1576 Akron Peninsula Rd, Akron   - -     443 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd, Uniontown
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.

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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

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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	Louis Zamudio Cleveland Golden Gloves Champion Fitness & Cardio-Kickboxing Instructor

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 - AKJU Nationals - Gold Medal (Kata)
  and was awarded the "Masters Award" by the Hall of Fame.
• 2003 - 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 - 14th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland

  - 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)
  - 1 Silver Medal (Duo)
  - 2 Bronze (Kumite, Team Fighting)

Matthew Zahand (Junior 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 - 14th Irish Cup, Dublin, Ireland

  - 2 Gold Medals (Kata, Weapons)