Our Sensei

Sensei N Dhawan

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Message from Director

Oss.

It is with great humility, gratitude and pride, that I welcome you to our Institute. Our Dojo, over the years and decades, has established itself as, not only a Karate school or gym, but an Institution.

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Our membership is built on diversity. Diversity in:

Age: from 4 – 64 year olds; 

Ethnicity: a multi-cultural environment; 

Vocation: from school/university students, to Doctors, Lawyers, Law Enforcement Officers, Engineers, IT Experts, Entrepreneurs, and more.

Skill Levels: Beginners to National Champions, US National Team Members to Accredited Coaches, Licensed Judges and Referees.

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It always amazes me to see the camaradrie and strong bonds that have formed within our Karate family. We are all on our journey of studying Karate for different reasons or destinations. Some of us want to get fitter, stronger, more disciplined, more confident, or, perhaps, become a National or World Champion. But all of us have one thing in common that cannot be doubted… we are all aspiring to overcome ourselves… by becoming better than what we were yesterday. That is the true pursuit.

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My own Karate journey started in the 1980’s. As a young Indian boy living in North Africa, I was always encouraged to get better grades in school, be well-mannered, and on numerous occasions, I was humbly reminded to also become physically strong to defend myself. As time passed, I realized that the reasons for me continuing on my Karate journey had changed. Each passing year of my Karate journey revealed to me, and taught me, more than achieving any personal goals have done. Hence, the ‘journey’ is more important than the destination.

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I hope that on your Karate journey, you will find associating with our Institute, as gratifying as I have. Our 2-storey building on Broadway is a dream that took 15 years to realize and come true. I hope that each one of you will contribute in enriching the experience for your fellow-students as well as the teaching staff.

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Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to be prudent, considerate, and resilient. Nature has always asked us to enjoy the outdoors, get the sunlight, eat healthy, and be active… isn’t that what we are now looking forward to making part of our routine? So, please, let us all forge on the journey to uplift and empower ourselves and our community. 

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Looking forward to training with all of you and your family members.

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Yours in Karatedo,

N. Dhawan

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Rank: 6th Dan with the Japan Karate Association (www.jka.or.jp)
Instructor Qualification: 'A' Class

Judge Qualification: 'A' Class

Examiner Qualification: 'B' Class

Certified National Karate Coach: USANKF, (www.usankf.org), Member of USOC.
Certified National Karate Referee: USANKF, Member of USOC.
Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist, (PES), with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, (NASM).

1995: Joined JKA-India Delhi Team; Appointed Karate Coach at Amity International School, Noida, U.P., India.
1997: Selected for AUKO (AKF) Asian Karatedo Championships, (Men's -65kg Indiv Kimute), Macao.
1997: Central India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Below 60 Kg Individual Kumite Champion; Men's Open Kumite 2nd Place; Men's Team Kumite Champion.
1998: Member of Indian National Team at JKA World Shoto Cup Championships in Paris, France.
1999: 3rd Place Men's Team Kumite AIKF National Championships, Bangalore; 4th place Men's Individual Kata.
1999: Member of AIKF All Styles Indian National team at the AKF Asian Championships in Singapore.
2000: JKA India National Championships Men's Individual Kumite Top 8; Men's Individual Kata Top 8.
2000: Started Karate Training Program for Navjyoti - Delhi Police Foundation.
2000: Member of Indian National Team at JKA World Shoto Cup Championships in Japan.
2000: 3rd place in Men's Individual Kumite & 3rd place in Team Kumite at Akita Prefecture Championships, Akita, Japan.
2000: Started Karate Training Program at Barry John's IMAGO School of Acting, Noida, U.P., India.
2000: Started Karate Training Program for employees at Shiv Khera's Blueprint For Success, New Delhi.
2001: Did not compete, but produced 27 medals from his team of 22 students at the JKA India National Championships.
2001: Produced 'Karatedo... a journey', documentary film. Preview can be seen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBkwQu_x4Zs
2002: JKA India Men's Individual Kata 4th Place; Men's Individual Kumite 4th place.
2002: Appointed Visiting Karate Instructor at DAV Public School, Faridabad, NCR, India.
2003: All India Karatedo Federation (AIKF) -65 Men's Individual Kumite Champion; Men's Individual Kata 3rd place.
2003: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2003: Appointed Karate Instructor at Delhi Public School International, New Delhi.
2004: JKA India Men's Individual Kata 2nd place; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2004: Member of Indian National Team at JKA World Shoto Cup Championships in Japan.
2004: 3rd Place in Individual Kata, 3rd Place in Individual Kumite, JKA Akita Prefecture Championships, Akita, Japan.
2005: AIKF -65 Men's Individual Kumite 2nd place; Men's Open Kumite 3rd place.
2005: JKA India Men's Individual Kata 2nd place; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2006: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2006: Member of Indian National Team at JKA World Shoto Cup Championships in Sydney, Australia.
2006: Karate Instructor at University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
2007: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2008: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Top 8.
2008: Established the JKA WF Chicago Karate Institute, Inc.
2009: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Champion.
2010: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Champion.
2011: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite 2nd place.
2011: Member of Indian National Team at JKA World Shoto Cup Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
2012: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Champion.
2013: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Champion.
2013: Appointed Karate Instructor at Lifetime Fitness, Inc.
2013: Started Employee Karate Training Program at Royal Prestige, Hillside, IL, USA.
2014: JKA India Men's Individual Kata Champion; Men's Individual Kumite Champion.
2014: Coach to Indian National Juniors Team at the 13th JKA World Cup, Tokyo: 2 boys reached Top 8.
2014: Judged the 13th JKA World Funakoshi Gichin Cup Seniors Championship in Tokyo, Japan.
2016: Started After-School Karate Program at Dist 89 Elementary Schools in DuPage County, IL, USA.
2017: Judge for the 14th JKA World Funakoshi Gichin Championship, Limerick, Ireland, Aug 18 - 20, 2017.
2020: Coach to 2 members selected for JKA USA National Team for the 15thth JKA World Funakoshi Gichin Championship, Japan.
2021: Moved the JKA WF Chicago Karate Institute to a new, permanent facility on Broadway, Aurora, IL, USA.