Robert Van Valkenburgh
Kogen Dojo
Kogen Dojo
549 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard
Severna Park, MD 21146
410-544-8114
kogendojo.com
rvalkenburg@yahoo.com
Our Mission: To create an open and inviting training environment where people of all ages, backgrounds, and gender, from all walks of life are appreciated and respected while receiving professional, experienced, and practical instruction in a clean, safe, family-friendly facility.
Our Name: Kogen, a term coined by Ellis Amdur, is Japanese for ‘old and new,’ but, like Kogen Dojo itself, the word Kogen has evolved and come to mean much more. Kogen means the embracing of opposites, of differences, of the old and the new, of the traditional and the modern, of the proven and innovative. It means that the needs of the group are greater than the desires of the individual, but that the individual is also always respected and heard. It is an ideal. It is a set of values. It is our mission. It is the people who train at our academy and their families, our families. Kogen is us, making each other better day by day. We are Kogen.
Our Story: Kogen Dojo was formed as an ideal, out of necessity. A group of martial artists from diverse training backgrounds were discussing the fact that there were no local academies that were focused on self-defense as their central principle. The founders of Kogen Dojo wanted to create a space where they themselves wanted to train, a space where respect and effectiveness were all that mattered. In addition to creating a space for themselves, they also wanted a place where their families, friends, and the families of their friends would feel welcome and appreciated.
Combining their experiences, with the common goal of offering Self Defense For The Whole Family, Kogen Dojo was formed. At Kogen Dojo, students of all ages can train and cross-train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing with each art offering its own unique but complimentary perspective on self defense, unarmed combat, and sport. In addition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, Kogen members are encouraged to participate in our Yoga classes as a way of improving mobility, health, and wellness.
The coaches at Kogen Dojo are as diverse as our students, so our members are able to find the right class times and teaching styles to fit their needs. Whether you are looking for morning, daytime, or evening classes, gi Jiu-Jitsu or nogi Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense or for sport, Muay Thai for fitness or for competition, kids classes or classes for adults, Kogen Dojo has something for you. We know that our members have busy, ever-changing lifestyles and schedules and our programs are designed for flexibility and adaptability to accommodate the modern practitioner’s wants and needs.
What started as a couple of friends training together for fun and mutual improvement through martial arts has transformed into an entire community of diverse, but like-minded individuals. When we say “We Are Kogen,” we truly mean that it is our members and our instructors that make Kogen Dojo what it is. No single person, personality, or style is considered better or more important than another at Kogen Dojo. It takes all of us to make all of us better. Kogen is more than just a martial art school. Kogen is a community. Kogen is a family.
As we look into the future, the Kogen Dojo team has begun talks of expanding into new areas, both in terms of location and focus. In the upcoming months, be on the lookout for KogenFIT, Kogen Holistic, & more!
Articles by this Professional:
- Finding the Martial Art That Best Addresses Your Personal Goals
- Martial Arts Transcending Personal Challenges
- Respect, Focus, and Discipline In Martial Arts
- On Camaraderie and Belonging In Martial Arts
- The Deeper Benefits Of Martial Art Training
- Empower Children To Stop Bullying
- Finding the Right Martial Art School