about us

We are a mid-sized traditional martial arts school affiliated with Shidokan international, one of the few premier sanctioning bodies certified by the Japanese ministry of education. Shidokan is not a franchise cookie cutter organization, it is a voluntary affiliation that promotes excellence in traditional arts.

We instruct students in the traditional arts. No MMA, kickboxing or blended training. Our roots are deep in culture, and our instructors reflect that passion for tradition. Walk in to any dojo (training hall) in Okinawa or Japan and you would find our curriculum parallels theirs in content and expectation.

We teach students discipline, character, motivation, respect and self-confidence.
We coach students in discovery their potential in tournament preparation: Safe and effective sparring and kata (forms)
We mentor our students in citizenship and leadership.

Our instructors are passionate about the values in karate training, and wish to pay it forward by being our student’s teachers, instructors, coaches and mentors.

Shihan Ken Neu

started training in his late 30's at the House of the Samurai where his children and friends trained, all achieving black belt. He has black belts in Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu and Kobujutsu, and is a certified instructor through Shidokan International. Ken sold his insurance agency to pursue a teaching career, and although his avocation is instructing others in the benefits of martial arts, his vocation is a special education teacher and Work Transition Coordinator at Pinkerton Academy. He enjoys spending time riding his motorcycle with his friends and his wife, as well as spending quality time with his two adult children.

Renshi Marge Pagliuca

never envisioned herself practicing the martial arts, today she holds black belts in Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu and Kobujutsu (weapons). She spent a few years watching my daughter train and compete, asked a few questions and soon found myself in a gi moving around the dojo floor. She began teaching karate as a green belt and was one of the first to be awarded teaching rank before reaching black belt. Outside of karate she has been a science teacher for 27 years and currently retired after teaching freshman science at Pinkerton Academy.

Renshi Lil Herman

began her training over 20 years ago, at the House of the Samurai. Lil has multiple black belts, and has been instructing our junior students since Kaizen Academy opened in May of 2009. When she is not taking care of her dog, or teaching karate, Lil can be found working as a technical writer, and watching her grandchildren play softball and baseball.

Sempai Corey Carter

is our youngest adult instructor, and is a valued member of our instructing team. Corey enjoys teaching our Grasshoppers, Komodo and Juniors and focuses on technique and spirit. Corey is currently pursuing his education in computers and working for the Rockingham County in human resources.

Sophia “The Principal” Neu (Sempai)

the co-owner of Kaizen Academy is instrumental in keeping the office and in turn the dojo running. Her training started at the same time and place as her husband and friends. In addition to raising two fantastic young adults (both black belts) you will find her working as supervisor at Herrington Catalog, cooking, crafting and reading, or hanging with her Maltese puppy, Brady.

Renshi Mike Pagliuca

spent 2 years in a car waiting for his daughter while she trained in karate, and decided she shouldn't be having all the fun. It helped that his wife friends decided to join on the same day. Although all 4 of them were no longer youngsters, they received their black belts on the same day 4 years later. Mike is a retired U.S. Air Force meteorologist, however, he has spent the last 20+ years designing and supporting database systems.

Sensei Jay Burnham

was introduced to karate when he was 6 years old and was hooked. He had trained for 5 years in a Kempo and Kung Fu school, 2 years in Tae kwon do, and a year in each of two other Kempo schools as well as a few months in Aikido, Kubudo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Shotokan. He has been at Kaizen Academy since September 2011 training in Shor-in Ryu and Goju Ryu karate. Sensei Burnham is our first student to attain Shodan (first degree black belt) in both Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu

Sempai Dai Stephanie Burnham

was introduced to Martial Arts first by watching her husband practice several different styles of martial arts and then again when they decided to enroll their son at Kaizen. She is currently working her way towards multiple black belts. Sempai enjoys instructing at all levels, and most recently has begun teaching Kobudo classes on Wednesday and Saturdays for current Kobudo students aimed at improving their technique. When not at Kaizen, she is practicing attorney in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Sensei Dave Angus

has been training in the martial arts for almost 2 decades. He has black belts in both Shorin-ryu and Aikido, and recieved his black belt in Kobudo on September 9th. His daughter attained her adult black belt at Kaizen Academy, and his son is close to getting his black belt. He is one of our kobudo instructors. When you don’t find Dave training, he is either working at repairing industrial laundry machines, raising ducks and chickens, or moving to the music of Zumba!

Hanshi Richard Bernard
is the Founder of Shidokan International, and his former dojo, The House of the Samurai, is where all our Renshi and Shihan grade instructors earned their black belts. Hanshi is a 10th degree black belt with over 45 years or training in multiple styles, and is currently competing in the New England martial art competition circuit, earning many gold medals and championships, as well as working toward his goal of 100 push ups in ONE minute! An avid outdoors man and animal lover, when not visiting his Shidokan dojos or training, you will find him fishing, volunteering at an animal shelter, or hanging with his 3 dogs.

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testimonials

My children have been students since 2009. Both started as grasshoppers in the program and are now enrolled in the commitment to staying until reaching Black belts. The teaching staff is very good with the children all various ages. This not a school where they just promote to next belt if they feel you’re not ready you don't move up and on. I am very satisfied and proud to be a part of Kaizen family for the last five years and I am also excited to seeing the pride & smiles on their faces once they have reached the milestone and join the elite Black belt club.

Heather

Before my son began karate he had absolutely no confidence in himself & had a hard time making friends at school. Signing him up was the best thing I could've ever done for him. This had changed his life in so many ways. He has amazing instructors at the dojo that have taught him to have confidence, respect & responsibility.

Pam

My son, Landon, has been a proud member of Kaizen Academy since he started as a Grasshopper 3 years ago. He began his journey with Kaizen after he attended a birthday party. He wanted to join because he got to break a board at the party and he thought that was “Awesome”. As a parent, I had him join to get him involved in something that provided commitment, discipline and good moral teachings. To say the least, myself and my wife have been thrilled with all of the instructors at Kaizen Academy.

Matt, Landon's father

As it pertains to the actual instruction, I have been blown away by what my son has learned and the confidence it has instilled in him. This past year, he was encouraged to participate in the annual tournament held in Londonderry. I was stunned to see how well he performed his kata in front of so many people and even more proud of how he competed in the sparring section of the tournament.

Lia Sprague