Background
The Samurai Dojo is a sanctioned Karate “dojo” (Karate training center) under the strict guidelines of both the Amateur Athletic Union and the USA National Karate Federation (the permanent National Governing Body of Karate under the United States Olympic Committee).

Samurai Dojo was formed by Sensei (teacher) Jack Pressman originally as the Wilmette Martial Arts Club in 1984 at the Highcrest Community Center. At that time, the Wilmette Martial Arts Club had 12 members. Since then, Sensei Pressman has taught over 2,000 athletes, of all ages, from Chicago’s North Shore

In 1998, the Samurai Dojo moved into the newly renovated facility located at 1211 Washington Avenue and joined the Athletic Training Center of Wilmette (www.atcwilmette.com) to create one of the premier Karate and multi-sport elite training centers in the United States.

Samurai Dojo currently has over 150 active participants in the Traditional Japanese Karate (ages 5 – 65), Little Olympians Karate (ages 3- 4), and Japanese Ju-Jitsu and Judo programs.

Sensei Jack Pressman
Sensei Jack Pressman has been a practitioner of traditional Japanese and Korean Martial Arts since 1976. Sensei Pressman has achieved senior Black Belt Rank in both Japanese Karate and Korean Tae Kwon Do. In addition, Sensei Pressman has trained continuously in Ju-Jutsu, Judo and Thai kick Boxing for the past 24 years.

In 1984, Sensei Pressman was first selected to the United States National Karate Team. Over the past twenty years, Sensei Pressman has medaled 20 times in the United States National Karate Championships winning 8 United States National Karate Championship titles and medaling 13 times in international competition.

In 1996, Sensei Pressman was selected as Captain of the United States National Karate Team and in 1997 was selected to join the National Team Coaching Staff (as sanctioned under the US Olympic Committee).

In 2002, Sensei Pressman won his 20th National Championship medal, winning the Bronze Medal at the United States National Karate Team Trials in the Men’s Heavyweight Division. This marked his 19th year as a qualifying member of the United States National Karate Team (as sanctioned under the United States Olympic Committee.

In 2005, Sensei Pressman was selected as Head Coach for the United States National Karate Team for the 2005 World Maccabiah Games held in Israel. The Team won 21 medals (8 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Bronze) including the Men’s Team Kumite Gold Medal. This marked the first time in United States Olympic Karate history that a Men’s Kumite Team has won the Gold Medal in an International Olympic sanctioned event outside the Pan Americas.

Sensei Pressman is the most senior member of the United States National Team and has become the longest active Team member in United States Karate history.