Greetings. I am Dan Van Zandt

For over three decades, I have devoted my life to the systematic exploration and instruction of flexibility, a pursuit which speaks to the very limits of biological potential.

My immersion in this discipline is not incidental. I have studied the subject in depth for more than 35 years and have taught formally for 25 of those. Such longevity in a field suggests either an enduring fascination or an inexhaustible precision; I leave the distinction to your discretion.

My foundations lie in the martial arts. I hold black belts in six distinct systems of combat, a fact which I regard simply as an extensive baseline. I have had the privilege of a lifetime of learning under Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, whose influence has been constant.

My own athletic pursuits have yielded gold medals at the Taekwondo World Games, the European Taekwondo Championships, and more than ten national titles. In full-contact karate, I have attained three world championship titles.

My tenure as the head strength and conditioning coach for the England national karate team spanned five years, during which I was twice named 'International Coach of the Year.'

Academically, my qualifications are both diverse and overlapping. I hold bachelor's and master's degrees in kinesiology, biomechanics, and biological physics, and currently pursue studies in neuroscience and psychology. I hold additional certifications in sports therapy, strength and conditioning (CSCS*D), yoga (200H RYT), and personal training (NASM-CPT).

I maintain memberships with numerous scientific bodies, including the International Society of Biomechanics, the European Society of Biomechanics, the Biophysical Society, and the Royal Society of Biology.

My lectures and workshops have reached global audiences, including elite dance practitioners at the Berlin State Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. I have taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students at esteemed institutions such as the University of Zurich, Humboldt University of Berlin, and University College London.

While I do continue to coach a select group of private clients, the greater portion of my time is now devoted to the creation of educational content and the systematic dismantling of misinformation propagated by those who, whether through ignorance or intent, seek to malign the practice of flexibility training. Their assertions, often cloaked in pseudoscientific rhetoric, are erroneous and intellectually dishonest. It appears this ongoing endeavour has earned me a certain notoriety, as some have put it, as a destroyer of anti-stretching myths. I do not object to the title. It is, after all, accurate.

Over the years, more than one hundred of my students have proceeded to attain advanced academic distinctions, such as bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across a variety of disciplines. I find the statistic both satisfying and unsurprising. Excellence, when properly cultivated, tends to replicate itself.

Should you require further clarification or information about me, I invite you to contact me via the Contact Form.