ZenQuest has now scheduled this year’s Berkshire Martial Arts Camp for kids!  The annual camp is a FUN and interesting way for kids to get some exercise, AND build-up their martial arts skills in the process.  Once again the camp will feature a variety of martial arts classes including: Karate, Jiu-jitsu, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Boxing, Self-Defense, and Bully Strategies.  In addition, the kids will play exciting games and fun activities like Running the Gauntlet, Target Attack, Light Saber Sparring, Ninja Stars and Board Breaking.  They’ll also go for hikes in Kennedy Park, and spend time on our private playground.
This year the half-day camp will run for one week only, from Monday July 17 to Friday July 21.  The cost for the camp is $185 for non-students, and $160 for enrolled ZenQuest students.  To register for the camp please call us at 413-637-0656, email us at [email protected], or stop at the front desk!  Space is limited, so reserve your spot now!

An enthusiastic group of Uechi-Ryu Black Belts attended an “Advanced Concepts” training on Saturday, April 1.  The free workshop lasted about two hours and covered a variety of topics for senior or “Sempai” students in the traditional Okinawan Style.
The clinic began with discussion on issues concerning advanced training and instruction including modeling etiquette and conduct for newer students, mental development, adjusting goals with advancement, and staying enthusiastic for the long haul.  These issues are very important for advanced students and the “Dojo” as a whole.
In the second portion of the mini-seminar the focus turned to advanced material.  This included the core exercise Sanchin, with an emphasis on “pliable tension” or fluid strength.  The group then performed advanced kata and with constructive input from Senseis Connie and Mark.  Lastly, the students were taken through an advanced prearranged sparring/ self-defense routine known as “Yakusoku Kumite Daini.”  These drills are designed to employ intense counters in dealing with high threat level attacks.
Special thanks to all of the advanced students who participated!

On Tuesday, March 28th, Charlie Liu dropped into ZenQuest for a mini-clinic.  Charlie is a seasoned Black Belt under the infamous Matt Serra, and likes to share his knowledge at ZenQuest when in the area.  As always, a nice group showed up (on short notice) to take advantage of the opportunity.
     This time Professor Charlie focused on some foot-lock strategies made famous by the notorious John Danaher and his “Death Squad” competition team.  As we’ve seen over recent years, a natural evolution continues to refine the “old school” versions of many strategies in Jiu-jitsu. The techniques that Charlie showed definitely fell into that category, resulting in foot-locks that were tighter and very difficult to defend. 
     At the end of the clinic the group played “King of the Hill” where they took turns with one student passing the guard, and their partner trying to sweep or submit.
     Huge thanks to Professor Liu for sharing his knowledge, and to his wife Jessica for providing support.  Thanks, too, to everyone who participated!

​In recent years our policy on tuition and attendance have changed a bit.  Currently, we encourage students to utilize our “Easy Pay” tuition option.  This is the most convenient, low-maintenance choice for everyone.  It also provides a nice discount to the student, AND locks their tuition rates in at the time they activate, so that it will not go up for all as long as they remain on that option.  Adjustments can only be made when changes are made to the terms of the student’s participation (IE changing from partial to full participation, etc.), but even that is based on the rates in effect at the time of their activation of Easy Pay.
If the student or parent choses to pay tuition via our “old-school” system of Interval Enrollments (IE. monthly, quarterly, etc.), it is their responsibility to track their enrollment, and pay their tuition on time.  We do our best to provide reminders on the attendance sheets at the front desk but, ultimately, it is the student’s or parent’s reasonability to stay on top of that. 
Students are not allowed to attend classes without an up-to-date enrollment.  Doing so will result in charges for individual classes or late payment fees.  In extreme cases, abuse of our tuition policies can result in the termination of the student’s membership.  For more information on our tuition and attendance policies, please see our Tuition and Attendance Policies outlined on the rear of our tuition sheets, and our Policy, Waiver and Release Form.