Our PSW or ‘Personal Security for Women’ classes have returned to the schedule. This program is designed to give women effective techniques and strategies for dealing with common attacks that they might see in their lives. Unfortunately, over 30% of women aged 15 or older experience physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
The classes are taught by Sensei Connie Flynn, who has over 30 years of experience training and teaching various martial arts. A small group of assistant instructors also provide support. Essentially, the program is ‘for women, by women.’
The training includes important striking strategies like elbows, knees, open hand strikes, and kicks. A series of escapes from common grabs and holds are also covered. A variety of essential fundamentals and basic movements like stance, posture, and guard are also learned. The instruction includes explanations of the principles involved and why the movements are prescribed as they are. All of the training is focused on overcoming significant size and strength disadvantages.
The class is now open once again and participants can join in at any time. Participants can choose to only enroll for our PSW program, but many students choose an unlimited membership and cross train in other classes available at ZenQuest. This can be in Thai Kickboxing, Okinawan Karate, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Please contact us to reserve a spot for this awesome training! Questions and reservations can also be made by calling 413-637-0656, emailing [email protected], or visiting the zenquestmac.com PSW page. 

​Sensei Connie recently traveled to Napa Valley, California to attend the annual Demian Maia Jiu-jitsu Instructor training camp. The week-long gathering started on Wednesday, August 13th, and consisted of intensive training and quality control for Instructors of academies affiliated with the Jiu-jitsu legend.
This year, ZenQuest’s Instructor Matt Gerlitz also attended the training in Napa. Professor (teacher) Matt received a certification for attending the first part of the camp which focused on fundamentals and strategies for teaching newer students.
The remainder of the camp focused on ‘framing’ or using leverage to improve positioning and escape bad positions. There was also an emphasis on using ‘pressure’ in dominant positions to ‘cook’ or wear an opponent down. After the Instructor training Professor Demian also provided a three hour open seminar.
     At the end of the training camp Professor Connie was promoted to 2-Stripe Black Belt by Master Demian himself. The promotion is the culmination of over 27 years of consistent training and teaching of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. 
     Congratulations to Professor Connie on her promotion, and to Professor Matt for completing the DMJJ Fundamentals Instructor course.