October 30, 2003

Kikara branch opening signals shift towards martial arts consolidation

(Surrey, B.C.) - Martial arts is moving out of the realm of hit-and-miss operators with the Nov. 8 opening of the Lower Mainland's second Kikara Academy, in Surrey.

Kikara Founder Master Farhad Dordar says he and President Craig Faulkner were inspired to create a chain of academies a couple of years ago when they realized many people interested in the benefits offered by fitness martial arts are not joining an academy because they had no idea whether a given operation was good.

"Our new Guildford store is just the first addition to our home studio in Vancouver," Dordar says. "We plan to work with local investors across North America to open a chain of Kikara Academies.

"There are 30,000 martial arts academies with about 3-million students in North America, most of them ma-and-pop operations," he adds. "While some of them are very good, quality is all over the place. By having a consistent design, cost, and feel, and most importantly consistent training based on our extensive study, we are going to bring martial arts to the masses."

President Faulkner says Kikara is the first martial arts academy to adopt a turnkey business model proven successful in other industries, and that he expects the model will boost the academy to a continent-wide presence. Kikara is set up to work with new business partners to construct or renovate a space in their style, manage the operation, and supply trained staff and a fully computerized system.

He adds Vancouver's Aldrich Pears Associates designed Kikara's studio interiors, each about 3,000 square feet, blending modern colours with Eastern influences to create a "funky and functional workout space."

"The martial arts industry is currently fragmented, and is ready for consolidation."

Dordar adds he plans to dispel martial arts' violent image, and rather teach tens of thousands of North Americans a kick-boxing-based style encouraging fitness, weight control, confidence, self-defense and self-discipline.

"This kind of martial arts is fantastic for young people being bullied, not so much because it teaches them how to fight but because it gives them confidence and a sense of themselves," he says.

The Guildford location, at #2 - 15326 103A Ave., is officially opening with an open house 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8. Anyone interested can come by for free introductory classes, free sushi from Ninja Sushi, a visit with Mr. Scruffles the clown, and refreshments.

Kikara, currently working with almost 500 students, strives to provide quality martial arts training scaled to all fitness levels and expertise, empowering its students in all aspects of their lives while working with business partners to expand its academies across North America. Its original studio as at 1727 West Broadway in Vancouver.