Its time to plan for ‘Back-To-School’ again, and that means organizing our children’s classes for the busy season at ZenQuest. We do this in order to keep reasonable limits on these classes, and ensure a positive experience for every student. Along with shopping and figuring out schedules, it’s also important for parents and older kids to plan for their martial arts training at this time.
Students and parents should notify us at their earliest convenience which classes they will be continuing with this fall. Student lists are being created now for each youth class in the schedule, with limited space available. So, it is essential that we get kids onto the appropriate class lists.
Once again classes can conveniently be reserved online using this link: FALL REGISTRATION 2026. From there, simply complete the ‘Class Selection’ form using the choices provided and send. As an alternative you can reserve your classes by any of the following ways:
 
¨    Send an email directly or through our website
¨    Speak to someone at the front desk
¨    Call us at 413-637-0656
 
Please note 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. We will notify you if a class has become filled. 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 are 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’ is reserved for students aged seven years old and younger. Students turning thirteen years of age (or older) should begin transitioning to our Adult classes, which do not need to be organized like the youth classes.
As of September 1st, youth students are encouraged to plan on a maximum of two to three classes per week in each program they do. This is to balance enthusiastic attendance with allowing other students to share in the fun. Also, parents and students need to be careful to prevent ‘burnout’ in younger students. This still allows most students to attend as many as four to six classes each week between Karate and Jiu-jitsu.
There are no changes to our schedule of youth classes, and tuition rates will remain unchanged at this time. 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!!

ZenQuest has a standing ‘5-minute Rule’ meaning that students should make a habit of arriving 5 minutes before their classes. This allows time for students to prepare for their classes properly i.e. removing shoes, changing clothes, attending the bathroom, etc. This also allows the student to prepare mentally for their class.
When students arrive to class late they usually have to hurry to get into the class, causing them to struggle to focus. They will also miss explanations about the plan for the class and miss warm up exercises which can minimize the risks for injuries.
So, please follow the 5-minute Rule and set yourself (or your child) up for success in every class. 

ZenQuest is providing a ‘Fall Prevention’ program for the elderly in Williamstown. The six week program was developed for the Williamstown Council On Aging and the Berkshire Public Health Alliance. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among adults aged 65 and older. Each year millions of older adults require emergency room treatment for fall-related injuries, like hip fractures, concussions, and even traumatic brain injuries. These can lead to a loss of mobility and function, and lead to other health complications.
The new program was inspired by Sophie Carnes Jannen, a Public Health Nurse Educator for the BPHA. Her original motivation was to educate the elderly on safe falling strategies from the martial arts. Once Senseis Connie and Mark dove into the topic, they found that there are other aspects of preventing falls that should also be addressed.
The program will wrap up this month. For more information on hosting ZenQuest’s Fall Prevention program in your community please contact us at [email protected] or 413-637-0656. 

The new playground is OPEN! After hours of work preparing the site and building the structure, it was finally good to go on July 12. The new set is bigger than the old one, featuring two observation towers, swings, a slide, a tire-swing, a ramp, a climbing wall, and a climbing net. In a fun twist, the tube-slide from the old playground will be repurposed to be included in the new set-up soon.
The new playground replaces the one that had been there since the spring of 2011. That one had served hundreds of children over many years, but had reached the end of it’s useful life. In recent years parts of that one were replaced, but the set reached a point where it just made more sense to replace it.
A team of volunteers contributed to the construction of the new playground. Special thanks to Andre, Matt, Glenn, Tilo, Jack, and Beth for helping us build this. Also, thanks to our kids and families for being patient during the construction.
As always our first priority is safety for our students and families so students and families, please use the equipment properly and exercise the utmost care in doing so…and have fun!

This July and August, we're excited to bring Summer Fun to all of our children's classes! Each week will feature a different theme designed to keep kids excited about coming to class while providing a fun break from their usual routine. Details are shown on the poster above, and we'll be sending weekly updates to help students and families prepare for each theme. We can't wait to share ZenQuest's first-ever Summer Fun series with you. Join us for a summer full of learning, laughter, and fun!

The town of Lee has invited ZenQuest to set up a booth at the 2026 ‘Lee Founders’ weekend. This is an annual event celebrating the town’s rich history, traditions, and hometown pride organized by the Lee Chamber of Commerce. The weekend honors Lee’s founding and brings together residents and visitors for food, music, games, crafts, and family-friendly activities.
ZenQuest will be at the event all of Saturday, September 20th providing information to the community and performing a demonstration. The demo will include students of all ages performing different skills from Karate, Jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai.
This is an amazing opportunity for parents to see their kids perform some of the skills that they’ve been working on! Students and instructors interested in providing support or participating in the demonstration should notify Sensei Connie or Mark.
This event will take the place of regularly scheduled classes for that day.

On Sunday, June 28th a small ZenQuest army began building a new playground on the west side of the building. This is to replace the one that had been there since the spring of 2011. The old one served hundreds of children for years, but had reached the end of it’s useful life.
The new set will be bigger than the old one featuring two observation towers, swings, slides, a tire-swing, a climbing wall, and a climbing net. In a fun twist, the tube-slide from the old playground will be repurposed to be included in the new set-up.
At the time of this newsletter work is continuing on the new playground with a conservative estimated completion of July 13th. As always our first priority is safety for our students and families, so please refrain from entering the playground area until we announce that the new set up is finished. Of course, once the playground is open, students and families should use the equipment properly and exercise the utmost care in doing so.
As an alternative we recommend visiting the area between the On A Roll restaurant and Chocolate Springs. We appreciate your patience and understanding during our playground transition time.

Select gear items are now on sale at 60% off in the reception area of the gym. This includes:
 
·   Training shirts/Rashguards
·   T-shirts
·   Sweatshirts
·   Shorts
 
The sale will end soon, so take advantage while you can!

A martial arts gym is more than just a place to get fit. It is a community where people come to learn, grow, and challenge themselves. One of the most important parts of a strong martial arts community is a culture of respect. Respect affects the way students train, how safe they feel, and how long they continue practicing martial arts.
Training Environment - Respect helps create a positive training environment. When students and instructors treat each other with courtesy and patience, people feel welcome and supported. New students are less nervous when they see others encouraging each other instead of showing off or acting aggressively.
A respectful gym is also a place where students can learn and make mistakes without feeling embarrassed. Learning a martial art takes time and effort, and nobody masters it overnight. Students should have the opportunity to learn at their own pace.
Longevity - Many people quit activities because they do not feel comfortable or accepted. In a martial arts gym with a culture of respect, students are more likely to stay for years. They build friendships, trust their instructors, and enjoy coming to class.
Longevity in martial arts, or sticking with it, is important because real growth happens over time. Students develop confidence, discipline, and mental toughness through consistent practice. A respectful atmosphere helps people stay motivated during difficult moments and keeps them coming back.
Better Learning - Learning is easier when students trust their instructors and teammates. Respect allows students to be more focused and open-minded. Instead of arguing or trying to prove themselves, they can pay attention and work to improve.
Martial arts often requires students to practice techniques and strategies together. If partners are careless, rough, or disrespectful, learning becomes difficult. Good partners help each other improve by staying controlled and practicing safely.
Safety - Training safely is one of the biggest reasons respect matters in martial arts. Students must have faith in their instructors and training partners. Respect means understanding that everyone has limits and that no one should be reckless or try to hurt their partners in practice.
A respectful student controls their strength, follows the rules, and stays focused. This is especially important during sparring or grappling. Instructors who create a respectful culture also make safety a priority by teaching proper technique and encouraging students to speak up if they don’t understand or something feels wrong.
Without respect, injuries and conflicts become more common. With respect, students can train hard while still protecting each other.
Beyond Martial Arts - The lessons learned in a respectful martial arts gym can also help students outside of class. Respectful practice teaches us how to work with others, stay calm under pressure, and handle disagreements in a mature way. These skills are invaluable at school, at work, and in everyday life.
It is crucial that more senior students, instructors, and even guest instructors set the example for respect in a martial arts gym. They are the ones who reinforce how everyone should train and conduct themselves there. In the end, respect is one of the foundations of martial arts. It creates a positive environment, helps students learn, encourages long-term growth, and keeps everyone safe. A gym with a strong culture of respect is not only a better place to train—it is a better place to grow as a person.

One of the most important qualities that students can gain from the martial arts is mindfulness. In the gym or Dojo this means being mindful of the drills and exercises they are given, the class structure, the training rules, and their partners. It also means being mindful of their uniform, their gear, their tuition, and the class schedule. Generally, responsibility for these last elements fall on parents or caretakers of younger students.
Students who are not able to drive themselves yet are dependent on care-takers to get them to their classes on time. This means arriving at ZenQuest about five minutes before their class begins. That allows the student to . . .