Testimonials
| I began
teaching Boxing
& Kickboxing to T. Kent Nelson in 1996. We still train and spar
together to this day, and over the years I have developed a great
respect for him as a student, a martial artist, and a
friend. He is a very formidable sparring partner
with
excellent technique and ability to apply it, as well as a very good and
thorough instructor with both the physical skills, and the "know how"
behind it, to produce excellent students, and prepare them for what
they may actually encounter in the street. At the same time
he
manages to preserve enough traditions and the essential elements to
keep what he teaches an art, and not just a way to hurt people. Sensei Nelson also possesses the proper mental attitude necessary to pass on to students in order to keep them humble yet strong. One of his most impressing characteristics is his amount of knowledge and history of the martial arts and his open mindedness to learn new techniques and new philosophies. He is honest, and a person you can trust. In a time of scam artists and self promoted masters just aiming for the money or the power trip, I can honestly say that T. Kent Nelson is the real thing. |
 - Orcel Banks
* Boxing / Tit Shu Kwon Shu Kickboxing Over 20 years martial arts experience |
| I’ve
experienced
many styles of the martial arts over the years, both eastern and
western. In my field of work, I have to. What I
haven’t experienced often is a single universal style that I
was
willing to put in the “just right”
category. After
getting to know Sensei Nelson, I realized that it wasn’t due
to a
deficiency in any of the disciplines; it was the lack of an
extraordinary teacher. A good teacher not only has a vast repertoire of techniques that he continuously increases & improves upon. He must also understand the similarities & differences of many styles, and how to flow seamlessly between them. He must have the unquenchable passion to never settle for where he’s at, but always strive to be better. He should perceive the faults in things without ridiculing where they come from. He ought to know the vast histories & origins of what he studies, yet seek to sift through the truths & misleadings. And most importantly, he must be able to adapt to every type of student, both mentally & physically. I am truly fortunate to find such a one in T. Kent Nelson. His expertise belies his age, no doubt due to the fire with which he constantly seeks to further himself, while keeping a humble attitude. The Kai Shin Kan Dojo is not the first school to converge the styles of many different cultures; not by any means. But it is one of the few that does it well. |
 - Brett Eckhart Multiple years of study in the martial arts. Kai Shin Kan Dojo instructor's assistant since 2004 Co-Owner of Soul Synergy combat theater group. soulsynergy.net * Kai-Shin * Kali |
T. Kent Nelson is a pioneer in the modern day of martial arts. Charismatic and conceptual, he approaches his craft with an open spirit and an open mind. Anyone, regardless of style, stands to benefit from his teachings. - Dan Holland Co-Owner & Instructor of the Itama Dojo, East Lansing MI. * Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido * Nihon Jujutsu * Kodokan Judo |
 |
| T. Kent Nelson has been a
student of mine since the summer of ’07. As I have gotten to know
Kent more I am really impressed at the quality of person and Martial
Artist he aspires to be. His dedication for not only learning, but just
as important, passing on the information he learns is very rare. I feel
very fortunate to have him as a student and as a fellow PFS Instructor. -Shawn Kitzman Owner and Head Instructor of Synergy Martial Arts Progressive Fighting Systems, Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino Martial Arts Instructor under Sifu Paul Vunak |
 |
| T. Kent Nelson has Martial Arts knowledge well beyond his years. He is
an enthusiastic instructor with a lot of spirit and desire to learn
& train. I've known him for over a decade and find him to be a
very caring and giving instructor. Anyone would benefit from his teachings. - Jeff Sipe Instructor of the Michigan Suibukan, Lansing division * 3rd Dan Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate-do * 2nd Dan Yamashita-Matayoshi Kobudo * Suikendo Practitioner |
 |
| On May 13th,
2006 I
attended a seminar on Filipino knife fighting. The Kali
based system of edged weapon techniques was fascinating and
interesting. I have been training with the incredibly talented Sensei T. Kent Nelson at the Kai Shin Kan Dojo and am enjoying the challenge of learning this masterful form of martial arts. I would recommend that anyone seeking to gain new knowledge, or add to existing skills, to attend one of his seminars, participate in a drill, and you just may be amazed with what you can accomplish after training with this form of self defense. |
 - Cliff Schartzer Private Kai Shin Kan Student |
| Sensei Nelson is a
phenomenal instructor. His knowledge of martial arts is
mind-blowing, and his ability to teach and instruct is nothing
short of amazing. Not only is the Kai Shin Kan Dojo a place for
you to work out and learn martial arts, it is a place to learn about
yourself and test your limitations all under the watchful, supportive
eyes of Sensei Nelson. I highly recommend this dojo for anyone
interested in learning martial arts, getting a good workout, or just
trying something new. His enthusiasm is contagious and he truly
believes in your abilities, all of these things make for a wonderful
experience. -Dawn Weisser, RN *Private Armas-Kali student |
 |
| Unlike T. Kent Nelson, I
have no knowledge of Martial Arts. My background is Wrestling. Along
with training and competing for over 20 years, I have taught Freestyle,
Greco Roman, and Olympic Style wrestling. The past few months, I have
had the privilege of grappling with Sensei Nelson. His vision and
willingness to keep an open mind truly inspires me, not only to learn,
but to teach. My definition of leadership: Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration—of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine. More than anything else today, followers believe they are part of a system, a process that lacks heart. If there is one thing a leader can do to connect with followers at a human, or better still a spiritual level, it is to become engaged with them fully, to share experiences and emotions. I feel T. Kent Nelson embodies my definition of a leader. Chris Weirauch |
 - Chris Weirauch Former wrestling coach for Dansville High School Dansville, MI. |
Sensei Nelson is a gifted teacher.
His attention to detail and perception allow him to see and correct
problems that can go unnoticed, otherwise. His teaching style matches
my learning style very well. He recently told me of an analogy that
describes it better than I could (it goes something like): 'Everything
we learn is like making a brick wall. We take the time to perfectly
place each and every brick, one at a time. When we're done, we have a
perfect wall.' (Ofcourse, he put it better)
I like getting and solidifying the basics before building on them. I don't mind a slower learning curve because Sensei Kent knows how to build the brick wall. I know he'll help me place the next brick and make sure it's set in right, before going on to the next brick. Sure, sometimes he hands me the next brick before I'm really sure I'm ready for it, but that's his job, and he's good at it.
Sensei Nelson managed to, through a Kai-Shin drill, finally get my body mechanics (for boxing) to improve significantly... something I've been struggling to fix for some time. It was startling and very gratifying when it started coming more naturally.
Sensei Nelson also helped me overcome a trigger: I greatly dislike being slapped (I have such a gift for understatement sometimes). He didn't do this by starting to slap me silly until I got used to it, and he also didn't totally avoid it. He showed insight and delicacy that is very unusual, (allow me a brief moment of chauvinism) especially in men.
Sensei Nelson not only is an excellent teacher, but he looks after his students, mind, body and spirit.
He reserves time for covering the philosophy of martial arts. He comes up with an idea to discuss and has his students share their thoughts and ideas without judgement, allowing everyone to grow from the discussion.
He is also very safety conscious, taking care to protect each student (as much as possible) from the particular frailties of their bodies.
He has a tightly knit school... and yet all his students openly welcome new students. The community spirit of the dojo is easily felt by those open to it.
Sensei Nelson has a deep passion both for the martial arts, as well as for teaching. He cares a great deal for the students who come to him, seeking a better knowledge of the martial arts, and yet manages to balance professionalism and friendliness in his dojo.
- Theo Shlien
(no picture available
* Kai-Shin & Armas-Kali student at
The Kai Shin Kan Dojo since
December 2006
I like getting and solidifying the basics before building on them. I don't mind a slower learning curve because Sensei Kent knows how to build the brick wall. I know he'll help me place the next brick and make sure it's set in right, before going on to the next brick. Sure, sometimes he hands me the next brick before I'm really sure I'm ready for it, but that's his job, and he's good at it.
Sensei Nelson managed to, through a Kai-Shin drill, finally get my body mechanics (for boxing) to improve significantly... something I've been struggling to fix for some time. It was startling and very gratifying when it started coming more naturally.
Sensei Nelson also helped me overcome a trigger: I greatly dislike being slapped (I have such a gift for understatement sometimes). He didn't do this by starting to slap me silly until I got used to it, and he also didn't totally avoid it. He showed insight and delicacy that is very unusual, (allow me a brief moment of chauvinism) especially in men.
Sensei Nelson not only is an excellent teacher, but he looks after his students, mind, body and spirit.
He reserves time for covering the philosophy of martial arts. He comes up with an idea to discuss and has his students share their thoughts and ideas without judgement, allowing everyone to grow from the discussion.
He is also very safety conscious, taking care to protect each student (as much as possible) from the particular frailties of their bodies.
He has a tightly knit school... and yet all his students openly welcome new students. The community spirit of the dojo is easily felt by those open to it.
Sensei Nelson has a deep passion both for the martial arts, as well as for teaching. He cares a great deal for the students who come to him, seeking a better knowledge of the martial arts, and yet manages to balance professionalism and friendliness in his dojo.
- Theo Shlien
(no picture available
* Kai-Shin & Armas-Kali student at
The Kai Shin Kan Dojo since
December 2006
| When I first met Kent
Nelson my expectation was that his system of Kai-Shin (which I had
never heard of) would be a ‘mixed bag’ of techniques
lacking the structure and order of a more traditional martial arts
curriculum. I am pleased to be able to say that my initial
assumptions couldn’t have been further from the truth. What has impressed me about Kai-Shin is its focus on the principles connecting different arts. Kai-Shin is not simply an eclectic study of the techniques of different systems, but (more importantly for advanced students) it is a study of the underlying physiological similarities and body mechanics that connect all systems. I have trained regularly with Kent Nelson since 2004. As a training partner and friend, he has helped me to grow in new and unexpected directions which have contributed to my overall development as a martial artist. During this time, I have had several opportunities to observe his abilities as an instructor, the overall concern he displays for student development and the passion he brings to teaching. Because of my experience working closely with him, I am pleased to be able to highly recommend his system to anyone considering martial arts training for the first time, as well as to veteran practitioners looking to expand their knowledge of different arts. |
 - Michael Thue
20 years martial arts experience * 4th Dan Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu * 1st Dan Matayoshi Kobudo * Suikendo Practitioner Grand Rapids, MI. |