Dr. Burt Konzak

Readings

Burt's readings consist of dramatic presentations of several samurai stories taken from his books. His stories emphasize using wits instead of brawn in confronting difficult and/or challenging situations. The heroes use their strength of character to defend themselves, and as samurai, they endeavour to "create a better world by their actions instead of contributing to yet more violence." Through these stories, the children learn the ethical foundations of the martial arts and samurai spirit. Burt's book, Noguchi the Samurai, is particularly relevant in dealing with bullies. Burt's skills in relating to children have been written about in National Geographic Magazine, the Toronto Star, the Calgary Sun, the Montreal Gazette and other well-known publications.

Burt’s readings are highly energetic and dynamic as he applies his professional karate skills to bring his stories to dramatic life right in front of the children’s eyes. There is never a bored child in the room or a yawn to be seen in these dynamic presentations, which cross the cultural and historical divide and bring his characters and their lessons to life. Please see biography for more detailed information.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

In workshop presentations, Burt recounts to students how love of an art (i.e., the martial arts) can become the foundation of a lifelong profession and form the raw material for writing literature. Author of two critically-acclaimed books of fiction and the world's #1 rated book on self-defence, Burt explains the samurai concept of bunbu-ryodo, or intellectual/physical synthesis, as the working together and development of mind and body. A world-renowned martial artist, Burt then demonstates advanced martial arts skills and teaches several essential self-defence techniques particuarly appropriate for children. He concludes by dramatically recounting and acting out several samurai stories from his books.
Burt’s workshops are highly energetic and dynamic as he applies his professional karate skills to bring his stories to dramatic life right in front of the children’s eyes. There is never a bored child in the room nor a yawn to be seen in these dynamic presentations, which cross the cultural and historical divide and bring his characters and their lessons to life. Please see biography for more detailed information.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Dr. Burt Konzak
Internationally Renowned Martial Artist, Author, Storyteller and University Professor of Ethics and Asian Philosophy
Featured in National Geographic, the Toronto Star, and on the covers of the best-known international martial arts magazines, Burt Konzak has been teaching martial arts in Toronto for over 35 years. He is author of the world’s # 1 rated self-defence book: Girl Power: Self-Defence for Teens, listed by the Toronto Star as one of the best books of 1999, and the award-winning Noguchi the Samurai. His most recent book, the internationally award-winning, best seller Samurai Spirit: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life, was the subject of a glowing full page review in the Sunday Toronto Star and an equally enthusiastic two page review in the Japanese language Nikka Times. In March 2004, Samurai Spirit received the Storytelling World Award, a major American literary prize, for “Storybook Anthology for all Ages”. Burt is martial arts instructor for Hollywood movies; teacher to cabinet ministers and police; and a renowned workshop leader for Bell Canada, Kodak, the Toronto Board of Education, the University of Toronto, the Ontario Government, and many more organizations. He has been the recipient of the prestigious Ford Foundation Fellowship and other academic honours, and has been a guest speaker at the Toronto Board of Trade, Stanford University, University of Calgary, University of Tokyo, and at yoga and martial arts schools throughout Japan.

A renowned children’s teacher, he has been the subject of a four page article in National Geographic for the impact he has had on youth. His school, the Toronto Academy of Karate, has won the highly coveted Consumers’ Choice Award for best Martial Arts and Self-Defence School. He and the Academy have been written about in major features in virtually every significant Toronto publication including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, The Toronto Sun, the Toronto Star, and The National Post. He has been the subject of several hour long television shows on CFMT and TV Ontario and has demonstrated his martial arts on CBC’s Man Alive, CTV’s Canada AM and many other programmes in both the U.S. and Canada.

Burt has developed youth programmes for school boards across the country as well as founding and directing the University of Toronto Children’s Karate Camp. He has also designed martial arts and self-defence programmes for corporations and government agencies across Canada and the United States. He has taught cabinet ministers and young children, professional athletes and middle-aged people who have never before exercised. People in his classes continue coming back year after year, many for decades – a fact which speaks for itself about his ability to inspire.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Burt teaches workshops in martial arts and self-defense to students 6 years and older. He is internationally renowned for his exciting, energetic teaching, and has taught workshops throughout Canada, the United States, and Japan.
Burt has been a keynote speaker at academic conferences, martial arts workshops and university lectures around the world. He is an inspiring speaker whether for university audiences, children’s programmes or martial arts seminars. A well-known scholar in ethics and Asian philosophy, he is equally famous for his down-to-earth storytelling abilities for both children and adults.
Audiences love his exciting and very physical approach to storytelling as he moves across the floor acting out his stories with martial arts technique and swordplay. Adults and children watch intensely as he combines physical skills with the erudition that comes from his years of experience as a university professor.
Please see biography for more detailed information.