The Independent Martial Arts School: a family dojo which teaches youth and adults the arts of Kenpo and Enshudo Jiu-Jitsu
We’re always looking forward to the next class!
Come try a class and see what we’re all about. Find more info in our description!
07/15/2026
We have some recent accolades that are overdue to celebrate at our school, and this one comes as bittersweet.
Over the years, we’ve seen the spark ignite within Niharika, not just for the martial arts, but in her confidence and leadership. She’s always been one to want to try her form again and again to ensure every detail is spot on, and she never shies away from new things. But she’ll also lend a hand to anyone who needs extra help in class, and she’s risen as an example for students to emulate. She has also put in the work under our highest ranking black belts, and has earned her instructor certification at our school.
Though this summer, Niharika, her sister Alehkya, and their family are starting a new chapter as they move for new opportunities. We wish them all the best as they get settled and find their stride, and no matter the distance or time, they will always be a part of our dojo family.
Congratulations, Niharika! And we hope you keep that fire going as you explore the next steps in your journey, wherever it takes you.
We always want to make sure we’re a good fit for anyone who wants to try a class.
Plus we never tether families to a contract, instead we have a month-to-month tuition rate that covers all classes a student is eligible for.
Why? You shouldn’t have to pay for the months you don’t take class. If vacations come up, or school sports, or any other priorities come up, we never punish students for taking a break. We’re always here for when they’re ready to kick it back into gear!
Want to learn more about our martial arts classes? Send us a message!
Just a bit of Monday motivation 👊💪
Comparison steals your focus. Growth rewards it. Water your own roots this week.
It’s an honest mistake!
(No white belts were harmed in the making of this video)
What a fun Sparring Class this weekend!
It may be challenging to stay for the specialty classes during hot summer days like these, but we applaud the students who bring their all!
Want to learn more about our martial arts school? Send us a message!
That’s right, all ranks are welcome to join sparring!
We’ll have our Sparring Class this Saturday following our 9:00am Kenpo class. From our newest white belts, to our more tenured advanced ranks, everyone can benefit from this class.
Want to give us a try? Send us a message to learn more about our martial arts school!
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the founding of our predecessor.
On July 9, 1979, the Independent Karate School first opened its doors on Main St. Nashua. When they opened, the founders of the IKS already knew how to run a school, how to train, how to motivate, how to teach. But did they know how far their reach would extend? Did they know how many people they would train, how many professionals they would motivate, how many teachers they would first teach?
O-Sensei Louis Desmarais, one of its cofounders, used to say that a teacher never knew their true reach. It was a lesson that we must always keep the future in mind when we make choices in the present.
Forty-seven years is a long time in the history of a dojo. While the IKS gave way to the IMAS in 2019, the community shares the same values, and many of the same faces. Most dojo do not have a continuous line that runs for decades. More often than not, a pupil leaves in their first decade to strike out on their own.
The IKS was different, having taught thousands of students and produced nearly 500 black belts. Even now, people walk in the door to share their stories of their time here, to thank the instructors for the impact they had, even to sign up the next generation of students!
When the sun set on the IKS, we could not bear to see it go. But it didn’t go, not really.
You will see tall instructors kneel to talk to a young student the way Meijin Nastasia did. In nearly every Enshudo class, you’ll hear an anecdote about O-Sensei. Close your eyes and you’ll hear a black belt give commands with Sensei Pete’s cadence. It’s the goal of every generation to make the next one even better. The IKS set a standard we work towards every day. A teacher never knows their true reach.
Happy IKS Day to our entire dojo family! We always hope to ignite the spark of passion for the martial arts in our students, just as our instructors did for us.
| Tuesday | 9am - 7pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 7pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |