A huge congratulations to our latest Student of the Quarter winners:

🥋 Junior Winner: Dorian Kosicki
🥋 Senior Winner: Dominic Bower

Both students have been recognised by our instructor team for consistently demonstrating the qualities that make a true martial artist.

Their certificates read:

“As voted by his instructors in recognition of his outstanding energy, enthusiasm, effort, commitment, behaviour, respect, and continued improvement.

Keep pushing forward and continue to embody these qualities on your martial arts journey.”

Every quarter, our Dan Grades vote independently against a set of strict criteria. The standard across the academy continues to rise, making the decision increasingly difficult each time. We are incredibly fortunate to have so many hardworking, respectful, and dedicated students who embody the values of Kaizen both on and off the mats.

To Dorian and Dominic – congratulations on a well-deserved achievement. Continue leading by example and inspiring those around you.

To everyone else, keep training hard. Every lesson is another opportunity to improve, and your commitment never goes unnoticed.

Congratulations once again! 👏

A fantastic morning on the mats at Kaizen Martial Arts Academy.

We were honoured to welcome Arthur Sheldon Sensei (10th Dan) from Dragon Martial Arts Centre, along with Becky Hallam Sensei, for a private training session.

It was a brilliant opportunity to share knowledge, ideas and experiences, exploring techniques from different styles of karate, performing a variety of kata, and even learning some new ones. Days like these are a great reminder that no matter your grade or experience, there is always something new to learn.

Meanwhile, Paul Bell Sensei and Becky Hallam Sensei were hard at work working through a tremendous range of S.D.F. techniques, exchanging knowledge and refining skills.

We rounded off the morning with a well-earned lunch together at the Bankhouse Inn in Pudsey.

A huge thank you to Arthur Sensei and Becky Sensei for making the journey to visit us. We truly value the friendships we have built within the martial arts community and appreciate every opportunity to continue learning and developing together.

Kaizen (改善) means continuous improvement - and today was another perfect example of that philosophy in action.

❤️ Happy Father’s Day ❤️

Today we’d like to say a huge thank you to all the dads, stepdads, grandads and father figures who support our students every week.

Whether you’re bringing them to class, sitting through gradings, cheering them on from the sidelines, helping them practise at home, or simply encouraging them to keep going when things get tough, your support makes a difference.

Martial arts is about much more than punches, kicks and techniques. It’s about building confidence, discipline, resilience and character. Behind many of our students is a parent who has invested their time, energy and belief in helping them grow.

From everyone at Kaizen Martial Arts Academy, thank you for everything you do.

We hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day and enjoy some well deserved family time.

Congratulations to Qasim Azhar on achieving his 8th Mon in Shotokan Karate! 👏

Qasim has been working hard in our Junior Karate classes, showing great enthusiasm, determination, and a willingness to learn. Every step on the grading ladder is earned through effort, commitment, and perseverance, and this promotion is a reflection of the progress he has made on his martial arts journey.

We are proud of your achievement, Qasim. Keep listening, keep learning, and keep training hard. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.

Well done from all of your Kaizen Martial Arts Academy family!

Five years ago today, we lost our friend and Sensei, Iain Carter.

Not a day goes by where he isn’t remembered.

Iain was more than a martial artist. He was one of the most selfless people you could ever meet - always willing to give his time, share his knowledge, and help others without wanting anything in return. His impact on so many students, instructors and friends continues to be felt throughout the martial arts community.

As a highly respected 4th Dan in Shotokan Karate / 2nd Dan in Atemi Jiu Jitsu his technical ability was exceptional, but it was his character that truly made him special. He had a way of making people feel welcome, supported and valued, no matter their grade or experience.

Many of us are still teaching lessons he helped us learn. Many students are still walking a path he helped shape.

Today we remember him with gratitude, respect and affection.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Rest easy mate. 🥋❤️

🥋 S.D.F Self-Defence Grading Results 🥋

What a hard and sweaty grading today! The effort, determination and fighting spirit shown by everyone was outstanding from start to finish. Self-defence training is demanding both physically and mentally, and every student pushed themselves through fatigue, pressure and intensity with real determination.

Junior Grading Results

6th Mon Red Belt White Stripe
• Albert Bryant
• Oliver Walker

6th Kyu Red Belt
• Elwood Baker
• Ethan Burleigh
• James Marshall
• Joshua Norman
• Mary Hirst
• Samuel Bryant
• Samuel Norman

Senior Grading Results

6th Kyu Red Belt
• Teresa Moorhead

4th Kyu Orange Belt
• Lydia Grayson
• Michael Kowalczuk

Self-defence is not just about techniques - it’s about resilience, awareness, discipline and learning how to stay calm under pressure. Today’s grading tested all of those qualities and every student should be proud of what they achieved.

A huge well done to everyone who stepped onto the mats today and gave absolutely everything. The progress across the group is fantastic to see and the future of our S.D.F Self-Defence programme is looking very strong.

A huge thank you to Rebecca Phoenix for assisting me on the grading - a fantastic contribution as always.

🥋 SHOTOKAN KARATE GRADING RESULTS 🥋

A huge congratulations to everybody who stepped onto the floor for today’s Shotokan Karate gradings. Grading day is never easy - it takes courage, discipline, commitment and heart to put yourself forward and give your all.

⭐ JUNIORS ⭐

9th Mon – Mason Ajayi
9th Kyu – Jennifer James & Franky Wos
6th Mon – Dorian Kosicki & Patrick Wos
6th Kyu – Tanishq Kapatralla

The talent and hard work coming through our junior ranks is fantastic to see. More importantly, the attitudes, effort and respect shown by these young karateka continue to make us proud. The children truly are the future of the club and there is a very exciting future ahead for them all.

⭐ SENIORS ⭐

8th Kyu – Dominic Bower & Alexandra Leblanc
6th Mon – Yang Lin
6th Kyu – Heidy Correia Monteiro & Jack Green
4th Kyu – Gabrielle Keeley
3rd Kyu – Rebecca Phoenix
2nd Kyu – James Marshall & Iana Sabatovych

This was a hard grading. Physically demanding, mentally tough and requiring real determination from everybody involved, especially the higher grades.

There were a lot of emotions during the results, which is completely understandable because these moments matter. People care deeply about their karate journey and the standards they are working towards.

Not everybody was successful today, but at Kaizen we stand together as a family. Successes are celebrated together and setbacks are faced together. We support one another, learn from the experience and continue moving forward side by side.

A huge thank you to our Dan Grades for giving up their time, sharing their experience and helping maintain the standards of the dojo:

John Crossley Sensei (3rd Dan)
Claire Hardwick Sensei (2nd Dan)
Ethan O’Connell Sensei (2nd Dan)
Kirsty Irving Sensei (1st Dan)
Amber Hardwick Sensei (1st Dan)

Your support and dedication to the club is greatly appreciated.

Today would have been Sensei Iain Carter’s 58th birthday.

A great mate, a great karateka and, above all else, a genuinely selfless man who was always there for others whenever they needed him. His kindness, humour, guidance and support left a lasting impact on so many people both on and off the dojo floor.

Sensei Iain was a highly respected 4th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate at Kaizen, but his greatest strength was the way he treated people. He gave his time freely, encouraged others constantly and embodied the true spirit of martial arts through humility, loyalty and compassion.

He is deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and training alongside him, but his legacy continues through the lessons, values and memories he left behind.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Sensei Iain ❤️