Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructors

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Marcus Soares is a 1st generation 8th Dan Carlson Gracie Brazilian jiu-Jitsu Instructor who has trained and taught all over the world.  Marcus is the head Canadian instructor and visits Zen annually.

David is a 2nd generation Carlson Gracie brown belt who has been training and competing all over the world for the past 15 years. David is the head jiu-jitsu instructor at Zen

Derek is a Carlson Gracie blue belt who has been training for over 5 years. He is the Director of Academics at Westboro Academy a private bilingual school in Ottawa.

Leo has been training with the Carlson Gracie team since 2011.  He is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt.  Leo is also a brown belt in Tankyushin a composite of Akido, Judo and Karate.  Leo is a Support Analyst with the Federal Government. 

Kyle is a Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belt.

Claire is one of the fastest promoted blue belts in the history of the Canadian Carlson Gracie Team and one of our most technical instructors.  Claire is a Regional Vice President with Primerica Financial.

David has been kickboxing for 12 years.  He has trained in Thailand twice and regularily teaches Muay Thai classes at Zen.

Abe is a carded WKF and Ontario Muay Thai Association fighter. He has been in the ring several times.  Abe is an aerospace engineering student at Carleton  University

Andrew is a carded WKF and Ontario Muay Thai Association fighter. He has been in the ring several times. 

Diana has been training in kickboxing and Muay Thai for seven years.  She is an advocate of active, healthy living, An original Montreal native, she now calls Ottawa home with her family.  She proudly claims the undefeated title of black belt in loving dogs.

Kyle is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Chito-Ryu Karate.  Kyle has competed in more than 50 tournaments and is a 2018 team Canada WMO bronze medalist. Kyle is an Investment Advisor with Sun Life.

David started taking Shitokan martial arts when he was 5 years old with his father and two sisters where he achieved his black belt at 16.  David received his 2nd degree (Nidan) in 2018. 

Stephen received his black belt in 1987 under Sensei Burt Konzak at the Toronto Academy of Karate and subsequently also trained under Sensei Tim Suzuki and his teacher, Grand Master Masami Tsuruoka. Stephen is a professor at the University of Ottawa.

Kyle has trained in Chito-Ryu karate since 2001, receiving his shodan in 2007 under Ken Sakamoto (son-in-law of Chito-ryu founder Tsuyoshi  Chitose). His passion for karate stems from its potential to develop  self-discipline, fitness, and perseverance in the face of life's  obstacles.

David has been training in karate for 12 years.  He has a black belt in Free Style Karate and a brown belt in Chito-Ryu Karate.

John trained at Zen for 10 years.  He has competed in numerous tournaments in both sparring and kata winning gold in most of his competitions.  John recently moved to BC for school. He continues to teach at Zen on holidays and in the summer.

David started taking Shitokan martial arts when he was 5 years old with  his father and two sisters where he achieved his black belt at 16.  David received his 2nd degree (Nidan) in 2018.  David is the head Instructor of the Little Samurai program.

Aidan has been training at Zen since 2009.  He is a brown belt in Chito-Ryu Karate and will be testing for his black belt this Fall.