One important aspect of movement and strategy in the martial arts may be more hidden to the casual observer. It is something that will minimize our exposure to strikes, help us keep our balance, enable us to move quickly, and even help prevent chokes. What is this magical technique? POSTURE! That’s right. Keeping your head up and your back straight is an important part of most combat sports. Here is why:
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Vision - Having our head down can compromise our ability to see well and be aware of our surroundings. Our heads tend to direct our gaze and facing down will tend to keep the eyes down. Similarly, looking down will not only limit our vision but also tend to bring our posture down. Having an upright posture will enable us to see well and be more aware of what’s happening.
Exposure - With good posture we can keep our head and face farther away from an opponent’s hands, feet, elbows, knees, etc. This will also keep our necks away from choking hands and legs. Generally, we want to keep our chins down to protect our jaws and necks, but at the same time 

On Sunday, May 18th a small army of students and instructors from ZenQuest showed up for our annual Spring Cleaning. About 18 people worked for over three hours dusting, sanitizing equipment, scrubbing floors and fixtures, and cleaning walls. Projects like the removal of a broken fence around the playground, the installation of shelves in a storage room, and paint touch-up were also done. Additionally, some folks who couldn’t be present for cleaning day contributed to other improvements. Morning treats were provided for the group, and some participants enjoyed a lunch at the Arizona Pizza after the event.
Huge thanks to everyone who helped with this year’s event. ZenQuest is a better place for it because of your help!

Sometimes, out of comfort or convenience, students will wear their street clothes under their uniform. This may seem like a harmless practice but it actually creates some problems that can affect the student’s performance. Here are a few issues with this:
Restricted Movement - having bulky clothing under the uniform may restrict the student’s ability to move well. This can also result in chaffing and rashes, compounding the problem.
Overheating - Martial arts uniforms are designed to allow air to circulate around the body, which helps keep the student cool. Clothing under the uniform not only shuts this down, but also adds layers of insulation that keep the body heated, affecting the student’s ability to perform.
Poor Appearance - Street clothing hanging out of the pants or jacket of the uniform affects the student’s appearance negatively. Not only does this look bad, but it also ruins an important part of the reason why students all wear the same uniform. A standard uniform in the Dojo contributes to a sense of a team working together to help each other learn.
If a student feels the need to wear their street clothing under their uniform, we recommend wearing shorts with a t-shirt tucked in. Remember that long sleeves, pants, and collars or hoods will limit your ability to move and cause you to overheat in training. If a student has street clothing hanging out of their uniform they will be asked to leave the class so that they can change to correct the problem.
Of course, students should also make sure that their uniform is clean and fits properly whenever they attend class. As younger students grow, a new Gi is needed periodically. The uniform should also have patches that are appropriate for the classes that they’re attending, too. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

​In the longer term martial arts should become more than just learning how to physically block, strike, or grapple. It should also be about building character, learning better focus, and growing as a person. There’s a popular concept from Japanese martial arts called “Shin, Gi, Tai” that we should all be familiar with. The translation of Shin, Gi, Tai is ‘mind, technique, body’. When we learn to make these three things work together well, we can not only improve our ability to perform our chosen art, but also learn to make improvements in our life.
Let’s look at each part of Shin, Gi, Tai ~
Shin (Mind) - “Shin” refers to our mind and spirit. This is all about what’s going on inside of us. In the martial arts, having a strong mind and spirit means being confident, staying calm, and keeping focus under pressure. With real confidence we can feel....

On Saturday, March 29 we held our latest 'Advanced Concepts Jiu-jitsu' clinic. For this one we focused on some high percentage Arm-Drag strategies from closed guard. At the conclusion of the session several students leveled up, including Levi Giumarra to Yellow Belt; Shawn Chambers, Robert Inesta, and Michael Siktberg to Blue Belt; Andy McMahon to 1-Stripe Blue Belt; Craig Jones and Carlo Petrucci to 2-Stripe Blue Belt; and Matt Moreau to Purple Belt!
Long time student Matt Gerlitz also earned his Black Belt. Matt has been consistently training and helping with teaching...always focused on learning and advancing his Jiu-jitsu since 2012. After his promotion Matt spoke to the group about the importance of regular attendance and consistent training.
Thanks to all who attended and congratulations to everyone promoted!
Advanced Concepts clinics are also scheduled slated for Muay Thai and Karate as follows:
 
·   Sityodtong Muay Thai - Saturday, May 3 (2-Stripe Prajiet and up)
·   Uechi-Ryu Karate - Saturday, June 7 (Brown Belt/Nikyu and up)
 
These will all begin at 1:15 PM and last about 90 minutes. Students ranked appropriately are encouraged to attend if possible. ZenQuest’s Advanced Concepts clinics are a great opportunity for eligible students to learn and practice advanced techniques and strategies in their respective art. ZenQuest’s AC clinics are provided to enrolled students at no extra cost. So, join us if you can!

​From March 2019
 
Probably the greatest benefit of practicing a martial art is an improved state of mind. Through consistent training we can learn to improve our concentration, focus, and awareness. In order for any of THAT to happen, we also need to learn ‘Fudoshin.’ This is an important principle that applies to every martial art at ZenQuest, and is taught in each class. Fudoshin is a Japanese word that translates to “immovable mind.” The best way to understand what that means is to think of it as a mind that cannot be distracted or moved from it’s momentary focus. It is a state of emotional stability, calmness and peace...even under great pressure. 
During the feudal period in Japan the warriors of the day, known as the Samurai, learned that having a strong and unyielding mind was crucial to their success in battle. Those who could stay focused and calm in battle succeeded, and those who buckled under pressure perished. Although most of us will never have to defend ourselves in a life and death

In the spring of 2011 we installed a playground on the west side of the building. Since then hundreds of kids have enjoyed the structure, which features swings, slides, and a climbing wall. In recent years we’ve done our best to maintain the playground, but it is now nearing the end of its useful life.
Right now the plan is to go one more season with the current structure and then replace it with a new playground in the spring of 2026. The new structure will be at least as big and fun as the old one. In the meantime, we ask that parents and children be careful while playing on the current structure. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

In ancient times, warriors known as the Samurai protected the ruling nobles in Japan.  These warriors dedicated their entire lives to developing the skills that would keep them alive in battle. Since the most advanced weapons of their time were swords, spears and arrows, their lives depended on great skill. 
Just as important was the ability to stay calm and focused even under tremendous pressure.  A warrior could possess amazing physical skills, but crumble the first time they face an opponent with a three foot sword that is as sharp as a razor, where just one mistake meant certain death.  So, in addition to physical skills, the Samurai trained to develop their minds and control their “spirit” or emotions to have the best chance of survival on the battlefield.  This included three important principles of mental and emotional development known as Mushin, Zanshin, and Fudoshin. 
    Mushin means clear or “empty” mind.  This is not to be confused with an absent mind.  

The next round of ‘Advanced Concepts’ clinics at ZenQuest have been scheduled. These are slated as follows:
 
·   Demian Maia Jiu-jitsu -- Saturday, March 29 (Blue Belt and up)
·   Sityodtong Muay Thai -- Saturday, May 3 (2-Stripe Prajiet and up)
·   Uechi-Ryu Karate -- Saturday, June 7 (Brown Belt/Nikyu and up)
 
These will all begin at 1:15 PM and last about 90 minutes. Students ranked appropriately are encouraged to attend if possible. ZenQuest’s Advanced Concepts clinics are a great opportunity for eligible students to learn and practice advanced techniques and strategies in their respective art. ZenQuest’s AC clinics are provided to enrolled students at no extra cost. So, join us if you can!

Martial arts training can be one of the most rewarding experiences in our lives. It can up our physical and mental fitness, lower our stress levels, and improve the overall quality of our lives. It can also positively impact the lives of those around us in different ways. However, there can be challenges along the way that can derail our entire martial arts journey.
When we talk about these challenges we might think of injuries, illness, frustration with our progress, or getting too busy in our lives. These are certainly things we need to deal with and minimize, but some of the things that can end our martial arts journey can be a bit more hidden. Below are some examples of these for students and parents to be mindful of.

​Attendance  Success in the martial arts begins with managing our attendance properly. This means setting a regular training schedule for ourselves and sticking to it. For children ages 8 to 12 we recommend two or three classes each week. One or two classes per week are recommended for kids ages 4 to 7. Less than this may result in them getting discouraged because of slow progress, and more will likely result in them getting burned out over time. For