Our founder Sascha Blasi has a long lineage with Kenkojuku Shotokan dating back to the early 80s where he trained at Black Belt Academy under the tutelage of the legendary Sensei Mike Hatgis for 10 years.

Sensei Mike was known as a no-nonsense sensei who was awarded his 5th Degree Black Belt by the legendary Master Toyotaro Miyazaki and Master Tomosaburo Okano of Tokyo, Japan.

Sascha credits most of his success including creating his billion-dollar company Firefly Brands to the training he received at the Black Belt Academy Dojo.

Now he wants to play that forward, and he has done so by opening Shotokan Black Belt Academy to give everyone the same life lessons that only a Shotokan Dojo can provide.