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ABOUT
US
OUR COMPANY, INSTRUCTORS and STUDENTS |
COMPANY
HISTORY
"Zacharatos Karate
& Kickboxing and
Soccer"
A family owned businesss. (818) 881-8200. It was originally started (as "Zacharatos Karate")
in 1992, by (now) husband and wife team Mr. and Mrs. Zacharatos. As you
will see, they are fighters in every sense of the word.
Not by choice, Mr. & Mrs. Zacharatos have had to prove themselves as champions in business as well. Since they started their company, they have been challenged time and time again, but always manage to land on their feet no matter what is thrown at them. For starters, their first location in Woodland Hills California, custom designed by Mrs. Zacharatos, was lost completely when the shopping center their studio was located in burned down, and after being located there for only 9 months. Although devastated by that loss,(and compounded by the fact that Mrs. Zacharatos was scheduled for surgery to repair a broken nose sustained while sparring only weeks before), within a few weeks after the fire, they opened their second location in Tarzana California. This location was also lost due to the Northridge earthquake, after being located there for only 10 months. Not being the kind to give up, they opened their third location (also in Tarzana), and were there for about five years. But that location was lost too when a new landlord took over the building and nearly doubled their rent.
They survived
all these losses by being strong, and believing that everything usually
has a way of working out for the best, even if it is not apparent right
away. It took time to rebuild their business every time they had to relocate,
but with a loyal following and hard work, they came back bigger and better
each time. Given that all their locations were like second homes, and
after all the losses they sustained, it was time to make a change. They
moved their business to the Calabasas Tennis & Swim center in 1999, and
after a rough start, business is booming better than ever! Inspite
of all the hardships over the years, it has been very rewarding for Mr.
and Mrs. Zacharatos to see the positive impact that the Martial Arts and
Kickboxing has had on their students, and to look back at the now adult
students who have become good friends, many who began training with them
as children.
Students can make use of the Tennis & Swim Center's facility when
they sign up for classes with Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer.
They can use the shower and locker room facilites, and there is great
parking. For a nominal fee they can use the pool, and there is day care
for the kids. Call the center directly for more information on programs
other than Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer, at (818) 222-2782. ( For
more information on our Karate/kickboxing classes, visit "schedule" page,
for more info on the latest Soccer classes which start at age 4 and up,
visit the new Soccer page. For directions, visit "Contact")
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Mr.
and Mrs Zacharatos
using escrima stick weapons below |
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Photo
of Master Zacharatos and Jamie BenAziz-Zacharatos
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ABOUT
THE INSTRUCTORS
MASTER.
G.T. MARK ZACHARATOS (seventh dan) (you can call him Zach, or Mr. Calabasas!)
Master Zacharatos, Chief instructor of " Zacharatos Karate
& Kickboxing and Soccer", has been teaching karate, kickboxng,
and boxing, and training fighters, for 25 years. As an instructor, he
has found the right balance between discipline and having fun. He is also
known for giving his students nicknames that seem to stay with them for
years later.
He is a Seventh Degree Blackbelt in AmericanTang Soo Do style karate, and a former professional kickboxer, who was rated top ten in the world during his entire professional fighting career from 1977-1982, where he was known for his knockout straight right punch. His pro kickboxing titles include: the WKA North American light heavyweight kickboxing championship title 1979, and the PKA middleweight California State Championship kickboxing title 1980.
He began training in Boxing when he was a child, and began training in karate when he was a teenager, one of his instructors was Chuck Norris. After he received his first blackbelt at the age of 20, he began training and then competing in kickboxing (known then as full contact karate). While he was fighting professionally, Master Zacharatos began teaching karate. Growing up in Belgium, he was also a semi-pro "All Star" soccer player. As a young adult, he was deciding whether to pursue Soccer or Kickboxing professionally, and chose Kickboxing. (currently, he has gone back to soccer, teaching workshops to kids and adults--see "soccer" page for more info)
Before going into business with his wife and opening their first studio together, Master Zacharatos was chief instructor at Sherman Oaks Karate for about 15 years, that is where is met his wife who was a student there at the time. In addition to competing as a professional kickboxer, for many years Master Zacharatos also competed in karate tournaments, in both individual fighting and in team fighting competitions. For 5 consecutive years in the 1980's, he was a member of the "Sherman Oaks Raiders" five man blackbelt team. Their team remained undefeated for more than a decade at the world known Ed Parker's International Karate Championships. During the 5 years Master Zacharatos was on the team, they beat the favored to win "Budwiser" team that included Billy Blanks.
He has done stunt work in martial arts movies, and appeared in many martial arts magazines and magazine covers. He has also done some bodyguarding and security work. Additionally, he is currently a professional kickboxing referee and judge for the California State Athletic Commission. He is a former semi professional "all star" soccer player and is a licensed Soccer coach. He is fluent in French and English.
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Master
Zacharatos, Professional Referee for the California State Athletic
Comission. |
MS
JAMIE BENAZIZ-ZACHARATOS (third dan)
Ms Jamie BenAziz-Zacharatos, also an instructor of Zacharatos Karate &
Kickboxing and Soccer, has been teaching Karate & Kickboxing for
about 15 years. She is a Third Degree Blackbelt in American Tang Soo
Do style Karate, and also works as a graphic and fine artist, a businesswoman, and
has a daughter with her husband, Master Zacharatos. (but she doesn't call him "master"!)
Unlike her husband, Master Zacharatos, whose entire life revolves around karate and Kickboxing, she started her martial arts training later in life, demonstrating how one can benefit and achieve their martial arts goals at any time in their lives, even if they have another career. She designed all of their Karate/Kickboxing studios, as well as negotiated the leases. She designed the "Zacharatos" logo, and website, and her new art website: designsbyjamie.com, and more recently, wrote/produced/directed the "Zacharatos" television commercials which can also be viewed on this website (soccer commercial, on the soccer page, and the karate commercial on the news page)
As a free lance artist for the last 20 years, she has done commissioned paintings for public buildings as well as for private homes and offices, designed logos, interior design and faux painting, and has also sold her "art to wear" t-shirt line to major department stores. More recently she has done photo retouching, movie posters, and web site design with computer graphics, and had an art exhibit showing her most recent works. The unique combination of the fine art and the martial arts, attracted the most attention with her abstract weapon paintings, as featured in "Women and Guns" magazine. She has also appeared in several local newspapers and magazines. For more on her art, you can check out her new website at: designsbyjamie.com.
By working in sports, business, and in the arts, she has found a balance physically, mentally, and creatively.
SPOTLIGHT ON SOME
OF OUR OUTSTANDING ADVANCED STUDENTS
MR.
BRIAN " QUICKDRAW" PAZERA
Brian started training with Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing when
he was just 12 years old. He stuck with it, and by the age of 17,
had competed in numerous kickboxing competitions as an amateur fighter,
where he was known for his spinning bottom fists and powerful high kicks.
He also earned a championship belt. During that time, he finished
high school one year early, and simultaneously completed one year of college.
He is also working his way up the ranks in Karate. He is a fine example
of how the focus and confidence gained at a young age by training in kickboxing
and the martial arts has changed his life and enabled him to continue
to achieve goals in other areas of his life. He is also accomplished in
wood work, and archery, and teaches woodworking at a local art school.
Currently, he is studying to be a Chiropractor!
JUNIOR
BLACKBELTS
MISS
KATIE MARIN (first dan)
Katie started training with "Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing and
Soccer" when she was only 5 years old. She demonstrated such
talent and such a good attitude and willingness to learn, that an exception
was made to our rule at the time of not allowing students to begin karate
until the age of 6. She achieved her junior blackbelt when she was 11
years old, and sailed through three one inch thick boards stacked together
as is required for her test. With many first place trophies in karate
competitions, she was known for her awesome spinning back kicks. Katie
is a straight "A" student in school, and she excels in many other sports
in addition to karate--she was the star player in her basketball team,
and played tennis competitively in High School, including tournaments at
the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. She is a wonderful role model
for young students of "Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer",
especially for young girls. Katie is currently attending college, and wants to be a doctor,
and she is one of our volunteer teaching assistants during the summer.
KATIE
MR ADI SAYAS (first
dan)
Adi started training with "Zacharatos
Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer" when he was 7 years old. He
received his junior blackbelt when he was 13 years old. This talented
student and competitor is known for his speed and agility while sparring.
Adi is an excellent student in school, and loves to participate in many
other sports. He rollerblades, jet skis, cycles, swims and plays tennis.
Adi is also an accomplished pianist. Now that he has achieved his junior
blackbelt, he enjoys teaching the younger beginning students in karate.
Adi is a wonderful example to these young students who look up to him,
that if they believe in themselves and work hard, they too can achieve
their goals and junior blackbelt at a young age.
ADI
MR.
SHANE BICK (first dan)
Shane started training with 'Zacharatos
Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer" when he was only 5 years
old, and received his Junior Blackbelt at the age of 11. On his blackbelt
test, he showed a maturity beyond his years, by maintaining his composure
and focus throughout his test, as well as skill and power. It looks like
he follows in Master Zacharatos' footsteps by excelling in numerous sports!
While taking the time to train in the martial arts, Shane also played
soccer for the AYSO for about 5 years, and even assisted Master Zacharatos
with the soccer classes that he teaches in Calabasas. Last year Shane
played in an oraganized Basketball league at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas
Community Center. He currently plays for the Calabasas Raiders, a local
Football league. Now that he has achieved his blackbelt, Shane plans to
assist Master Zacharatos with some of his junior karate classes. We can
see that Shane can accomplish whatever he puts his mind to, because he
has proven that he works hard and follows through to achieve his goals.
What he has displayed through his martial arts, shows us that whatever
he decides to do in future, he has what it takes to succeed. We are proud
to include him as one of our junior blackbelts.
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SHANE
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MS KAYLA MASON (FIRST DAN)
Ms Kayla Mason started training with us at the age of about 6. At 13, she was awarded her junior blackbelt on March 3, 2008. She had an amazing test, and broke boards in a way that very few juniors can do. She broke two stacked with one elbow strike alone! She had focus, control and concentration throughout her entire test. She is also a straight A student, and a competitve swimmer. If she can succeed this much at only age 13, who knows all that she'll acomplish as she grows up! We are so proud to count her as one of our "Zacharatos" blackbelts! What a wonderful example for young children to look up to!
KAYLA
Ms Kayla Mason pictured with Master and Mrs Zacharatos
ADULT
BLACKBELTS
MS MARTITA WILKINSON (first dan)
Martita
started training with Master Zacharatos when she was a teenager, and continued
her training at Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing when Master and Mrs.
Zacharatos started their business. She received her blackbelt in her mid
twenties. She was able to work her way up the ranks to blackbelt while
holding down a full time job, and attending college, including getting
her Phd! She recently relocated to Ohio, to be a professor, and we hope
she'll come back soon, we'll miss her! She is fluent in many languages
including French, Spanish, and English, and Russian. She also likes to
scuba dive, travel, and is a talented artist. She is another example of
how many martial artists are also high achievers in other areas of their
lives. She continues to train at Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing when
in town.
MARTITA
MR. BRADLEY RUTHEERFORD (first dan)
Brad Rutherford began training with Master
Zacharatos when he was a young teen, and continued his training at Zacharatos
Karate & Kickboxing when Mr. and Mrs. Zacharatos started their business.
A natural athlete, Mr. Rutherford was known for his powerful and acrobatic
spinning jump kicks. He acheived his blackbelt at the age of 30. He is
also skilled in kickboxing and tennis. When he was younger, he was a drummer
in a rock and roll band. Now he owns a contracting business. This young
man knows how to work hard and play hard. He loves to travel, and excels
in many other sports, including boating, watersking, snowsking, jetsking,
skydiving, scuba diving, and playing tennis competitively.
BRAD
(right) RECEIVING HIS BLACKBELT
CERTIFICATE FROM MASTER ZACHARATOS
MR. RICHARD "the Captain" FENTEN (Third dan)
Richard Fenten began training with Master
Zacharatos when he was in his early fortys. He began competing in sparring
in karate tournaments when he was just a beginner, and continued to compete
all the way up the ranks, including today as a blackbelt. In better shape
than most teenagers, he acheived his blackblelt when he was
52 years old in 1997, and is an example of how it is never too late to
start training and acheive your goals in the Martial Arts. Earning
many first and second place trophies, he continued to compete in the black
belt sparring divisions of karate tournaments all over the United States,
and many times against competitors less than half is age! He also
continues to train at Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing, learning escrima
stick weapons, and earning his second degree blackbelt in 2004, and his
third degree in 2006. This is a perfect example of how there is never
a good excuse not to train!--Working out keeps you young! (and you can
still have a six pack when your in your 60's!!)
"CAPTAIN"
(right) FIRST PLACE BLACKBELT FIGHTING 1999
PICTURED
WITH MASTER. ZACHARATOS
MR. RALPH JOHNSON (fisrt dan in two styles of martial arts)
Ralph Johnson , also known as "Sergeant
Johnson", received his blackbelt in "tang soo do" style
karate from Master Zacharatos over 20 years ago. He continues to train
at Zacharatos karate & Kickboxing, as do his two teenage sons who
are nearly blackbelts themselves. In the last couple of years, Mr. Johnson
began training in a second style of martial arts, "kung fu san soo"
and is a blackbelt in that style as well. Aside from being one of the
coolest guys in town, he is also one of the original members of the music
group "Earth Wind & Fire" and when he's not touring, he
volunteers his time teaching his much in demand and popular seminars in
self defense at Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer. He
is an amazing example of how one can achieve so much in the martial arts,
even with the most demanding work schedule, by making a commitment and
sticking to it. And he does so with great enthusiasm.
PHOTO
OF MR. JOHNSON TEACHING HIS
POPULAR SELF DEFENSE SEMINARS AT
ZACHARATOS KARATE & KICKBOXING
MR.
MARK ANTHONY JOHNSON (second dan)
One of Mr. Ralph Johnson's sons, Mr Mark
Anthony, is Zacharatos Karate & Kickboxing and Soccer's first
second generation Blackbelt (his father, above, also received his blackbelt
from Master Zacharatos). Mark Anthony is one of the most naturally talented
Martial Artists, and he combines that talent with hard work and a serious
attitude--and unbeatable combination. He is one of the few capeable of
combining being graceful and powerful at the same time. He is continuing
his training, and volunteers as an assistant instructor to Master Zacharatos.
He is also featured in the "Zacharatos" commercial, and his
dad, Ralph Johnson, wrote the music for the commercial.
