"Discipline is not about being told what to do. It is about learning how to choose what matters."
Kaizen Karate has offered martial arts instruction since 2003. Founded by Coach V, we specialize in karate instruction for children of all ages in the Washington DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and New York areas. We also offer karate programs for adults with a focus on fitness and self-defense. Read more
"Discipline is not about being told what to do. It is about learning how to choose what matters."
Kaizen Karate has offered martial arts instruction since 2003. Founded by Coach V, we specialize in karate instruction for children of all ages in the Washington DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and New York areas. We also offer karate programs for adults with a focus on fitness and self-defense. Read more
Flexible scheduling for adults and families with busy weekday commitments.
Read More
Bringing our tradition of excellence to the 5 Boroughs.
Kaizen Karate was founded by Coach V in 2003. Kaizen Karate has been offering instruction in non-traditional Tang Soo Do as part of its core curriculum since its founding. Around 2010 Chinese Kenpo was introduced into the Kaizen curriculum.
Kaizen Karate's team of highly trained martial artists offer a number of programs for students starting as young as 3.5 years old up to adult. They focus on discipline and encouragement in a fun-loving environment. Their main goal is to help everyone progress, continually improve, and enjoy the process.
Kaizen Karate now operates 7 days per week throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and New York.
"Coach V" has 38 years of experience in the martial arts, having spent the majority of his life committed to the trade. He began his journey with karate at five years old and earned his first black belt in non-traditional Tang Soo Do in 1998 through Hill's Hitters Karate and Master Instructor Dr. Phillip Hill.
Coach V went on to earn his business degree at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in College Park. He then continued his training in Kenpo under 8th degree black belt Sifu Greg Payne who also holds a 5th degree black belt in Shotokan as well as many other black belts in other arts including Goju ryu & Judo.
In 2024, Coach V was promoted to 8th degree black belt in IKCA Chinese Kenpo by 10th degree black belt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan. Additionally, Coach V holds the rank of Nikyu (2nd degree brown belt) in Budoshin JuJitsu and studied Aikido at the ASU headquarters overseen by Saotome Sensei, Shihan.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children as well as running local long distance races which most recently included the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon, & Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, DC.
Qualifications: 5th degree black belt with Kaizen Karate, over 20 years of martial arts experience and over 15 years of instructional experience.
Coach Chris holds black belts in Kenpo Karate and Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu and has trained for years in several different martial arts including: Muay Thai (reaching the rank of instructor), boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (blue belt), and Kyokushin Karate. He is very interested in the history of martial arts, especially arts from East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Chris' other hobbies include running, lifting weights, and interval training mostly to stay competitive in the martial arts he still practices. He spends most of his free time with his wife and son.
Experience: Training since 1987, Zach Knox holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do.
Over the years, he has trained in different arts such as Kung Fu, Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu Karate, Kickboxing, and Escrima. In his time away from teaching and training, his hobbies include acting, directing, producing, football, hiking, screenplay writing, reading, boxing, and rock climbing.
Background: Inspired by 'The Karate Kid', Coach David began his martial arts journey in 1988. He currently holds a 1st degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do, a 6th degree blackbelt in non traditional Tang Soo Do, and a 6th degree blackbelt in Chinese Kenpo where he is also an IKCA Certified Instructor.
Coach David earned his first blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do in 1993 under 9th degree Master Jae Kim, his second blackbelt in Tang Soo Do from Kaizen Karate under Coach V, and his third blackbelt in IKCA Chinese Kenpo under Coach V and 10th degree blackbelt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan.
A Software Engineer at NASA and accomplished triathlete, Coach David has competed in numerous races and is a 3-time Ironman triathlon finisher. He has 2 children, both blackbelts in Kaizen Karate, and enjoys competing in duplicate bridge and home coffee brewing.
Journey: Coach Skylar started martial arts at 11 years old. After bouncing around a few schools at first, she eventually landed in a Tae Kwon Do dojang, where she would get the base of her skills and passion for the arts.
She began training and teaching with Kaizen Karate in 2011 and earned her black belt in 2017. As an avid martial artist and personal trainer (NASM), she spends most of her time doing things related to fitness and martial arts. However, she also loves studying languages, playing drums, camping, skateboarding, and learning about a wide breadth of subjects.
Experience: Coach Nina has trained with Kaizen Karate for over 10 years and has over five years of teaching experience in summer camp and classes. She is a Kaizen Karate Senior Instructor.
She received her Kaizen Karate black belt in 2021 and her first degree Kaizen black belt in 2023. Currently, she studies Psychology and Sociology at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.
Unique Journey: Coach James' exploration of martial arts began as a Kaizen Karate parent, watching his now-advanced rank son throw punches and kicks as a kindergartner. Starting as a virtual student in spring 2020, he dedicated himself to training with accelerated progress.
When he began in-person classes in 2021, his progress continued at an accelerated pace, earning him many tournament victories, additional ranking in Chinese Kenpo, and opportunities to share lessons learned throughout his unique journey.
Professionally, he works as a full-time musician, playing live shows and performing studio vocals (his rock band Rome In A Day toured the world for Armed Forces Entertainment). He enjoys reading, writing, designing tabletop games, running, basketball, lifting weights, and helping guide his daughter in her own martial arts journey.
Registration opens on Tuesday, January 12th, 2026! (4 campsites for campers ages 5-12)
March 31st, 2026
All students who register before March 31st, 2026 will receive FREE before & after care for all weeks that they register. This is a savings of up to $200 per week with up to 4.5 hours of FREE daily coverage, perfect for busy families!
Choose from 4 convenient locations across the DC metro area
Calvary Lutheran Church
9545 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Washington Hebrew Congregation
3935 Macomb St NW
Washington, DC 20016
Christ Church + Washington Parish
620 G St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Arlington Community Church
6040 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22205
Choose your registration option below
Location: Christ Church + Washington Parish - 620 G Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003
Duration: 6 weeks - July 13th - August 21st
Location: Washington Hebrew Congregation - 3935 Macomb Street, NW, Washington DC 20016
Duration: 8 weeks - June 22nd - August 14th
Location: Calvary Lutheran Church - 9545 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Duration: 9 weeks - June 22nd - August 21st
Location: Arlington Community Church - 6040 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205
Duration: 4 weeks - July 6th - July 31st
Capitol Hill Camp: $515 / week
NW DC Camp: $515 / week
Maryland Camp: $399 / week
Arlington Camp: $499 / week
FREE before & after care for ALL weeks when you register on or before March 31st, 2025
(Savings of up to $200 per week)
$25 - before care / day
$25 - after care / day
$40 - before & after care / day
*must register online for before / after care
*After March 31st full fee schedule applies for all before & after care
*Before & after care fees listed above apply to all camp sites
$20 off per child per week
1st child must pay full tuition rate, discount applies to each additional child
**We do NOT accept checks. Tuition must be paid online through our website.**
**Please be sure to select the weeks you are registering for, not only the number of weeks, for sibling discount to be applied**
Before care: 7:30am-9:00am
Camp day: 9:00am – 3:00pm
After care: 3:00pm-6:00pm
Morning Session: 9:30am-11:00am
Afternoon Session: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Aftercare Session: 4:00pm-5:00pm
*Non-karate activities include structured outdoor playtime as well as indoor playtime.
7:30am-9:00am - Parents must sign in when dropping off their child. Sign in is now touchless and camp staff will checkin students via mobile device.
3:00pm – Visitors, including parents, are not permitted inside the camp building(s). Kaizen Karate staff will guide campers safely to their authorized pick-up.
3:00pm-6:00pm – After care begins. Students must be registered for after care online or parents can pay by calling into the main office at 301-938-2711 if after care is needed unexpectedly due to traffic or other unforeseen circumstances. Students who register before March 31st receive free before and after care and MUST sign up online for the service.
If someone other than the parent will be picking-up their child we must be notified in advance by email, otherwise, we will not let the child go until a parent is contacted. Please email our office at coach.v@kaizenkaratemd.com with at least 24hrs notice of any pick-up changes.
If your child is not picked up by 3:15pm, a flat fee of $20 will be charged for extended care for that day only (this policy will ONLY apply to campers who are not enrolled in childcare). This fee will be automatically billed and you will receive an electronic invoice. No checks are accepted.
EARLY DROP-OFFS - Students who arrive prior to 8:50am will be charged the full $20 fee for before care each day this occurs.
For full day campers doors open at 9:00am – campers should be picked up at 3:00pm
Before care starts at 7:30am and ends at 9:00am. After care starts at 3:00pm and ends at 6:00pm.
Full day campers should arrive at camp around 9:00am so they do not miss karate classes or other activities that start at 9:30am.
Walkers and bikers must have written permission from their parents before we will let them leave.
Each day campers should come dressed in shorts, t-shirt & sneakers (especially if the weather is very hot). No flip-flops or open-toed shoes! Flip-flops or sandals are permitted during pool time.
Each day campers will need to bring their uniform pants, t-shirt, belt & any other items needed for their karate classes. Students who are new to karate will have the option of ordering a uniform and sparring gear if desired.
PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS WITH STUDENTS FULL NAME.
No, we welcome campers who do not have karate experience. Campers are separated into groups based on age and skill level.
We transport the kids from the camp to the pool with the professional bus service we provide.
More direction on transportation will be posted as we get closer to the start of camp per local guidelines.
No, there are multiple sections of the pool. A wading pool, the shallow end, the medium area, and the deep end. All kids have to take a swim test before we release them for free swim. Depending on how well they do on the test, they will receive a colored wrist band that represents which areas they're allowed to swim in. If a child is too short for the shallow end they can use the wading pool.
Please contact our office if you would like more details about swimming procedures and safety rules.
More direction on swimming time will be posted as we get closer to the start of camp per local guidelines.
There are no swimming lessons provided.
*All weeks include sparring. Please note, themed weeks touch on this area more, however, all weeks focus on the general Kaizen Karate curriculum. Students of all belt ranks are welcome to attend any of the above weeks.
More details will be posted as we get closer to the start of camp.
July 30
August 20
June 25
July 30
June 25
July 30
August 20
July 30
*There is a $40 fee per field trip that will be collected during online registration. This fee is in addition to the regular weekly tuition for camp.
*Field trips are mandatory on the week they are scheduled and all campers must attend (remaining at camp is not an option).
*Lunch is *not* included in the field trip fee. Campers should plan to bring their own lunch on field trip days.
July 29 Wednesday ( Week 3 )
August 19 Wednesday ( Week 6 )
July 16 Thursday ( Week 4 )
August 13 Thursday ( Week 8 )
July 23 Thursday ( Week 4 )
August 21 Wednesday ( Week 9 )
July 29 Wednesday ( Week 4 )
Students are eligible to receive stripes on weeks when there is no belt exam scheduled, though it is not guaranteed. If a belt exam is scheduled during the week that a camper is attending camp this is *not* an automatic guarantee that the student will test and receive a new belt. Students must meet testing guidelines as posted on the belt exam page AND must be invited by their instructor to test.
Campers will provide their own lunches & beverages.
All lunches should be in coolers to prevent food from spoiling.
PLEASE LABEL LUNCH BOXES
Please Note: We do not order food, heat up food, or provide utensils for campers.
Due to severe food allergies, we ask that NO PEANUT BUTTER or NUT PRODUCTS be brought to camp in lunches.
The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program at Kaizen Karate is designed as a bridge between being a camper and becoming a counselor. It gives teens the opportunity to take on more responsibility, work directly with our instructors, and gain hands-on leadership experience in a fun, structured camp environment.
Ages: 13–15
Ideal for students who are dependable, engaged, love working with children, and interested in leadership or coaching
CITs work closely with Kaizen Staff to:
Assist with daily camp activities and transitions
Support younger campers during games, drills, and group activities
Practice leadership, communication, and teamwork
Model positive behavior, punctuality, and engagement
CITs are always supervised and mentored by experienced staff.
Real-world leadership and teamwork experience
Opportunity to earn service hours
Increased confidence and responsibility
A strong foundation for future counselor or coaching roles
Valuable experience for school and future job applications
The CIT Program is ideal for teens who love camp and are ready to take the next step in leadership while staying active and connected to the Kaizen community.
**Please note, all students ages 13-15 years old are automatically part of the CIT program. To enroll as a CIT, simply complete the regular registration form. .**
*If your child is unable to swim and is not water-safe, please let us know in writing by emailing our main office.
*Flotation devices of any kind are not permitted. Students must be able to swim unassisted.
*Swim tests are administered at the start of every pool visit.
*Swimming pool visits are mandatory on the days they are scheduled and all campers must attend (remaining at camp is not an option).
Swimming will take place at Parkland Pool located at 1124 Arcola Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
Pool phone number is (301) 649-5670
Please have your child dressed in their bathing suit when they arrive at camp on our pool days: Tuesday & Friday – 12:15pm-1:45pm
Put sunscreen on your child before they arrive at camp, as camp staff is not permitted to do so
Campers must have a towel
Extra set of dry clothes to change into after swimming
Swimming will take place at North Springfield Swim Club - 5604 Earlehurst St, Springfield, VA 22151
Pool phone number is (703) 256-4686
Please have your child dressed in their bathing suit when they arrive at camp on our pool days: Monday & Wednesday – 12:00pm-2:00pm
Put sunscreen on your child before they arrive at camp, as camp staff is not permitted to do so
Campers must have a towel
Extra set of dry clothes to change into after swimming
Tuition for any week of summer camp must be paid in full prior to attending camp for that given week.
A non-refundable deposit of $299 per camper must be paid to hold your space in the camp for weeks that are paid via payment plan. This deposit will be applied to the total balance due.
All registration must be completed online.
NO CHECKS are accepted. All payments must be made online with credit cards during the registration process.
NO drop-ins are available. Students must pre-register for each week of camp prior to the start of the week.
*Updated on January 2nd, 2025
Safety is our number one priority. Campers are expected to follow all camp rules at all times. If the camp director determines that a camper's behavior is unsafe and a significant risk to other campers and / or staff, Kaizen Karate reserves the right to remove the camper from camp and cancel their remaining weeks of camp without a refund.
*Updated on April 11th, 2023
If a camper misses camp for more than 2 consecutive days due to illness then credit will be given for the days missed after the first two days when requested in writing and accompanied by a doctor's note. Eg. If Monday & Tuesday are missed, then credit is given for the remainder of the week (3 days).
If a student misses camp for any reason besides illness they can make-up the day IF there is space in another week of camp. Parents must submit an email request to our camp office to get approval. If there is no space then there will be no make-ups permitted and credit cannot be transferred to school year programs (the credit is lost).
Safety and health are our #1 concern. Consequently, we reserve the right to send your child home – or refuse admittance – if we have concerns about his/her health or ability to participate in all activities. Please keep your child home if he/she is exhibiting any of the following:
If you are ever in doubt about your child's symptoms or illness, please call the camp at 301-938-2711 and email coach.v@kaizenkaratemd.com and ask us if we feel that it would be appropriate for your child to come to school. We may require that you also consult your physician.
March 15 - April 30: All fees paid are refunded except the $299 non-refundable deposit and $25 administrative fee.
May 1 - May 31: All fees paid are refunded except the $299 non-refundable deposit and $25 administrative fee.
After June 1: There will be NO refunds or credits for summer camp weeks after June 1. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Refunds or credits for single days of summer camp will not be provided at any time. No Exceptions. Summer camp registrations are paid for on a weekly tuition fee schedule not a daily tuition fee schedule.
March 15 - April 30: All fees paid are refunded except the $299 non-refundable deposit and $25 administrative fee.
May 1 - May 31: Only 50% of tuition fees will be credited for any Kaizen Karate program minus the $299 non-refundable deposit.
After June 1: There will be NO refunds or credits for summer camp weeks after June 1. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Switching between weeks is allowed, based on availability.
If a camper needs to switch weeks and there is no availability then they must either keep their assigned weeks OR they can follow the cancellation policy listed above to cancel weeks based on dates (eg. After June 1 there are no refunds or credits for a camper who wants to switch weeks but there is no availability).
ALL students who register prior to March 31st, 2025 will receive FREE Before & After Care.
Offer valid only for weeks purchased during the promotional period (1/14/25 - 3/31/25).
Any additional weeks purchased / added to existing reservations after the promotional period (3/31/25) will *not* be eligible for FREE before & after care.
No transfers allowed from In-person camp to Virtual or vice versa.
There is no pro-rating at any time for virtual camp. Full tuition rate is due if you join after the start of a week.
No refunds or credits will be given after the first class of the week has started.
Counselors frequently have other commitments shortly after camp ends, we ask that you respect the counselor's time by arriving on time. There will be a 5 minute grace period after the program has ended. After that, parents will be charged an additional fee of $1.00 per minute. The late fee must be paid before the next camp day by contacting our main office and paying through electronic invoice.
All campers and persons who enter a Kaizen Karate camp site must be vaccinated for measles & must be in compliance with the CDC recommendations.
Parents agree that in the event of any failure, delay, or modification in Kaizen Karate’s performance or delivery of programming resulting from causes beyond Kaizen Karate’s reasonable control and occurring without its fault or negligence, including without limitation, Acts of God, fire, pandemic, U.S. government restrictions, wars, and insurrections, the tuition obligations under the enrollment contract shall continue and Kaizen Karate shall not be liable for any such failure or delay in its performance. Parents understand that schedules may be altered due to circumstances outside of our control.
Coach V
Phone: 301-938-2711
Email: coach.v@kaizenkaratemd.com
Jamie
On-Site Phone: 301-938-2711
Email: jamie@kaizenkarateusa.com
Kaizen Dojo is an after school program operated by Kaizen Karate. We are located at 9545 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (near the beltway exits). Students will take part in daily karate lessons, snack time, homework time, and more! We provide service throughout the entire 2025-2026 school year. Please note, we follow the MCPS calendar. Service will be provided on 1/2 days.
Convenient van service available from multiple school locations directly to Kaizen Dojo
If you are not using our van service, students can be dropped off directly at Calvary Lutheran Church, 9545 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910, for their classes. Parents are responsible for arranging their child's transportation to and from this location.
A prorated tuition rate will apply for families who choose not to use van service. Please contact us for exact pricing based on your start date.
Students will have time to work on their homework assignments from school when they get back to Kaizen Dojo.
Snacks are provided as part of the Kaizen Dojo program. Please be sure to let our office team know about any allergies via email.
After homework time ends, students will participate in daily karate lessons! Instruction is geared towards the student's age and current belt rank.
Convenient van service available from multiple school locations directly to Kaizen Dojo:
Van service is now available from these locations. We pick up students directly at each site and bring them back to the dojo:
Sligo Creek ES
East Silver Spring ES
Woodlin ES
Parents must pick up directly from Kaizen Dojo
Starting in Fall 2025, we are adding 3 new pick-up locations!
Oakland Terrace ES
Piney Branch ES
Takoma Park ES
Space is limited! If you are interested in registering for Kaizen Dojo van service for Fall 2025, please contact us ASAP.
Questions? Email: coach.v@kaizenkarateusa.com
Flexible payment options designed to fit your family's schedule and budget:
5 days per week
per month
4 days per week
per month
per month
per month
per month
per day
We request an email at least 24hrs in advance when possible or call our office directly.
Creating a safe, protected, and respectful environment for all children and staff.
The goal of our program is to create an environment where children and staff feel safe, protected, and respected.
The following rules will be followed by all participants:
Repeated Violations: May result in a child being suspended or no longer allowed to participate in the program.
Safety Endangerment: Behavior that endangers health and/or safety may result in immediate suspension and/or termination.
Get in touch with our Kaizen Dojo team for questions, enrollment, or support:
Easy Beltway Access
Not all classes are listed. If you do not see your program listed then pleases contact our office directly for more information.
Get your karate uniform, t-shirt, & sparring gear shipped directly to your home.
Pre-registration required.
Belt exams are INVITATION ONLY events.
Online registration closes 1 week prior to the belt exam.
Verbal approvals by instructors during class time are no longer accepted.
ALL students must receive *written* approval directly from the Kaizen office team before starting the testing process.
Approval to test will be sent to students via email.
Learn the art of IKCA Kenpo from IKCA Certified Instructors. We serve the DC Metro area including Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Kaizen Kenpo is a division of Kaizen Karate LLC.
Class Time
Sundays: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Kaizen Kenpo is a division of Kaizen Karate LLC, offering advanced martial arts training for dedicated practitioners.
The IKCA Crest is a US Registered Trademark of IKCA, Inc. Used with permission.
We're glad you asked!
The International Karate Connection Association (IKCA) is the governing body for the Karate Connection system of Chinese Kenpo. The IKCA was founded by Chuck Sullivan and Vic LeRoux, who were students of Ed Parker, the founder of Kenpo Karate.
The IKCA's philosophy is to: Reduce the number of techniques, Focus on basics, Emphasize Kenpo concepts and principles, and Retain the full essence of Kenpo.
Kaizen Kenpo is a division of Kaizen Karate LLC. We teach the IKCA curriculum in our program.
Josh Wesnidge, Darren Bell Jr, & Viran Ranasinghe
East Silver Spring Elementary School - Gym
631 Silver Spring Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 938-2711
Email: coach.v@kaizenkaratemd.com
Sundays: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Ready to begin your martial arts journey? Have Questions? Contact us to learn more about our programs.
