We’ll be hosting another seminar with Kru Mark DellaGrotte on Saturday, September 28.  He’s considered one of the best Thai Kickboxing coaches in the world, with direct lineage under the legendary Grandmaster Senan Yodtong.   Kru Mark never fails to provide an incredible learning experience that is guaranteed to improve your striking skill set. 
The two-hour clinic will begin at 12:00 PM, consisting primarily of two-person drills.  Participants should bring a pair of boxing/ Thai style gloves, shin-guards and some water to stay hydrated.  Preregistration costs is $75 until Thursday, September 26, after which registration is $90.  To reserve your spot, stop at the front desk or call 413-637-0656.

Mark your calendars for the next round of Advanced Concepts clinics at ZenQuest.  These are a great way for our more experienced students to work on advanced techniques and strategies, and talk about optimizing their training and teaching.  These are scheduled as follows:
 
¨ Uechi-Ryu Karate - Saturday, September 7, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Nikyu and above)
¨ Demian Maia Jiu-jitsu - Saturday, September 21, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Blue belt and above)
¨ Sityodtong Muay Thai (Kru Mark Seminar) - Saturday, September 28, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
 
These are normally provided to at no additional costs and students eligible to attend are encouraged to do so.  The seminar with Kru Mark DellaGrotte does have an additional cost, but is open has to all students.

With the Back-to-School season around the corner, it’s time to start planning activities for the kids.  The fall and winter seasons have historically been the busiest time for children’s classes at ZenQuest.  During this time we do our best to organize our kids’ classes to ensure a healthy and positive environment for everyone and ask parents to help.   
This year we’ll be doing our children’s ‘Fall Registration’ a little differently  For many years we have sent a packet to families via ‘snail-mail’ and, in more recent times by email, too.  Now, for the first time, we will be eliminating the snail-mail and going electronic!  This should be more efficient for everyone and reduce paperwork in the process. 
We will continue to send an email to all families with students aged 14 and under.  The email will include a link to our website where parents can indicate class choices for their kids during the busy season.  Forms will also be included in the email for those who prefer to simply complete hard copies or return them via email.  A limited number of forms will also be available at the ZenQuest front desk.
        Parents can visit the website or submit forms at any time once the link is up, but early registration is encouraged due to the anticipated volume of students this year.  Classes will be filled on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and indicating which classes are preferred in a timely manner is the best way to reserve classes for kids.  For new or returning students, registration must be validated with tuition payment.   
        A current class schedule will be included in the information provided, but we don’t expect any changes to the schedule of children’s classes at this time.  Remember that ‘Partial Participation’ discounts are reserved for students age eight years old and younger.  Kids age thirteen or older are eligible to attend unlimited Adult classes including Karate, Jiu-jitsu, Thai Kickboxing, and Strength & Conditioning. 
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of this, and look for your Fall Enrollment email soon.  Huge thanks to Shawn Maschino for helping with the electronic registration!  We will look forward to another great season of fun and learning at the oldest and best martial arts school in the Berkshires!!

Each year, Demian Maia holds instructor training for his affiliated academies in the U.S.  This year the training was held in Miami, Florida, hosted by long time student Daniel Perez.  The training went from July 9 to 13, focusing on many strategies and principles of positioning in Jiu-jitsu.  Sessions went as much as four hours with sparring or ’rolling’ included in each day.  On Saturday the 13th, Demian gave a three hour seminar which over forty students attended. 
In addition to the training, Demian and his manager had some news for the affiliate schools.  First, they are developing an ‘affiliate rank system’ for all schools in the organization. There will be four levels based on different factors, such as time in the organization, instructor ranks, and participation in affiliation training.  ZenQuest has been placed at ’Gold’ level, which is one step away from the top tier of Platinum.  Demian also stated that he is winding down his MMA career soon and has begun to focus more on his affiliations, traveling for seminars, and producing instructional books and videos.
Thanks to Professor Daniel Perez for hosting this year’s training; and Professor Demian for another incredible experience on the mat!    

 This month we'll feature especially fun themes for our kids classes at ZenQuest.  These will be as follows:
 
¨ Shorts & T-Shirts - Aug. 5-10: Kids can wear more casual clothes and train in 'No-Gi' mode.
¨ Games, Games, Games - Aug. 12-17: Classes will consist of all games and activities.
¨ Wacky Sparring - Aug.19-24: Students will engage in fun variations of sparring like Sumo, Noodle Sparring, and Giant Boxing Gloves.
¨ Movie & Game Characters - Aug. 26-31: Attire like T-shirts, pants, or entire costumes for these characters can be worn for classes.
 
What a fun way to close out the summer kids classes. Please join us!

Every year Demian Maia provides training for his affiliate instructors in the United States.  Demian Maia is universally known as one of the greatest Jiu-jitsu figures in history, and has pioneered many new strategies in the art.  This is a great way to make sure that the level of instruction at the affiliate schools is very high, and consistent with Demian’s style. 
This year the training was hosted by Daniel Perez in Miami, Florida.  Professor Daniel was Demian’s first American Black Belt and long-time student.  As usual, the training was both incredible and intense.  We trained for four days for as much as five hours.  Demian focused on technical strategies, but also talked extensively about the principles behind them.  There was also rolling or sparring every day, which was just as important and a huge opportunity to learn. 
Very often attending this type of training can provide a ‘hidden’ message.  This time the message seemed to be ‘Vem Tranquilo.’  Vem Tranquilo is a Brazilian phrase that means ‘come easy’ or ‘stay calm.’  This is actually a running joke in Brazil at the moment, centered around a viral video of a street altercation there.  In the video one of the participants says Vem Tranquilo to his aggressor, while successfully defending himself and staying calm himself.
Vem Tranquilo can also apply to the Brazilian attitude in general.  The Brazilians tend to be pretty laid back, especially the ones who train in Jiu-jitsu.  The same can be said for Okinawan and Thai martial artists.  In past newsletters we’ve talked about the principle of ‘Fudoshin’ which is very similar to Vem Tranquilo for Japanese and Okinawan martial artists.  In Thai Kickboxing ‘Sabai’ is the practice of being very calm and focused in training, competition or self-defense.
A new Demian Maia affiliated academy recently opened in Naples, Florida.  We instantly became friends with Alexander (Ale) and Fabio at the Miami training, and visited their location toward the end of the trip.  The facility and the instructors are top notch, and we would highly recommend anyone in the area attend there.
After a tour of the facility we talked with Fabio for a bit as Ale ran one of their classes.  Before long the conversation turned to the importance of being calm and happy in life, and how the martial arts can help you achieve it.  We talked about how easy it is to get caught up in the stresses of everyday life and be overcome with frustration, anxiety, anger and depression.  With a routine of proper training we can purge our anxieties and stress and be more tranquilo and calm. 
In order for this to work, training needs to be done PROPERLY.  There needs to be an emphasis on safety, mutual respect, and helping each other improve.  Martial arts gyms that fall down on any of these areas will be a source of stress and fail to help students develop physically or mentally.  Practicing calmness must be made an important part of training.  By training in a healthy, supportive environment and regularly practicing to be calm under pressure, we can actually learn to apply calmness to all other aspects of our lives.  Of all of the benefits to be taken from the martial arts, improving calm and focus can improve the quality of our lives the most.  After all, quality of life and happiness is what it’s all about.  So, vem tranquilo, fudoshin and sabai in training...and wherever you go! 
 
Senseis Connie and Mark

For the third year in a row, ZenQuest has been voted “Best Martial Arts Academy” in the Berkshires!  The honor came by way of the areas biggest news publication, the ‘Berkshire Eagle.’  The Eagle boast a total audience of over 200,000 between their print and online presence.  Every year they ask their readership to vote on local businesses to determine which are best in the area.  We were surprised to receive the award in 2017, partly because we weren’t fully aware that ‘Best Martial Arts Academy’ was a category. 
This is an amazing honor when one considers that there are about twenty martial arts schools and clubs in Berkshire County.  When asked about why he thinks ZenQuest is considered best co-owner and chief instructor Mark Flynn said “We just do all we can to provide the best facility, environment and instruction possible for our students.  We especially pride ourselves on a having friendly and positive environment for everyone. It probably doesn’t hurt to have affiliations with some of the best organizations in the world for each of the martial arts we provide, too!”
Huge thanks to our students, instructors, and supporters for helping to make ZenQuest the amazing place that it is.  Thanks, too, to everyone who voted for us again!  

The Berkshire area’s biggest newspaper, the Berkshire Eagle, recently featured Sensei Connie in an ’Executive Spotlight.’  The full page Q&A article covers the big promotions she earned recently, as well as other aspects of her martial arts journey.  Here are some excerpts from the article:
 
Since November, Connie Flynn, owner of ZenQuest Martial Arts Center in Lenox, earned a seventh degree black belt in karate and a black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu. That would be enough activity for a lot of people, but Flynn keeps kicking. We caught up with the “Kyoshi” - a title granted to seventh-level black belts that means “teacher of teachers” - to talk about the business of spiritual and physical strength through martial arts.
Q What’s meant the most to you this year: the black belt in jiujitsu, or the seventh- degree black belt in karate?
A They’re both important. The seventh-degree black belt is significant. We had to travel to Okinawa (Japan) for me to get it. The thing that was really significant to me in jiujitsu is that [Brazilian mixed martial artist Demian Maia, the world’s 12th-ranked welterweight in The Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts competition] came here to have me do it in front of my students. ... It’s unique to be a female that goes that far, especially outside of Brazil.
Q You have a bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies from Cornell University and a master’s in education from the College of St. Rose in upstate New York. Did you teach before you got involved in the martial arts?
A I explored the traditional teacher role, but with the constraints and restrictions of just being in the educational system, I sought out the community center. ... I can honestly say that both my undergraduate and graduate degrees have been very useful in what I do, because what we do isn’t just training for the martial arts. We’re like life skills coaches.
Q What advice would you give to girls and women who want to get involved in the martial arts?
A Pursue your dream. In the dojo, we’re equals. Everyone starts with the same uniform. The same belt. The same expectations. If you go in, work hard, follow the instructions, follow the people who came before, you can   get you to where you want to go. The sky’s the limit as far as martial arts goes.
 
Congratulations to Sensei Connie for this incredible honor.  Huge thanks to Tony Dobrowolski, Noah Hoffenberg, and the Berkshire Eagle for this.  To read the full article online, visit https://www.berkshireeagle.com

It is with deep regret that we announce the sudden passing of Sensei Toshio Higa.  Master Higa was Sensei Connie's and Mark's direct teacher, and the Chief Instructor of the Chatan Dojo in Okinawa.  He had trained in Uechi-Ryu Karate for most of his life in the birthplace of the art, and had risen to the rank of 10th Degree Black Belt or Grandmaster level. He had also served as president of the Okinawa Karatedo Association in 2012 and 2013. 
Sensei Higa had made many trips to the U.S., including visits to the Berkshires in 1996, 2005 and 2010. His accomplishments in the martial arts were only eclipsed by his amazing attitude.  He had an incredible sense of humor and was always a pleasure to be around.  His instruction, leadership, insight and friendship will be sorely missed by Senseis Connie and Mark, and Karate enthusiast around the world. 
He was a long-time training partner and friend to Sensei Shigeru Takamiyagi, who passed in 2012. They originally got to know each other as students of Grandmaster Kanei Uechi at the legendary Futenma Dojo.  Master Takamiyagi was also Sensei Connie's and Mark's direct teacher since 2003 and founder of the Chatan Dojo...ZenQuest's parent school in Okinawa.
Rest in peace Sensei Toshio Higa.

Neil “Beast Mode” Von Flatern will challenge for the AMMO Fight League’s Amateur Welterweight MMA belt on Saturday, July 20th.  Neil has been training at ZenQuest for nearly eight years training in Jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and Karate.  He will be facing the current champ, Angelo Richardson, who is a solid all around fighter with kickboxing and grappling experience.  Neil enters the bout with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses, while Richardson is 3-4.  Neil’s wins are two by submission, one TKO and one decision.  All of Richardson’s wins are by submission.  
This should prove to be an amazing matchup, but “Beast Mode” is determined to take home the belt.  Tickets are available at ZenQuest with prices at $35, $45 and $75.  In addition to Neil’s match, there is a full card of fights to see at this exciting event.  Don’t miss it!