ZANSHIN DOJO
WHY ZANSHIN DOJO?
Zanshin has been a trusted, respected martial arts school in Tennessee for over thirty years. In 1994, we became Nashville’s first Gracie “Brazilian” Jiu-Jitsu school under the legendary Rickson Gracie. Our Wado-Ryu Karate school is sanctioned by the US Eastern, Brazilian, and Japanese Wado-Ryu Karate federations, under Kazutaka Otsuka.
We provide the highest quality instruction in street self-defense and sports competition and were awarded the Best Of Music City award by The Tennennessen in 2021 & 2022. Although competition is not required, some of our students have won national and world titles. Classes are open to men, women and children. No experience is necessary and visitors are always welcome.
No restrictive contracts.
Located in midtown Nashville
(walking distance from Vanderbilt).
Training area cleaned
after every class.
Parking and showers onsite.
Bilingual instructors.
Family Discounts
Fears you don’t face persist. Those you do desist.
- Eric SIlver
OUR FOUNDER
Eric Silver, head instructor of Zanshin Dojo, started martial arts training in 1971 and has studied in the U.S., Brazil, Japan, and Europe. He regularly teaches at our home school in Nashville as well as in São Paulo, Brazil. He holds a seventh-degree black belt in Wado-Ryu Karate and a fourth-degree black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He is one of eight North Americans awarded their black belts directly from Rickson Gracie.
In 2022, he was awarded a certificate of “Renshi Shihan” (master) by the Japanese Wado-Ryu Karate Federation. He regularly trains with UFC champion Demian Maia and his team in Brazil. Over the years he also studied with jiu-jitsu champions Marcelo Garcia, Royler Gracie, Fabio Gurgel, and Saulo Ribeiro.
OUR CLASSES
Classes are open to adults and children with or without previous experience. Our karate curriculum is based on guidelines of the Japanese Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei and by Rickson Gracie for our jiu-jitsu program. We carry uniforms for karate and jiu-jitsu as well as rash-guards which may be purchased at the school or online.
Jiu-Jitsu
Gracie, or “Brazilian" Jiu-Jitsu is a submission-based martial art which evolved from traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu. It was modernized by Helio and Carlos Gracie in the early 1920’s. It focuses on taking an opponent to the ground and gaining a dominant position while neutralizing the adversary’s ability to strike or escape until a submission can be performed via a joint lock or choke.
Self-Defense
We teach Rickson Gracie’s self-defense method, originally taught to him by his father, Master Helio Gracie. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is considered to be one of the most practical and effective self-defense systems ever developed. It is now taught in many police departments and military hand-to-hand combat curriculums. This class requires no special uniform. Regular workout clothes can be worn.
Wado-Ryu Karate
Wado-Ryu Karate was founded by Hironori Otsuka in the 1930s, combining techniques from Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiu-Jitsu and Shotokan karate. In 1958, Cecil Patterson who had trained with Otsuka Sensei in Japan, started one of the first American karate clubs in his hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee. He later moved to Nashville and founded the U.S. Eastern Wado-Ryu Karate Federation.
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE
LOCATION | Next Level Fitness | 1917 Church Street | Nashville, TN 37203
