Enshin Karate: Something for Everyone

For those who may be looking for an alternative to a gym for working out, or an alternative to a daycare for watching children after school, Enshin Karate, located on Beaumeade Circle in Ashburn, may be good place to check. With programs for all ages, Enshin can be the place to take a first class or the gateway for those seeking advanced training in mixed martial arts, or MMA.

"Enshin Karate truly has something for everyone," said Nima Mazhari, a former heavyweight Sabaki challenge competitor with more than 25 years of experience in martial arts. "If you want a safe place for your children to study and train after school, in order to develop self-confidence and mental focus, we offer that. Unlike some martial arts school, we also have a complete training program for young adults and adults."

Furthermore, Mazhari said, Enshin offers adult training a various levels.

"If you just want to get in shape, the drills and training of Enshin make up one of the best workouts you can get. If you want to compete without getting hurt, there are lower-contact tournaments for lower ranks,” he said. "Some adults want a new workout that doesn't get old because of rote repetition."

Another advantage to martial arts is the advancement through ranks, or belt classifications.

"Martial arts also offer ranks to give incentives for adults to progress,” Mazhari said. “And the lessons learned in self-defense and mental discipline go beyond what you need in the dojo."

Some participants want to move into more physical levels of competition and Enshin’s instructors attempt to distinguish their schools by allowing students to be as intense as they want it to be.

“For those who want a challenge beyond the normal light contact, you can compete in local Sabaki events. The Sabaki full-contact rules make it one of the most challenging competitions in the world of martial arts,” Mazhari said. “Some of my students go on to compete in full-contact kickboxing, Muay Thai or even MMA."

MMA involves multiples martial arts styles and has gained popularity. The Ultimate Fighter Championship competitions routinely sell out and are available on Pay-Per-View. Fighters mix boxing, wrestling and various styles of martial arts.

As far as fitness goes, Enshin tries to help its students develop their skills in an array of important areas.

"Because our art incorporates standing grappling, clinch control, sweeps and throws, as well as punching and kicking, an Enshin Karate student develops as an all-around athlete, improving strength, speed, agility, cardiovascular and muscular endurance," Mazhari said.

For those who want a workout with less striking and few impacts, Enshin offers that as well.

"We'll be offering a brazilian ju-jitsu program in Ashburn very soon,” Mazhari said, “which is a great workout you can do without suffering any impact on your joints or muscles."

He stresses, however, that you have to set goals beyond just getting in shape.

Like many workout routines, he stresses, karate and other martial arts require continued work.

"You can lose weight and get fit with Enshin, but if you don't have any goals beyond that, it's easy to gain back the weight and lose the fitness quickly" he said.

However, other skills learned through martial will still with students for a lifetime.

"Martial arts also help with concentration and focus, mental awareness and temper management, real-life skills that will benefit you at work and at home as well as at the dojo,” Mazhari said. “Even if you do quit training, you've learned lessons that can stay with you, but obviously the benefits are greater if you don't quit."

Eventually, with years of training under his belt, Mazhari has realized the dual roles of martial arts.

"Training the body is the easy part of self-improvement," he said. "When I was young, I didn't understand that. Now I see that the lifelong aspect of karate is not knowing how to fight, or even getting into great shape – although both of those things will happen if you keep at it. But the lifelong aspect is the need to train your mind and spirit, and that continues long after you retire from competition."

Besides its Beaumeade Circle (21770, Suite 125) location in Ashburn, Enshin has dojos in Falls Church, Veinna, Fairfax and Springfield. To reach the Ashburn location, call 703-444-KICK (5425) or email ashburn@virginiakarate.com.