With the Omicron variant of COVID19 winding down many experts are saying that we are now in the ’endemic’ stage of the pandemic.  We’ve all been here before, but we may finally soon see the end of this seemingly endless situation.  If the current trend continues we would expect to lift the last remaining restrictions and safety precautions related to the pandemic.
 The pandemic has been challenging for most of us and very difficult for some people.  With social isolation, financial hardships, restricted activities, and elevated depression and anxiety we are all looking forward to a return to our old version of normal.  Through all of this it was important to stay as positive about the situation as possible.  Now, we can be cautiously optimistic that an end is in sight.
There is a lot to be excited about in a return to the old normal at ZenQuest.  First, this will mean going back to optional face-coverings.  Although training with these on tends to actually improve our cardio-vascular fitness, most people would rather just go back to training without them.  Those who prefer to continue using these are more than welcome to of course.
Returning to normal also means resuming events like Advanced Concepts Clinics, tournaments, and seminars with some of the most notorious instructors in the martial arts world.  This includes people like Demian Maia, Hirokuni Yamashiro, Mark DellaGrotte, and others.  At present we have scheduled a round of Advanced Concepts, and our first seminar in over two years with Kru Mark DellaGrotte in late March (details on page 2.)  Look for more of these events again soon.
Once we’re fairly certain that we can go back to normal we will adjust the current class schedule back to pre-pandemic mode.  This means restoring class durations for older kids and adults back to a full hour.  Class durations were shortened to allow for sanitizing surfaces between classes.  At some point  we can reduce the amount of sanitizing needed. 
Normal training will also mean a return to normal social interactions in the Dojo, too. We’ve had to eliminate some things that we took for granted like hand shakes, fist bumps, and ’abraços’ or hugs in Jiu-jitsu.  These things may seem insignificant at first, but they go a long way towards comradery and team building among training partners.  Just being able to see people’s faces again will be nice, too!
There are several newer students at the gym that have never had the opportunity to train without the current safety precautions in place.  Imagine what things will be like when they can experience ‘normal’ training.  For more experienced students this will be a much welcomed change back to the training they know and love.
Of course, we must continue to follow the safety precautions in place until it is safe to lift them.  We are all tired of these things, but they are the way to stay safe until the COVID situation is under control. 
So, let’s keep our fingers crossed and look forward to getting back to normal soon!  As always, we appreciate the students and instructors who’s love for the martial arts was greater than the inconveniences we’re endured over the last two years.  Thank you!

ZenQuest is happy to announce the return of Kru Mark DellaGrotte of Sityodtong Muay Thai!  Kru Mark will provide a two hour seminar beginning at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, March 26th.  It has been well over two years since our last clinic with Kru Mark DellaGrotte and, with the COVID19 situation subsiding, we will resume these incredible training opportunities.
Kru Mark is known throughout widely as one of the top Muay Thai masters in the world.  His knowledge of this amazing martial art is only surpassed by his ability to communicate and help others improve their game.
Pre-registration for this event is $90, with full price of $110 at the door.  Bring your gloves and shin guards, and a water bottle and towel are recommended.  Space will be limited, so secure your spot soon!    

Given current trends in the COVID19 situation we are scheduling a round of ‘Advanced Concepts’ clinics.   Our AC Clinics are a way for our intermediate and advanced students to have an opportunity to focus on high level techniques, strategies, and training and teaching tips.  Under normal circumstances these clinics happen every three to four months at ZenQuest, and with the pandemic finally winding down, this will continue.
The next Advanced Concepts clinics are scheduled as follows:
 
·    Uechi-Ryu on Saturday, March 5 at 1:00 PM
·    Muay Thai on Saturday, March 12 at 1:00 PM
·    Jiu-jitsu on Saturday, March 19 at 1:00 PM
 
The Uechi-Ryu advanced training is open to students ranked Ikkyu or Black-Stripe and above.  To attend the Muay Thai clinics students must be Blue Prajiet and above.  Students at Blue Belt and above are welcome to attend the Jiu-jitsu workshop.
As always we appreciate the patience of those affected by the delay in this training.  See you all for some great drills again soon!

​Along with all of the great benefits that martial arts training offers also comes some risks.  This is especially true for those who compete at the high levels or just like to challenge themselves in training.  Most students will never step into a cage, but even with day to day training its important to be safe and avoid injuries as much as possible.
To be successful in the martial arts it is important to balance reality with safety.  Training that is too ‘realistic’ and intense will result in frequent injuries and stressful practice.  Training that is too laxed and removed from reality will not be effective for self-defense or combat should the need arise.  So, instructors must balance providing training that is both intense and functional with minimizing injures for everyone in the room.  Of course, this is adjusted for different age groups and the level of competition students will see.
Most martial arts gyms or dojos have rules in place for conduct and practice in classes.  This is often referred to as the ’dojo etiquette’ and is displayed in the training space and talked about with students.  Most of these rules are designed to create a positive and constructive training environment, and to keep everyone as safe as possible while training.  Each student has a responsibility to know the rules and exercise good judgement in training.
Usually, when one of our students picks up an injury, its actually from the other activities and sports that they do.  This is due to the fact that the vast majority of time, students are under constant supervision in the dojo.  However, even in the best circumstances injuries can happen while training in the martial arts. 
Martial arts injuries can vary from minor bumps and bruises to more significant setbacks.  Often times, a Band-Aid and some encouragement will have younger students back in action quickly.  For more significant injuries like strains or sprains the ’RICE” approach of rest, ice, compression and elevation will have the student back in classes soon.  On the rare occasion that a student picks up a fracture or some other serious injury, the student should seek medical attention right away, of course, and follow their doctor’s advice on returning to classes.
Once the student is out of danger of aggravating an injury they are encouraged to resume their training as soon as they can.  Often times, students can return to training before long and work around the injury or simply avoid certain movements.  Once cleared by their doctor and feeling strong enough, resuming normal activity in training should help to strengthen the injured area.  This can help with long term recovery and actually help prevent reinjuring the affected area.
It is not unusual for adult students to begin their martial arts journey with pre-existing injuries from a previous mishap.  This can also typically be dealt with by being a bit selective about movements that may be risky for the affected area, and staying very mindful in training.  In most cases, improving strength, flexibility, coordination and awareness will go a long way to improve the injured area over time.
For older students, old injuries can be more prevalent and require more mindfulness and selectiveness in training.  Age may be ‘nothing but a number’, but a lifetime of adventure may have resulted in a variety of injures that must be taken into consideration.  Add in other medical concerns that often come with aging and training can be a challenge. 
Making the martial arts work for YOU will provide great benefits.  Whatever your situation, injured or not, young or old, focusing on mindful movement and awareness in training will go a long way toward overall health and quality of life!  So, make some goals, set a schedule for yourself, and train hard….but train smart!
 

Here are some great gift ideas for the holidays!  We have a variety of custom merchandise available including our super popular ZenQuest sweatshirts and T-shirts.  These are black with the school name on the front, and our three core martial arts noted on the back.  These are available in children’s and adult’s sizes at a costs of $45 for sweatshirts and $29 for T-shirts.
Don’t forget about our custom ZenQuest uniforms for Karate and Jiu-jitsu.  We also have custom training shorts’ and shirts or rashguards available, as well as beanie hats and soon...baseball caps! 
Students and parents can also order a wide variety of gear and equipment including punching bags and targets for home at 20% off retail prices.  We also have gift certificates available which can be purchased in person or through our website. 
Stop by the front desk, call or message us to grab one of these great stocking stuffers.  Happy holidays!

To keep pace with increasing expenses, the tuition at ZenQuest will be adjusted slightly in 2022.  All basic monthly tuitions will increase by $10 per month, with typical discounts for three, six or twelve month commitments and Easy Pay enrollments.  Similar discounts for families, college students and Law Enforcement Officers will also stay in place. 
These tuition rates will take affect on January 1st, 2022.  Students and parents may want to consider taking advantage of the existing rates and committing to longer enrollments prior to the new rates going into effect.  This is also a great time to consider enrolling in our Easy Pay payment plan.  Doing so before January 1st will lock in your existing tuition rates, and remain unchanged for as long as you stay enrolled with it. 
With the noted tuition adjustments we will also eliminate any fees for rank promotions in the future.  This includes existing fees Karate ‘Kyu’ promotions and children’s Jiu-jitsu advancements.  The only exceptions to this will be black belt certifications from the Okinawa Karate Association.
To enroll in Easy Pay, or for any questions related to tuition please contact us or stop at the front desk.  As always thanks for your understanding and support!

​ZenQuest has been voted the ‘Best Martial Arts Academy’ in the Berkshires AGAIN!  This is the fifth year in a row for ZenQuest going back to 2017.  We believe that this is simply the result of doing everything possible to provide the best martial arts programs, instruction, facility and training environment possible. 
This distinction is awarded by the area’s premier news agency, the Berkshire Eagle, and is based solely on voting by it’s readers.  This makes the award even better and we are humbly proud.  It’s nice to know that our students and community appreciate what we do, and we will continue to do our best to make things even better going forward in every program that we offer. 
This award would not be possible without the dedication and support of our students, families and parent organizations.  To them we say Arigato, Khupum, Obrigado, and THANK YOU!
 

​ZenQuest’s new Law Enforcement for Jiu-Jitsu program has 10-23’d…or arrived!  On Monday, October 18th a group of over twenty officers attended the first ‘LEJJ’ class.  Sixteen of those are from the Pittsfield Police Department, including Pittsfield Chief Mike Wynn.  The balance of the group are from other local agencies, including one New York State Trooper. 
Chief Wynn and the Pittsfield Police Department recently made an agreement with ZenQuest to kick off the program.  The training includes positioning, escape and restraint strategies from Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The idea is to reduce risks in such situations for both officers and the people that they restrain when the need arises.
At the time of this newsletter there has already been an instance where one of the officers has used some of the strategies covered in the first two weeks of the LEJJ classes to safely neutralize a subject’s aggression and restrain them until additional officers arrived at the scene.
 For years Chief Wynn and other officers would have discussions with Senseis Connie and Mark about the benefits of Jiu-jitsu training for Law Enforcement Officers.  After training for some time, it was obvious to them that Jiu-jitsu training is tremendously beneficial to anyone whose job requires them to engage with people physically at times.  Aside from being better equipped with strategies to safely deal with physical aggression, this training gives officers the ability to ‘scramble’ or move intelligently and maintain control of chaotic situations.  Being able to control these situations better also tends to reduce stress levels for officers, which makes them calmer and less likely to wind up in escalated confrontations.   
      Getting a program like this started was difficult in the past due to general skepticism and the resulting lack of funding.  However, in recent years several Law Enforcement agencies have had great success with similar programs.  There is now documented proof that this training helps to reduce injuries for both officers and the people that they have to engage with.  There is also proof that it actually reduces the need for officers to use the tools on their belts such as a baton, pepper spray, taser or firearm.    
At present one class per week is specifically for officer training, and the participants are encouraged to attend additional classes at ZenQuest.  A second class is already being considered with the success of the program so far, and new developments in funding.  Thanks to all of the officers for their interest, and special thanks to Chief Wynn for his part in launching the LEJJ program.  
 

​Now that we’re settling into the fall and winter season we’ve made some adjustments to our class schedule based on the needs of our students and programs.  At this time the following adjustments will be made:
 
·    The Monday evening adult Jiu-jitsu class at 5:15 PM is now designated to Law Enforcement Jiu-jitsu training.  The 7:00 PM adult jiu-jitsu class will still be available to all.
·    Our early 9:15 AM Saturday morning Muay Thai class has been converted back to a ’Tigers’ children’s karate class (at 9:00 AM) to accommodate an increase in this program.  As another consequence of this our 9:00 AM ‘Pythons’ children’s Jiu-jitsu class is moved back to 9:15 AM in the back training room.  The later Saturday Muay Thai class at 11:45 is still available. 
·    Lastly, we have returned to our pre-pandemic practice of providing some ’No-Gi’ Jiu-jitsu classes.  For now, this means that our Monday 7:00 PM and Friday 10:30 AM classes have now returned to ’No-Gi.’

These adjustments all took effect the 1st of November.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  Happy training!
 

At the time of this newsletter the COVID19 metrics are trending downwards in the areas surrounding ZenQuest.  If this continues we would likely be able to train maskless...again...within a matter of weeks.  Until then, though, we are required by the ‘Tri-Town’ board of health to mask while indoors.  This means that anyone entering our indoor space is required to wear a face covering.  
Recently we have had some instances where parents or relatives of younger students have resisted this requirement.  Trust us, we understand the frustration of wearing the masks over an extended period of time.  This is especially true when trying to train or do physical activity.  However, throughout the pandemic we have done our best to keep everyone safe and prevent a situation that results in a shutdown, and further strain on the gym.
For people who do not want to wear face coverings we simply ask that you drop your child off at the door and we will be happy to sign them in and help them prepare for their class.  In a case where making a payment is needed, payments can be submitted over the phone, via our website, by submitting information via email, or even by having the student bring it to the front desk.
We sincerely appreciate the students who’ve been willing to tolerate the masks when this was required.  Although this can be annoying, training with a mask on actually improves the wearer’s cardio-pulmonary capacity.  Many top athletes wear something called an ’altitude mask’ when they train for that very reason.  This gives them incredible endurance which can make the difference between success and failure.
Over the long term ’Mask Fatigue’ is mostly a psychological challenge for us.  This is especially challenging given the fact that we had a period during the summer of this year when we were able to go maskless in our classes.  A martial artist should view all of this as ‘mental training’ or something that makes them tougher mentally in the long run.  After wearing a mask for some time, our body adjusts to it and we can actually forget that we have it on.
Here are some tips that may help with ‘Mask Fatigue’:

Find a Mask that Fits - Finding a face covering that fits properly is essential.  Not only will this insure that the mask functions the way that its supposed to, it will be less of a distraction when you aren’t constantly adjusting it.
 
​Focus on Breathing - Doing physical activity while wearing a mask will go better if the wearer makes a habit of breathing more deeply.  Many martial arts incorporate breathing exercises or patterns as part of the training.  There are many benefits to mindful breathing, so being more aware because of the mask is another positive.

Take Breaks - Experts recommend frequent breaks when exercising with face coverings.  Students who have been attending classes at ZenQuest with this situation will know that we do incorporate several breaks into our classes for ‘water and oxygen.’ 

Wear a Fun Design - We’ve seen some great face covering designs in recent months, especially from the kids.  Let’s face it, if its something that we have to do for now, we might as well have fun with it. 

​Keep Masks Handy - We’ve all been in situations where we’ve forgotten a mask when going somewhere that requires one.  It pays to keep extra face coverings handy (in the car, our pocket, our purse, etc.) to prevent these situations. 
 
We are hoping that the extra safety requirements related to the pandemic are soon a thing of the past.  Ironically, until then, THEY will actually help us get there!