About Us

Kaizen Karate was founded by Coach V in 2003.  Kaizen Karate has been offering instruction in non-traditional Tang Soo Do as part of its core curriculum since it founding. Around 2010 Chinese Kenpo was introduced into the Kaizen curriculum.  Kaizen Karate's team of highly trained martial artists offer a number of programs for students starting as young as 3.5 years old up to adult. They focus on discipline and encouragement in a fun-loving environment.  Their main goal is to help everyone progress, continually improve, and enjoy the process. Kaizen Karate now operates 7 days per week throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia.

Our Team

Viran Ranasinghe  (Head Instructor)

“Coach V” has 37 years of experience in the martial arts, having spent the majority of his life committed to the trade. He began his journey with karate at five years old and earned his first black belt in non-traditional Tang Soo Do in 1998 through Hill's Hitters Karate and Master Instructor Dr. Phillip Hill. Coach V went on to earn his business degree at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in College Park. Coach V then continued his training in Kenpo under 8th degree black belt Sifu Greg Payne who also holds a 5th degree black belt in Shotokan as well as many other black belts in other arts including Goju ryu & Judo.  In 2014, Coach V earned his second black belt in IKCA Chinese Kenpo under Sifu Greg Payne and the supervision of 10th degree black belt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan and 10th degree black belt Grandmaster Vic Leroux.  In 2017, Coach V was promoted to 6th degree black belt in IKCA Kenpo by 10th degree black belt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan who is a direct student of Senior Grand Master Ed Parker.  In 2024, Coach V was promoted to 8th degree black belt in IKCA Chinese Kenpo by 10th degree black belt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan. Additionally, Coach V holds the rank of Nikyu (2nd degree brown belt) in Budoshin JuJitsu under 7th degree black belt Sensei David Boesel who is the President & Chairman of the American JuJitsu Association. Coach V also studied Aikido at the ASU headquarters overseen by Saotome Sensei, Shihan who is one of the original students of Aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba (O Sensei).  In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children as well as running local long distance races which most recently included the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon,  & Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, DC.

Chris Marr  (Instructor) 

Coach Chris (Chris Marr) is a 5th degree black belt with Kaizen Karate and has over 20 years of martial arts experience and over 15 years of instructional experience. He holds black belts in Kenpo Karate and Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu and has trained for years in several different martial Arts including: Muay Thai (reaching the rank of instructor), boxing, Brazilian Jui Jitsu (blue belt), and Kyokushin Karate. He is also very interested in the history of martial Arts, especially Arts from East Asia and Southeast Asia. Chris' other hobbies include: running, lifting weights, and interval training mostly to stay competitive in the Martial Arts he still practices. He spends most of his free time with his wife and son.

Zach Knox  (Instructor)

Training since 1987, Zach Knox holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do. Over the years, he has training in different arts such as Kung Fu, Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu Karate, Kickboxing, and Escrima. In his time away from teaching and training, his hobbies include acting, directing, producing, football, hiking, screenplay writing, reading, boxing, and rock climbing. 

David Matusow (Instructor)

Inspired by the original hit movie 'The Karate Kid', Coach David began his martial arts journey in 1988. He earned his first blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do in 1993 under the supervision of 9th degree Master Jae Kim. Coach David earned his second blackbelt in Tang Soo Do from Kaizen Karate under the supervision of 7th degree blackbelt Coach Viran Ranasinghe (Coach V). Coach David earned his third blackbelt in IKCA Chinese Kenpo under Coach V and the supervision of 10th degree blackbelt Senior Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan, a direct student of Senior Grand Master Edmund K. Parker. Coach David currently holds a 1st degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do, a 6th degree blackbelt in non traditional Tang Soo Do, and a 6th degree blackbelt in Chinese Kenpo where he is also an IKCA Certified Instructor. Coach David has 2 children, both of which are also blackbelts in Kaizen Karate. An accomplished triathlete, Coach David has competed in numerous races of all distances, and is a 3-time Ironman triathlon finisher. A Software Engineer at NASA, Coach David also enjoys competing in duplicate bridge, and is a skilled home barista.

Skylar Parr (Instructor)

Coach Skylar started martial arts at 11 years old. Bouncing around a few schools at first, she eventually landed in a Tae Kwon Do dojang, where she would get the base of her skills and passion for the arts. She began training and teaching with Kaizen Karate in 2011 and earned her black belt in 2017. As an avid martial artist and personal trainer (NASM), she spends most of her time doing things related to fitness and martial arts. However, she also loves studying languages, playing drums, camping, skateboarding, and learning about a wide breadth of subjects.

Coach Nina (Instructor)

Coach Nina has trained with Kaizen Karate for over 10 years. She has over five years of teaching experience in summer camp and classes and is a Kaizen Karate Senior Instructor. She received her Kaizen Karate black belt in 2021. She received her first degree Kaizen black belt in 2023. Currently, she studies Psychology and Sociology at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.