The Kaizen Karate Team
"Kaizen" is the Japanese term for “continuous improvement,” and we believe that epitomizes what Karate and self-defense training is all about. We opened our doors in 2014 with a mission to bring the wonderful life skill of self-protection to children and adults alike in the Windsor area.
Shihan Matt Schildt
Shihan Matt Schildt, the owner of Kaizen Karate & Self-Defense, has been a martial artist for 28 years.
Before opening Kaizen Karate & Self-Defense in 2014, Shihan Matt trained in Karate and Tae Kwon Do from 1984-91, then resumed his karate training in 2005 under Master Charles Orchard at Total Ryu Martial Arts. Shihan Matt taught for three years under Master Orchard in the Total Ryu children's karate class, and also trained for five years in Master Orchard's Adrenalized Confrontation Training (ACT), which is regarded as one of the best practical self-defense programs available, and has been taught to police and military personnel.
In 2016, two years after opening his own school, Shihan Matt joined the Colorado Karate Association (CKA). He began training under Grand Master Jerry Davis, Grand Master Ben Ramsey, and Master Todd Jonas. With their guidance, Shihan Matt has grown Kaizen Karate & Self-Defense into one of the CKA’s premier martial arts studios — producing 126 CKA State Champions since 2016, including 28 State Championships in 2025 and earning the CKA's 5A School of the Year for the third year in a row.
Shihan Matt Schildt was elected to the CKA Board of Directors in October 2023, and Grandmaster Davis (9th Dan) promoted Shihan Matt to 6th Degree Black Belt in July 2024.
Sensei Jackson Marshall
Sensei Jackson Marshall started training at Kaizen Karate & Self-Defense in 2015 after four prior years of martial arts training. He quickly became a Class Leader, then a Kohai (junior instructor), then Senpai at 1st Degree Black Belt, and Sensei at 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Shihan Matt promoted Sensei Jack to 3rd Degree Black Belt in July 2024. Sensei Jack developed our Weapons curriculum, and he is our lead instructor for our Weapons and Kickboxing classes.
Sensei Mason Schildt
Sensei Mason has been training in karate for 15 years, and he earned his 2nd Degree Black Belt in July 2026. Mason is a Colorado Karate Association State Champion in Point Sparring (2025) and Clash Sparring (2023). In June 2026, Mason competed in Point Sparring at the WKC Nationals in Michigan, where he qualified for Team USA to compete at Worlds in Spain. Sensei Mason assists Shihan Matt with running all our karate lessons, and Mason is our Sparring Specialist for private lessons.
Sensei Patrick Hinton
Sensei Patrick earned his 2nd Degree Black Belt in July 2026. Patrick has been a flight instructor and hockey coach for 22 years, and brings that teaching and coaching experience to our dojo. Patrick assists and coaches in our Black Belt Club Classes and tournaments. His daughter, Ellie, is 2022 Colorado Karate Association State Champion in Forms and a 2024 and 2025 State Champion in Clash Sparring.
Senpai Harry Davis
Harry earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in September 2025, and Shihan Matt promoted him to Senpai (full instructor). Harry is on his second career as a productivity coach in real estate, after 40 years in the newspaper business. He has also been a coach little league and girls softball. Harry brings that experience to our dojo, where he assists and coaches and in our karate classes and tournaments. Harry's grandson, Reid, is a multiple Colorado Karate Association State Champion, including winning State Championships in Forms and Sparring in 2023 and Forms in 2024.
Seijin Jeannette Bierman
Seijin Jeannette Bierman started training at our dojo in May 2021 and earned her 1st Degree Black Belt in September 2025 at age 55. Seijin Jeannette assists Sensei Jack in our weapons classes, and she is an assistant instructor in our Black Belt Club and Adult Karate Classes also. Jeannette is a 2025 Colorado Karate Association State Champion in Forms.