Built by educators for the preschools they wished existed.
ZENTAI Kids was founded by Naomy DePena, an experienced educator specializing in special needs, and Master Allen DePena, a specialist in using martial arts as a child development tool. Together they built an Essential Skill Building Program custom designed for preschools.
ZENTAI means "whole" in Japanese.
We named our schools ZENTAI because that's the goal — to build the whole child. Not just the body. Not just the mind. The whole person.
Today, ZENTAI runs five training centers — four across New Jersey (Belleville, Clifton, Hackensack, and North Arlington) and our flagship non-profit location in Licey, Dominican Republic. We've taught thousands of children, won national awards, and built one of the most-reviewed schools in the state.
It started with a kindergarten teacher on our team.
One of our senior instructors taught kindergarten by day. For years, she said the same thing: kids were arriving at school unprepared. Not academically — neurologically. They couldn't focus. Couldn't follow a 3-step instruction. Couldn't sit on a spot for 60 seconds.
"If we could fix that before they got to me," she said, "everything else would work."
That's the whole pitch. ZENTAI Kids exists to turn preschools from glorified daycares into real learning environments — by teaching the essential skills kids need before any curriculum can stick.
The team teaching your kids.
Naomy DePena
Experienced educator specializing in teaching children with special needs. Co-architect of the ZENTAI Kids curriculum.
Master Allen DePena
Specialist in using martial arts as a child development tool. Author of the forthcoming book, The Focus Formula (2026).
Senior Instructor
Bio coming soon.
Every partner preschool funds free classes for kids worldwide.
A portion of every session goes to Heart of ZENTAI, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm. We deliver free essential skill building to children in the Dominican Republic — and beyond.
When you partner with us, you're not just running a great program at your school. You're funding kids who'd never otherwise get one.
Learn more at heartofzentai.org →