Zenzan Dojo was founded in 2006 by Shihan James Huss. The word zenzan means “first range of mountains,” the foothills visible from the upstate of South Carolina where Zenzan Dojo was founded. Though originally named Suenaka Zenzan Dojo in honor of his teacher, Sensei Roy Suenaka, Shihan Huss changed the name to Zenzan Dojo in 2024 to reflect the influence of Shifu Dong Zhengxiong on his teaching and training methodologies.
Zenzan Dojo is no longer in the foothills, but the name remains the same, for the word zenzan symbolizes the first obstacles we must overcome on the mountainous path to mastery. And though we do not accept the artificial separation of body, mind, and spirit, we do focus on the physical part of the journey through the practice of Hokkon-ho Budo, which includes the arts of Aikijutsu, Karatejutsu, and Tai Chi Chuan.