About Us
About Our Instructors
sensei seijo imazaki
owner & head Instructor
Sensei Seijo Imazaki started training in Folk style wrestling when he was 10 years old. He wrestled for 7 years in high school and also wrestled Freestyle and Greco Roman in tournaments during the off season. He finished his high school wrestling career with a 124W-14L varsity record. During which he won numerous tournaments all over New York state.
In 2001 he started studying Tae Kwon Do. He received his yellow belt and competed in 2 tournaments, one of which was the regionals and he took 1st in his division. Realizing Tae Kwon Do wasnt for him, Seijo stumbled upon the World Oyama Karate Head Quarters on West 4th st, NYC in 2003. Training there for one month Soshu Shigeru Oyama invited Seijo to be an Uchi Deshi. Although, at that time, Seijo was not ready to take that step, he did in fact fall in love with karate and began his journey. Unfortunately, the Dojo closed down. A few of the Oyama Senseis started teaching private classes and over the next three years he took classes, sporadically.
Seijo never lost his passion for Karate but hadnt found the right home yet. Then in 2006, he found World Oyama Karate Dojo in NYC run by Sensei Matsumoto. Soon after joining, he was invited to be an Uchi Deshi. He moved into the Dojo and became a full time student of karate, which means he did Karate at least 6 hours a day and then also cared for the Dojo, with the hopes of opening his own dojo one day. He was an Uchi Deshi for 6 months and received his orange belt within that time.
After his time as Uchi Deshi, Seijo was ready for a change. He began training with Sensei Iwata, a former World Oyama teacher. With Sensei Iwata, Seijo trained in the Dojo intensely, rarely missing a class. As a green belt, Seijo would enter full knockdown tournaments and fight his heart out.
In June of 2010, Seijo earned his 1st Dan rank from Sensei Iwata. Seijo fought very hard for his black belt, enduring 15, 2 minute rounds consecutively. The test caught on tape has become an inspiration to many.
In 2011 Seijo and Sensei Iwata parted ways. Later that year, Seijo went on to win the North American Kyokushin-kai Championship at middle weight.
Then Sensei Seijo joined an organization called Kenwakan Karate founded by Shihan Michelle Gay formerly of World Oyama Karate and Kanreikai. At Kenwakan, Seijo was constantly working on everything from technique and kata to fighting strategies and combinations. He trained the fight team and still competes in Full Knockdown Karate. Seijo was given the title of Sensei.He also received his 2nd Dan
Kenwakan gave Sensei Seijo the opportunity to work with children, which is something he always wanted to do. He saw the value in teaching children the art of karate and all it had to offer, physically and mentally. Sensei Seijo helped run the kids and adult programs at Kenwakan.
In 2015, Sensei Seijo and Imazaki Dojo were asked to join a world renowned organization called So-Kyokushin. They accepted and consider it an honor to be part of such an extraordinary group of Karata-ka led by Shihan Kazuyuki Hasegawa and Saiko Shihan Diago Ohishi.
Currently Sensei Seijo Imazaki teaches Karate full time and is also studying Brazilian Jujitsu. He also has started competing in MMA (Mixed Martial Art).
He had his first fight on December 6th 2014. Winner By Knockout Ushiro Mawashi Geri “Back Spin kick” 2nd Round.
His 2nd MMA Fight was on Feb. 5th 2015. Winner By Rear Naked Choke 1st Round.
Sensei Seijo Imazaki 3rd MMA Fight on June 26th 2015. Winner Unanimous Decision.
April 1st, 2016 Imazaki became the UCL Champion by unanimous decision.
He will defend his title this march 18th at the Hammond civic center in Indiana.
Sensei joy nakayama
owner & head Instructor
Sensei Joy Nakayama is a co-founder of Imazaki Dojo and a first-degree black belt. Along with Sensei Seijo, she started Imazaki Dojo with the dream of offering Kyokushin karate to the South Loop and building a community along the way. Sensei Joy has the program director.
Sensei Joy's karate journey started in New York City, under Shihan Michelle Gay of KenWaKan Karate-do. She found beauty in the details and technique behind this tough style of karate. She also felt empowered for the first time in her life, armed with the skills to defend herself.
Sensei Joy also founded GIRL POWER CIRCLE™, which is a special time for girls in the community to come together and hold space for one another to be heard and seen. Sensei Joy creates a safe environment that empowers the girls to be brave and find their voice as they discuss relevant issues, for each age group. Meditation, yoga, games, art, and stimulating conversation are all part of the magic.
Lastly, Sensei Joy teaches adult yoga, with a focus on connecting the mind and body. As a yogi for over 20 years, she uses the poses as a fun and healthy way to connect to a higher self. Her style is one that honors the yogic philosophy as much as the poses. She finds that the yin/yang qualities between karate and yoga create the perfect balance for a healthy lifestyle.
Sensei Joy's mission is to make karate and yoga, and all of the life lessons that go with it, accessible to all.
Senpai Sage Imazaki
Instructor
Senpai Sage Imazaki has been training in karate for 12 years. He was the first child at Imazaki Dojo to receive his black belt. He has won countless tournaments and championships. To say that Senpai Sage works hard is an understatement. He has literally grown up in the dojo, as Sensei Seijo and Sensei Joy's son. Karate is in his blood.
Senpai Sage has been volunteering his time teaching the younger students for years. He balances fun and discipline in the most beautiful way. The kids at Imazaki Dojo LOVE him and look up to him.
Sensei Adam Orlov
Instructor
Sensei Adam Orlov, a former police officer, is a fourth degree black belt in Japanese Ju-jutsu. Adam has studied and taught Ju-jutsu for more than 30 years at his home dojo (Northwestern University), as well at other martial arts schools and police departments in the area, and for the United States Marine Corps officer selection program.
Sensei Adam has also studied western boxing, Brazilian Ju-jutsu, police tactics, and advanced pistol marksmanship and disarming techniques. The style of Ju-jutsu that Adam studies and teaches has a long tradition in the military and law enforcement and focuses on real-world, self-defense applications.
Senpai Ciprian Sava
Instructor
Senpai Ciprian started practicing karate in Romania as a teenager when karate was a non-profit sport. At that time, it was open only to people who would demonstrate high moral character. Once Senpai Ciprian moved to college, he continued practicing on his own, in parks and gyms. He had already decided that karate was going to be a part of his life, forever.
Senpai Ciprian is a black belt, Shodan. He leads adult classes. He helps with both kids and adults' classes, and training his own sons to follow in his footsteps at Imazaki Dojo. During the day, Senpai Ciprian is a successful business professional, leading a global innovation team for one of the largest marketing research companies out there, and is a graduate of Sociology and Political Science, with Master's in business management and in philosophy.
At night, at Imazaki Dojo, Senpai Ciprian is investing himself in nurturing the younger karate-ka and is known in our ranks for not compromising on form or endurance and always striving to perfect his technique while instilling the same passion for it into the people he is coaching.
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what people are saying
Im beholden to sensei and the Imazaki dojo. It fosters a culture of learning, of unity, of discipline, of toughness, and harmony.
GodFree Toussaint
Best Dojo in the city. My son loves it!
Jaleel Muhammad
Going to the Brazilian jiu jitsu class for over a year now and loving the instruction and class with Coach Thor!
Frank Shu
Great dojo for kids and parents alike. Sensei Seijo and Sensei Joy have an amazing program.
nicole steinmetz
I loved the experience! The teacher’s are so nice and helpful. Thank you for letting my child try this
Clementine
Imazaki dojo is a great place with great people. I strongly recommend!
Jose Luis Lopez
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Imazaki Dojo
Phone: 312 753 3359
Email: imazakidojo@gmail.com
