Sensei-Guro T. Kent Nelson started his martial arts training in 1984, spending seven years studying the Korean Kicking art of Chang Moo Kwon TaeKwon-Do. After finding himself in a real-life self defense situation, Nelson decided to expand his base of knowledge by enrolling in a Japanese System based Dojo where he studied the arts of Iki-Shin-Do Karate (art of striking) , Jujitsu (art of joint locks and chokes), Kobudo (art of Okinawan weapons), and Iaido (art of the sword).

Nelson enjoyed the structure of the classes and high focus level of all the students very much. A lot of emphasis was placed on courtesy & self discipline, something he believes we are missing too munch of in our world today. He feels that the hard nose traditional methods of training were extremely beneficial in his strong character development.

Nelson was amazed at the differences between the systems he studied, each with its own unique advantages and drawbacks. The main drawback being that the structure and mind set for each system was different, making it very difficult to switch from using one set of techniques to another without having to completely change your body structure, stance, and way of thinking.

To combat this problem, in 1992 he began to catalog the effective techniques in each system he studied, and threw out the ineffective or impractical. However he knew at this point all he had was a hodge-podge of unconnected material, so Nelson began to study and develop the transitions between the techniques. He looked for and developed the pathways that allowed one to freely flow from one form of defense into another.

Over the years of training, Nelson began to recognize the underlying principals of movement, leverage, and weight distribution that were universal in almost all martial arts. He devised a curriculum to teach those guiding principals, and how to apply them in various situations and ranges. This made his material connected and interchangeable, instead of just a grab bag of different techniques.

He calls this curriculum he teaches Kai-Shin (style of an open mind & open heart). It is his goal to teach techniques which can apply in modern day society, while still teaching the character building skills of a traditional martial art.                           

On May 13, 1997 Kai-Shin became recognized and endorsed by the Unity Martial Arts Association and has been growing ever since.

As the years have passed, Sensei-Guro Nelson has engulfed himself in both traditional arts such as Shorin-Ryu, Tuite’ Jutsu, Kyusho Jutsu (vital point striking), and Fune Sao (trapping & striking), as well as more modern day systems like Suikendo, Boxing, Kickboxing, Grappling & Ground-Fighting. He also enjoys a very in depth study of the Filipino martial arts such as Kali and mixed forms of Silat.

He has trained with such masters as Taika Seiyu Oyata (founder of Oyata Shin Shu Ho Ryu), and Filipino knife expert Dr. Gyi.

Taika Oyata and Kent Nelson		Kent Nelson, Dr. Gyi, Gil Kinckerbocker

Sensei-Guro Nelson also continues to train with such living legends as Sensei Tadashi Yamashita (founder of Suikendo), and regularly attends seminars taught by Guro Dan Inosanto (Filipino and Chinese martial arts expert, and top student of the late Bruce Lee) several times a year.

Sensei Nelson and Yamashita Sensei		Kent Nelson and Guro Dan Inosanto

In addtion to his study of the fighting arts, Nelson also researches the defensive tactics of Police officers, soliders and those who are faced with the possibility of life and death situations every day.   He does this by training with "Controlled F.O.R.C.E.", one of the best and most well respected companies specializing in training Law Enforcement and Military personnel on Survival Tactics & Anti-Terrorism methods.   He currently holds a Level 1 & 2 instructor certification.  

Don Roberts Co-Director of Controlled F.O.R.C.E. with Kent Nelson	Officer John Pinkstaff of the Toledo Police Department.       Friend, training partner, & fellow Controlled F.O.R.C.E. instructor with Kent Nelson

He also holds an instructorship under Paul Vunak, primary Hand-To-Hand combat instructor for the Navy Seals from 1987-1991.  Vunak has also worked with the Department of Defense,  the Army,  Air Force, Marine Corps,  Huston SWAT and the United States Marshalls. 

Sensei-Guro T. Kent Nelson training at the home of  Sifu Paul Vunak	Vunak on the cover of Black Belt Magazine

Nelson is also a contributer to the newest book by martial arts authors L.A. Kane & Kris Wilder entitled "The Way To Black Belt"

Available through www.Amazon.com

It is because of his tireless pursuit in the arts that his curriculum of Kai-Shin is in a constant state of evolution and improvement. Sensei Nelson has an incredibly deep passion for the martial arts, and it is his goal to spread the positivity and benefits that he has received from them, to others.