190 Broadway
Garden City Park, NY 11040
(516) 741-4994

Course of Study

Instructors:

All classes are taught by qualified black belt instructors. Each instructor has a minimum of 10 years experience, and has completed at least a 2 year internship under a senior instructor. Those holding the rank of Chief Instructor (those who supervise their own schools) have a minimum of 35 years continuous study.

Class Structure:

The Tai-Zen curriculum is a progressive study in which each level builds on the preceding one. We teach on three levels -- basic, intermediate and advanced.

There are three types of danger for which we prepare-- Life and death, fear of injury, and the petty annoyances that people face daily. Students are taught the appropriate responses for each situation. At all levels, we emphasize the legal consequences of a student's actions, and they are encouraged to use only the proper technique for the situation at hand.

Adult Basics:

New students learn the principles of self defense along with practical, effective techniques to defend against threat of bodily harm. The course may be completed in 12-18 classes (depending on the individual), and include all technique necessary to enter the intermediate level of training.

Adult Intermediate/Advanced (white to black belt):

Students learn how to prepare for confrontation on three levels - harassment, threat of physical force, and life threatening situations. Battle theory, the mechanics of movement, physics of impact, and reflex are just some of the topics to be learned and practiced. The technician will learn practical technique to defend against both untrained and trained assailants who may or may not have a weapon. When the course is completed, the student is ready to enter advanced training.

Adult Advanced (green to black belt):

On this level, students who have achieved competency in performing and understanding the values presented on the intermediate level receive extensive training in human behavior, reflexive movement, gearing responses to an environment (hostile or non-hostile) and legal consequences of their actions. They gain the calm that results from understanding of and the belief in the mechanics that apply to battle. The study of ki movement, hosting the greater powers (gravity, leverage, momentum, centrifugal force) and how mentality and physiology interact are studied and practiced in-depth. This is a lifetime study!

Adult Techniques and Request (white to black belt):

The beginning of the class is dedicated to the practice and review of all basic techniques and concentration on learning the finer points of striking, blocking, and timing. The rest of the class is open to student requests for techniques or studies that they would like to revisit or practice.

Children (ages 6-11)/ Teen (ages 11-15) classes:

Students will attend anti-abduction classes to thwart approaches by adult strangers , and learn the techniques necessary to defend themselves from confrontations by bullies or aggressive peers.