Th
e businessof Nederland Defensive Arts (NDA) is only a year old, having been founded on November 10, 2020. However, its owner, Karl Zaunbrecher, has been interested in martial arts for decades. He has 45 years of training in the arts, including 20 years as an instructor, and teaches a core curriculum of Chon Tu Kwan Hapkido at NDA.
Zaunbrecher has “a 5th degree black in Chon Tu Kwan,” is “an ICHF certified Master Instructor in that art,” and has “a 5th degree black in Shorin Ryu, a traditional Okinawan karate.”
Zaunbrecher and NDA teach self-defense classes for students 14 and older to teach them not how to fight, but rather how to escape from real-world situations without being harmed. Strength and athleticism are not required to take the classes. Part of every class is dedicated to sections that are not strictly part of the curriculum, such as if students have questions about self-defense scenarios or want to learn how to use traditional Okinawan weapons.
Through his decades of experience, Zaunbrecher has seen “that many people believe that self-defense is complicated, hard to learn, or requires great athletic ability, so they never try.” He wants people to understand that while there are no shortcuts to learning it, with enough determination and patience, anyone can learn self-defense.
Nederland Defensive Arts is open every Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center. You can reach out to them by emailing at karlzaunbrecher@gmail.com or calling them at 518-637-3106. Their website is mountainpeaklife.org/nederlanddefensive arts, and their Facebook is www.facebook.com/Nederland- Defensive-Arts-100142791917851/.
