Success has not always been easy for Farhad Varasteh, who "started over" several times in his life. A very successful young man in Iran, he went to France for four years before immigrating to Canada in 1986. Starting once again with nothing, he worked his way back to a successful career.

Farhad Varasteh is living proof of the old adage that the real strength of a man lies in his character, not in the physical feats he can perform. Farhad recalls, "I am positive that without Karate training, I would have died a number of years ago. Many times, I saw others crack under the mental pressure. The fact that I'm here is a miracle of my Karate training."

Farhad first became facinated by karate at the age of eight on the school grounds of a boarding school in London, England. A champion athlete and gymnast, he was looking for a challenge. He found that challenge when he picked a fight with a schoolmate (the son of a martial arts instructor in Japan), who was practicing some fascinating fighting moves that he described as "Karate".

In 1982, Farhad operated a Karate School in Paris and founded the World Union of Kan-Zen-Kai Karate-Do Organization and coached the team that won the European "All-star" Championships in Rome. In 1986, Varasteh and his family left France to begin a new life in Canada. By 1991, Farhad opened his first North American Karate School in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and some of his students from the University of Toronto followed him.

Farhad's family joins him in his success. His son, Pirooz is the Chief Instructor at Kan-Zen-Kai. He holds a 6th Degree Black Belt and is currently the Canadian National Karate Champion and the European "All-star" karate champion. Pirooz's extensive training in the martial arts and his many years of implementing weight training and diet programs have helped many students of kan-Zen-Kai. Pirooz with his over 30 years of karate training is also The Vice President of The World Union of Kanzenkai Karate do Organizations & will have to assume responsibility on a Global Scale for the style that his father founded.

Farhad Varasteh, Training Pirooz at age 3

The Dojo, as it is also known, boasts the largest 10,000 square feet of space and is the best equipped of all dojos in North America, with standard safety Olympic mats, air-conditioning, modern and traditional equipment, and a complete weight room.

We invite you to learn more about the Kan-Zen-Kai Karate & Fitness Centre that, for Eight years in a row, has been rated as the No. 1 club in Canada.

Kan-Zen means "perfect" method. The name of the discipline is Kan-Zen-Ryu, is the name of the style of karate which means "perfect way." Kan-Zen-Kai is the name of the organization through which this teaching is offered to students.

During the time that the styles of Kan-Zen-Ryu was developed, I had studied many different style of karate and other martial arts styles for decades. My whole aim was to create a style with no limitations, no weak points. It is wider in scope because it encompasses all the techniques of the Koreans and Okinawans, the hand techniques of Japan, and sweeping techniques. The art of sweeping in this style is the most complete and systematic that exists. We have three categories of sweeping techniques for the attacker and two for the blocker. These can be done in many different combinations. No other style goes into such great detail.

Although our style and teaching methods are very unique, we still follow the universally accepted principles and philosophy of Karate.

Kan-Zen-Ryu is essentially the evolution and synthesis of:

• Shorinji Ryu (Kori Hisataka) because of its emphasis on the practical aspects of Karate. The full contact Kumite wearing a kendo armour and no hand or foot protection necessitates very good development and use of the proper contact points.
• Wado-Ryu (H. Ohtsuka) because of the fluidity and the use of lateral motions in defense – emphasis is more on body and leg work to neutralize the attacking.
• Go-Jyu-Ryu (G. Yamaguchi) because of its emphasis on speed and consequently small fighting stances and stress on mobility – use of the front leg in attaching.
• Ishin-Ryu (T. Shimabuku) totally realistic approach to fighting – with the exception of eye gauging etc. – all other techniques are allowed – no protection on the body, head, or legs.

Kan-Zen-Ryu is a systematic categorization of offensive-defensive techniques and tactics. It emphasizes the application of theory to practice such as the Go-No-Sen, Sen-No-Sen, Go-No-Sen-No-Sen, and Tae-No-Sen principles. While most authentic styles acknowledge these principles, they do not sufficiently stress the importance of their application. Kan-Zen-Ryu, on the other hand, not only stresses strongly these principles in Kumite but also, continues to evolve and seek new and effective offensive and defensive techniques and tactics; In other words evolution and fluidity are the essence of the Style.

The leg sweep or "Ashi Barai" in Kan-Zen-Ryu has become a very systematic and effective art. Kan-Zen-Ryu is a "soft" style relying on lateral body movements, "Tae Sabaki", and leg movements, "Ashi Sabaki", to neutralize the attack and counter rather than relying on a "hard" head-on collision. A perfect balance of the hands and the legs, with no weak points, is essential. While other styles heavily favour the use of the legs at the expense of the hands and vice-a-versa.

Kan-Zen-Ryu is also the first style to emphasize "cross training" and emphasizes the importance of power building. Instructors of other styles thought weight training would slow you down. Now even sprinters rely on strengthening exercises using very heavy weights to develop power, coupled with power-to-speed conversion.

Kan-Zen-Ryu of its Evolutionary approach to teaching & its unprecidented achievements prove it. No other Karate style in the past twenty years has won more provincial, national, and international competitions than Kan-Zen-Ryu.