​The ‘Back-To-School’ season is almost here again and at ZenQuest that means organizing our children’s classes for the busy season. We do this in order to keep reasonable limits on these classes and insure a positive experience for each student. After an unusually busy summer it is more important than ever for parents and older kids to reserve their classes at this time.
Youth students and parents should notify us at their earliest convenience which classes they will be continuing with this fall. Starting now, student lists are be created for each youth class in the schedule, with limited space available. So, it is essential that we get you onto the appropriate class lists.  Students aged thirteen years or older are eligible to transition to Adult classes (including Karate, Jiu-jitsu, Thai Kickboxing, and Strength & Conditioning.)  These classes are more open and do not need to be limited like the youth classes. 
Students and parents can reserve their classes by any of the following ways:
¨    Speaking to someone directly at the front desk
¨    Sending an email to [email protected]
¨    Calling us at 413-637-0656
 
Please remember that class reservations and lists are made on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Waiting lists will be generated for classes that reach their limit. Students who are not able to attend their first choice for classes right away are encouraged to choose alternative classes until space opens up in their most preferred classes.
Also, remember that class reservations will only be effective with an active student enrollment. Reservations for students not currently enrolled must be accompanied with tuition payment to restart the student’s membership. Remember, too, that ‘Partial Participation’ discounts are reserved for students aged seven years old and younger.
As of September 1st, youth students are encouraged to limit their participation to a maximum of two or three classes per week in each program. This is to balance enthusiastic individual attendance with allowing other students to share the dojo. Also, parents and students need to be careful to prevent ‘burnout’ in younger students. This still allows most students to attend as many as six classes per week between Karate and Jiu-jitsu.  
We are still using precautionary sanitizing and cleaning, and asking students to exercise intelligent personal care (refraining from attending classes when sick.) With these measures students can reap the benefits of the learning, physical activity, and socialization at ZenQuest. 
Please note, after Labor Day, the Wednesday Pythons and the Monday Strength and Conditioning classes will return to the class schedule. Tuition rates. Will remain the same.  As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns going forward. We will look forward to another great season of fun and learning at the oldest and best martial arts school in the Berkshires!!
 

The Kikai camp wrapped up on Saturday, July 27. We hope that everyone who attended enjoyed the training, got ‘tuned-up’ a bit, and gained new insight into Uechi-Ryu Karate. We should all remember that ‘Kikai’ means ‘opportunity’ and we should not miss this chance to learn and grow from this experience.
Kikai 2024 consisted of  an immersive Uechi-Ryu Karate training experience. Uechi enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada were in attendance. The training covered a variety of topics including Hojo Undo, Sanchin, Kata, Bunkai, Yakusoku Kumite, Kote Kitae and more. The guest of honor, Sensei Nakahodo also treated the most advanced camp goers to a bit of ‘Kyushu’ or pressure point training.
The event featured four Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Masters including Grandmaster Tsutomu Nakahodo, Master Hirokuni Yamashiro, Master Tatsuhide Miyazato, and Master Atsushi Hamada all of the Okinawa Karatedo Association. The event was co-sponsored by two affiliated Dojos, ZenQuest Martial Arts Center in Lenox, and the Uechi Karate Dojo in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
ZenQuest hosted the Berkshire portion of the camp on Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23. After a day of rest, the Masters continued in North Attleboro between Thursday, July 25 to Saturday, July 27. A Dan test and banquet were also held there on Sunday, July 28.
The visiting Masters said that they thoroughly enjoyed providing instruction at the camp and their time visiting New England. Despite some initial travel difficulties and delays, they were able to experience some of the beauty and culture of the area and, of course, the people in attendance.
The training in the Berkshires was originally scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 21. However, due to travel problems and delays caused by the global ‘CrowdStrike’ software failure, the first training session had to be cancelled. The camp also coincided with a worldwide surge in the latest strain of COVID, and this complicated things a bit further during the camp.
The end of the camp saw some advanced students ‘challenge’ for new Dan levels. This was for high Dan or Black Belts, so the candidates were held to the highest standards and expectations for promotion. Congratulations to the four individuals who successfully passed their Dan tests including: Chip Quimby to 8th Dan; Carl Quilitzsch, Bob Otto, and Joe Montanino to 9th Dan.
Congratulations to Senseis Ed and Jean, too, for their dojo’s 50th anniversary. To an outside observer, it can be difficult to understand all that is involved in running a martial arts school, and it is no small accomplishment to endure all of the challenges that 50 years can bring. ZenQuest technically saw it’s own 50th anniversary in 2022. This is because the original version of the school opened as the Okinawan Karate School of Pittsfield back in 1972. However, with the changes that the Dojo has gone through over the years and super busy schedules, it fell through the cracks.
Unlike their travel to the U.S., the Masters’ return flights went exactly as scheduled without any issues. In the days following the camp the hosts have been in communication with them about improvements that can be made for future camps.
      We’ll be planning another training camp like Kikai 2024 in the Berkshires, probably in 2027. Trainings like the Kikai camp go a long way to elevate the collective quality of the training and teaching in the dojo. This can benefit everyone in the ZenQuest Uechi programs!
Thanks to everyone who supported the camp, and special thanks to the Okinawan Masters for all of their help and inspiration. This was likely Sensei Nakahodo’s last visit to the U.S., and we are especially grateful to him for making the trip to share his vast knowledge of the art. For more information and photos of the Kikai camp visit ZenQuestMAC.com.