A Once again, ZenQuest is opening it’s sponsorship program for the premier fight team in the Berkshires.  Sponsoring ‘Team-Z’ is a great way to support the fighters and gym in their endeavors...AND a way to get your own name out there, too.  Sponsorship funds are used to cover expenses including training, travel, meals, licensing fees, supplies and equipment.  With new fighters preparing to make debuts soon, these sponsorships are essential to continuing the success that we’ve seen in recent years.

The Team  -  In the early stages of it’s MMA adventures the fight team produced mixed results.  We had some spectacular wins, and some memorable defeats.  After moving and rebranding itself, the gym became much more organized and the competition team began to take things to a whole new level.  Since then, we’ve amassed a winning record of 11-6 with several of those fights for amateur titles.  At this point, we’ve picked up no less than three regional amateur titles including the lightweight belt for ‘Reality Fighting’, New England’s biggest MMA promotion.  This took place in what some considered the ‘fight of the night’ in the 10,000 seat capacity Mohegan Sun Arena.
The team also competes in other combat sports events like Jiu-jitsu tournaments and Kickboxing bouts.  We currently has several new fighters preparing to make their debuts later this year!

Sponsorship - All sponsorship donations are used to cover expenses incurred by the fighters and coaching staff including training, travel, meals, and equipment.  In addition to the pride and satisfaction associated with helping Team ZenQuest in pursuing it’s goals, sponsors are recognized in the following ways:   .
 
·    Sponsors are displayed and mentioned on the front page of our website, on our social media platforms, and in ZenQuest’s monthly newsletter.
·    Sponsor names or logos are included on “fight banners”, which are proudly displayed at each event that the fight team participates in, at demos, and other special events.
·    Sponsors appear on "Walkout" style T-shirts worn by the fighters, coaches, and supporters.  Sponsor names or logos are prominently displayed on the back of these shirts, which are also available to the general public.  In addition to exposure at competitive events, they are worn for interviews, demos, and special appearances.
 
Levels - There are different levels of sponsorships available.  They range from those appropriate for individuals, to something more for businesses or groups.
Sponsorship levels are as follows:
Silver - $100 for a small listing (i.e. a name of a person or company) on the website, Team shirt, fight banner, etc.  Also includes one free Walkout shirt, and 20% discount on any additional shirts.
Gold - $200 for a medium listing or logo.  Also includes two free shirts and 25% discount on any additional shirts.
Platinum - $500 for a large listing or logo.  Also includes three free shirts and 30% discount on any additional shirts.
Diamond - $1,000 for an extra-large listing or logo.  Also includes four free shirts and 40% discount on any additional shirts.
 
Walkout Shirts - These high-quality, custom shirts are regularly $30 each, but discounted according to sponsorship levels.  They feature the gym and parent organizations on their front, with all sponsors appearing on the back.  These can be used for running, training, or other activities...or just casually as a t-shirt.

This is your chance to support the premier MMA fight team from the best Martial Arts Academy in the Berkshires!  To arrange for a team sponsorship or pre-order walkout shirts contact us via phone at 413-637-0656, or message or email. Sponsorship forms are available here. The deadline for this round of sponsorships and shirts is Saturday, February 29th.  Logos should be submitted in HD electronically ASAP once your sponsorship is submitted.  Sponsorships of similar levels are placed based on a first come first served basis so don’t wait! 

​Sensei Joe Gilbert will be running a clinic on Uechi-Ryu Karate at ZenQuest on Saturday March 21st.  Sensei Joe started training at the Okinawan Karate School (the original name for ZenQuest) back in 1973.  He has trained and taught consistently since then and has a longstanding dojo in Bennington, Vermont.  Sensei Joe has visited Okinawa several times including in 2007 when he joined Senseis Connie and Mark on one of their trips (see photo.) On that trip Sensei Joe was promoted to 8th Dan or 8th Degree Black Belt Master of the traditional Okinawan style.
This clinic will be from 10:00 AM to 11:25 AM.  This is open to all ranked students ages 12 years old and up.  There is no charge for the event, but donations to the ZenQuest fight team are welcome.  Please join us!
 

On Saturday, March 14, Tilo ‘Tilosh’ Jackson will make his long-awaited debut in MMA.  Tilo will be facing newcomer Jake Russo of the Golden Falcon Gym in West Haven, Connecticutt.  Russo is primarily a striker with strong Muay Thai experience, while Jackson has solid Muay Thai and Jiu-jitsu under his belt. 

​The Lightweight bout will take place at the AMMO Fight League’s St’ Patrick’s Day Battle in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Tickets will be available soon at ZenQuest with prices at $40, $50 and $80 levels.  In addition to Tilo’s match, there is a full card of fights to see at this exciting event.  So, join us in supporting Tilo and Team Z!
 

Senseis Connie and Mark recently went back to school!  They were invited to run some gym classes and introduce grades K through 6 to the martial arts back on December 5th and 13th.  Each class started with some Karate and Kickboxing fundamentals like stance, guard, blocking and striking.  The kids then did some target drills where they punched and kicked targets, and blocked attacks with ‘pool noodles’.  The classes finished with some escape strategies taken from Jiu-jitsu.  Over the two days over 350 kids participated in the classes, and all had a blast!  The classes went off without a hitch thanks to the professionalism and structure set by Lee PE teachers Jennifer and Julia.
Senseis Connie and Mark are scheduled to run similar classes at Richmond Consolidated Elementary School, and visiting Lee Elementary again soon for their ‘Screen Free Week.’
 

Silvio Moraes was at ZenQuest for a seminar on Saturday, January 25.  As usual, the 2-Stripe Black Belt under Jiu-jitsu wizard Demian Maia provided an incredible learning experience in the three hour hands-on clinic he provided.  Professor or instructor Moraes covered many strategies and principles for the single-leg takedown, passing the guard, half-guard, and ’side-control’ position. 

After demonstrating a move, Professor Silvio typically checked to see if anyone had any questions or concerns about the technique by asking if there was “any doubt.”  However, in seeing the effect that the move usually had on the person receiving the move, there wasn’t. 

​Huge thanks to Professor Silvio for making the journey from Brazil to be with us and share his knowledge.  Thanks, too, to everyone who joined us for the training.

Let’s face it, New Years resolutions have become cliché and an endless source of jokes.  The ‘New Year, New You’ mantra has left many people discouraged about any attempt at resolutions.  Most of the time the people who do try to make a fresh start with promises to themselves end up watching them fade away a few weeks into the new year.  However, with a little tweak in mindset, we can be more successful with improvements in our lives.
The first step in making lasting ‘quality-of-life’ improvements is to look at what we can improve in our lives.  We need to pick things that we have control over and are realistic to make work.  Thinking long term is the key.  We should think about slow steady improvements, and avoid quick-fixes that will likely result in rebounding back to what we had before...or worse.  Choosing unrealistic goals that are just too difficult to get to will likely wind up in the trash-heap of our personal failures.  The Japanese have a saying of ‘Kaizen’ or ‘gradual improvement.’  This is the concept of making gradual improvements every day.  This is how we should approach any resolutions we have for ourselves.
Once we have some realistic goals in mind the next step is to put them into practice.  If it is a fitness goal, we need to look at the calendar and choose the times in the week that we will do our workouts.  This can be especially challenging with heavy or varying schedules, but it is important and it can be done.  If it’s a goal related to eating or weight loss, we need to think about making smart food choices, limiting our portions, and eliminating opportunities to cheat.  If it’s quitting bad habits, we need to put a plan in place and set a date where that is finished.  Whatever the goal is, we need to make it happen because it won’t happen on it’s own.   
Endless delay will kill any goal, so we need to start our plan NOW.  Don’t say to yourself things like “I’ll start that on Monday” or some other time in the future.  To be successful, we need to implement our plan right now.  Delaying our plan for some point in the future is probably the most common way to sabotage any progress before we ever get started.  Often times, that future point never comes and we just continue with a pattern of delay and procrastination. 
Getting support from friends and family in making your goals work is SUPER important.  The people close to us should realize that having a healthier, more fit, happier you will also benefit them and everyone else around you.  Things like coordinating schedules, setting aside resources, and emotional encouragement are huge in making things happen.  Unfortunately, creating a culture of healthy support around yourself sometimes means minimizing time with unsupportive people, and even cutting toxic people out of your life.  
What could be more important to improving the quality of our lives?  In addition to any fitness or health goals we may have, we should also make a commitment to being calmer, more focused, and happier in our lives.  Some simple adjustments that can help a lot are things like getting more sleep, eating healthy, and being more optimistic.  It pays to appreciate all of the good things in our lives while improving the things that could be better.  Regular meditation and mindful exercise can help tremendously in thinking more positively and adopting a more optimistic point-of-view.  Another tip is to view EVERYTHING in your life as an opportunity to practice staying calm and focused under pressure.
So, make a plan and STICK TO IT.  Live in the moment and don’t procrastinate or delay actions that will improve the quality of your life and the lives around you.  Seek support from family and friends...and don’t forget to support them in return.
Have a healthy and happy New Year! 

ZenQuest recently had a visit from George Chaplin of Pennsylvania.  Sensei George was recently promoted to 8th Dan in Uechi-Ryu Karate after training for over 40 years.  Originally from London, England, he lived in Okinawa for 18 months in his younger days.  While there he trained with many of the greats including Master Kanei Uechi, and Sensei Connie’s and Mark’s teachers Shigeru Takamiyagi and Toshio Higa. 
In addition to his experience in Karate, Sensei George has also practiced Soto Zen for over 40 years.  Soto Zen utilizes ‘single minded’ meditation for the purpose of leading a calmer and more mindful life. 
Sensei Chaplin spoke about the mental aspects of training in Uechi-Ryu and provided some tips on technique, too.  He also shared some stories of his travels for the group.
Thanks to Sensei George for dropping in and thanks to everyone who adjusted their schedules to attend!

Silvio Moraes will be at ZenQuest for a seminar on Saturday, January 25.  Silvio has trained with Demian Maia for over 23 years and is one of the top instructors at the DMJJ headquarters 'Viila De Luta' in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is also a veteran officer with the anti-drug task force in Sao Paulo. 
Silvio will cover important techniques and strategies of Demian Maia Jiu-jitsu that is guaranteed to improve your skill set.  On previous visits to ZenQuest Silvio has rocked the house and we’re sure that this time will be no different. 
The three hour seminar will be from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  Pre-registration will be $90 until Thursday, January 23.  After that, the costs will be $110.  To register stop at the front desk.  For out of towners, online preregistration and registration will be available with a one time $5 surcharge applied.

The holiday season should be a highlight of each year with happy times spent with friends and family.  Unfortunately, it can also be a time of stress and anxiety for many people.  With shorter days, bad weather, the hustle-and-bustle of shopping, and pressure to meet goals and expectations, it can be a challenge to stay positive and enjoy ourselves.  Here are some ideas for keeping the holidays healthy and happy.
Treat yourself  Although the holidays are a time to think of others, we need to be kind and be mindful of ourselves, too.  More important to a little side-gift for ourselves, we should also be sure to get plenty of rest, avoid skipping meals and make healthy food choices.  We also need to be careful about exposure to the cold, becoming too run down, and even things like walking on snow and ice!  Be sure to include down-time in your schedule.  Simple things like having a nice hot cocoa and taking some time to read will also help a lot.
Happy Environment  One way to reduce stress and anxiety for ourselves is to create a pleasant environment for ourselves.  This may seem impossible at first, but there are some simple things that we probably do have control over.  For example, choosing music that is positive and uplifting will have a very different impact on us than music that brings us down.  The same can be said for any other media like movies, books, games, etc.  Keeping your living space clean, well lit, warm and smelling nice can also help. 
Stay Positive  Keeping a positive and optimistic outlook on things is a great way to insure a happy and healthy holiday season.  Try to see the good in any situation and avoid ‘crashing’ emotionally about things that probably aren’t super important.  Avoid feeling like the victim or that the world is against you.  Let stuff go.  Tolerate people and situations.  Be happy.  Count your blessings.  Just being able to celebrate another holiday season is a gift.
Surround yourself with friends  The holidays are a great time to be with family and friends.  But, we should remember the purpose of this is to relax and enjoy ourselves while doing that.  It is important to maximize time with the people who make you happy and are willing to at least tolerate your own views and choices.  Conversely, time with individuals who tend to create stress and anxiety in our lives should be minimized.  Sometimes we may need to edit our ‘friends list’ for the sake of our quality of life. 
Limit portions  The holidays are an amazing time for good food and drink, but limiting our intake can go a long way towards avoiding problems with overindulgence.   These can include anything from upset stomach, to excessive weight gain, to added stress on our bodies.  Rather than have a mindset of ’pigging out’ now and starting a diet in the new year it is much smarter to simply limit the amount of each thing we eat or drink.  Remember to strike a balance between enjoying these things and overdoing it. 
Limit Spending  Some of the stress from the holiday season can come from spending beyond our means.  Set a reasonable budget for holiday spending and stick to it.  Being smart about spending for the holidays will not only reduce stress during the season, but also make the start of a new year happier once the bills come.
Exercise  The holiday season can be a challenging time to maintain or start a fitness program, but having a routine of exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress and stay energized.  Studies show that regular exercise provides body and brain chemistry that reduces stress and actually boost our energy level.  It also improves ‘cognitive function’ or helps us think more clearly.  Exercise makes us more fit, helps us be sleep better, and makes it easier to regulate our food intake.  Of course, martial arts training is an amazing way to exercise the mind, body and spirit and we would recommend to continue or start training at ZenQuest.
Meditate  Many people scoff at the idea of meditation, but this doesn't have to mean some weird and mystical activity.  In many cases the ’M’ word simply means taking some time to practice being relaxed and focused.  There are many different methods of meditation and each person can usually find one that helps them.  Just a few minutes a couple of times each week can go a long way to staying calm and thinking more clearly during stressful times.  Just giving ourselves time in our schedule to relax for a bit can be a great form of meditation.  One healthy trick is to think of every challenging situation as ’zen’ training or an opportunity to practice staying calm.   Every class at ZenQuest includes a form of mental exercise or meditation that can help. 
Play with your Pets Many of us have pets at home that love to play and get attention from their owners.  Studies show that taking time to hang out and play with them is great for both them and us.  We can easily fall into a pattern of neglecting our pets when we’re busy, but engaging with them actually elevates our mood and reduces stress.  Improving the quality of their life will also improve yours.
Cut back on technology  Today’s world has us spending a huge portion of our time on our gadgets, computers and TVs.  Too much time spent on technology can also be a source of stress for us and we need to be smart about using our ‘smart phones’ and the like.  Set intelligent limits for using technology and give yourself frequent breaks.  Avoid neglecting meals, sleep and personal care.  Try to match your technology usage with an equal time doing other activities.  Do some activities with the kids to break up their tech time, too. 
Following these tips and staying mindful about our mental and physical condition during the holidays should help us stay happy and healthy during this wonderful time of year.  Set the example for others and remember to reach out to those who may have a more difficult time.  If we all have the attitude of spreading joy to others and taking a leadership role during the holidays...and all year round, the world will be a better place.
Happy holidays!

Proper training in the martial arts can help people learn the traits and skills that will make them successful in their lives.  Regular practice with mindfulness, focus, calmness and perseverance over time leads to amazing life-skills and healthy habits that affect many aspects of our lives.  Experts have uncovered the traits that lead people to success, and they can ALL be gained in the dojo or martial arts gym. 
Recent studies have been done by psychologists and psychiatrists to find out which character traits are shared by successful people.  They found that, aside from natural potential like intelligence and talent, three personality traits were key.  These are:
​
Conscientiousness – Conscientious people are careful about the things they do.  They are organized, plan ahead, arrive on time, have a thoughtful and careful approach to things, stick to their schedule, set goals and do everything possible to achieve them. 
Grit – People with ‘grit’ are willing to work hard and “grind” through challenges.  They rise to the level that life throws at them and are driven to succeed despite hardship.  Gritty people get the job done.
Courageous Control – Also known as ‘Fearless Dominance’, people with courageous control can stay calm under pressure and get the job done.  They are not intimidated by situations or people and navigate through difficult challenges.  With structure and a sense of honor, these people tend to be very successful and great leaders. 
These traits are all woven into the classes at ZenQuest. In fact, THAT is what ‘ZenQuest’ is all about!  We might use slightly different words and even hide some of these principles for kids, but they are there: 

Mindfulness – This is just another way of saying conscientiousness.  We talk about mindfulness and mindful movement a lot in our classes.  Essentially, once you step on the mats everything you do should be done with focus, purpose and care.  This leads to focus, purpose and care in our daily lives over time. 
Perseverance – In training we often refer to ‘grit’ as perseverance.   This is an essential part of any martial art worth it’s salt.  In order to be successful in Karate, Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu or MMA, hard work and dedication is required.  Some martial arts schools promote students on a schedule regardless of their progress and growth, but rank or status should be earned and not given.   In Okinawan, grit is called ‘gambarimas.’  There is a saying there that highlights their approach to challenges in life ”fall down seven times, stand up eight times.”
Calm Focus – Most martial arts incorporate practicing to be calm and focused in training or courageous control.  In Thai Kickboxing they call this ‘sabai.’  In Okinawan Karate they call it ‘fudoshin’, and in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu it’s called ‘tranquillo.’  In each art the idea is the same, to be very calm and methodical under pressure.  Although this can be challenging at times, it allows a person to perform well regardless of what difficulties are put in front of them.

Cultivating traits like mindfulness, perseverance, and calm focus are essential for being successful in the martial arts and in LIFE!  This applies to people of any age, but is especially important for children.  Establishing these qualities early can improve the quality of life, for the rest of their lives.  Through dedication and regular training in the Dojo these important life-skills can be learned and reinforced.