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New Duds 1

Planning For Success, Self-Defense Certification, Memorial

Shugeyo 2

Promotions, Dates to Note, Welcome Students, Birthdays,

Planning for Success 3

New Student Back-To-School Special 4

NEWSLETTER September 2015

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New Duds

The first wave of the new Demian Maia/ ZenQuest Jiu-jitsu uniforms is in! These are high quality “Gold Weave“ Bad Boy brand uniforms featuring embroidery of the DMJJ logo on the jacket front and back, and on the right lower leg. Professor Demian prefers to make the Gi available in traditional white only for now. The ZenQuest version of this Gi will also feature two team patches.

Eventually, this Gi is being phased in as the standard for training at ZenQuest, with a date of January of 2017 as a cut off for other Gis. The only other Gis allowed for Jiu-jitsu classes will be the ZenQuest Gi, and previous versions of the DMJJ Gi.

Remember that, unlike ordering Gis online, you can “try on” this one to insure the best fit! The price for this Gi is $175.

Also, NEW Karate Gis will available soon! These will be high-quality middle-

weight 100% cotton uniforms. They will feature a large color print of the ZenQuest dragon logo on the back. On the front, the left chest will have a full color logo for the Okinawan Karatedo Association, and the school name in gold. These will also be phased in as the standard for training in the Uechi-Ryu classes at ZenQuest. Priced at $45 each, a limited number of these Gis should be available sometime in November of this year. If interested in

preordering one of these please let Sensei Connie or Mark know ASAP.

Newsletter - September 2015 2

Self-Defense Certification

ZenQuest is hosting a self-defense instructor training in September. This will be a two day course given by renown self-defense and criminal justice expert Steve Kardian. A veteran of a variety of martial arts, Steve is the founder of Defend University and the Women’s Self-Defense

Institute. He specializes in Instructor certification of what many consider to be among the most effective strategies in the world for self-defense, security and defensive tactics. These are designed to allow people to be effective in spite of a size and strength disadvantage. The two day course will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. For more information or to reserve your spot contact Coach Mark at 413-637-0656 or mark@zenquestmac.com.

Planning for Success

Another summer has come to an end. This means another opportunity to recommit to learning the skills of success! Skills like focus, preparedness, self-control, positivity, and perseverance. At ZenQuest, we are doing everything possible to help our students acquire these skills, reach their goals, and maximize their experience in the martial arts!

There are a couple of updates to our class schedule now. First, the Friday evening Jr. Tigers Karate class (ages 41/2 to 6) will now be from 4:30 to 5:15 PM. This was done to make things a easier for parents with later school bus times. Also on Friday evenings is the addition of a Jiu-jitsu Fundamentals class for ages 12 and up. This will provide newer students an opportunity to focus on basic movement and basic strategies of this amazing art. Sensei’s Mark and Connie will also be taking over the Adult Karate class on Friday evenings. Big thanks to Sensei Justin for all of his help over the years as he heads off to finish college!

For our youth students and parents there are just a few EASY steps towards recommitting to your goals in the martial arts this season! By now, you should have received a Fall Registration Packet in the mail. This packet included a new Class Schedule , a Class Selection Form, and current Membership Guide. There are no changes to tuition or fees at this time. However, please consider our EasyPay tuition option this fall. This provides convenience, a tuition discount, AND locks your tuition rate...so that it cannot go up for as long as your enrolled with it. Applications are available upon request.

(Continued on page 3)

Memorial Shugeyo

ZenQuest will host a special "Shugeyo" or spirt training and demonstration in memory of Sensei Shigeru Takamiyagi on October 11th. The event will happen at 1:30 PM that Sunday, and will mirror a similar event in Okinawa to commemorate the one year anniversary of Sensei's passing on the 12th.

Sensei Takamiyagi was Sensei Connie’s and Mark’s primary teacher, and contributed to the development of Uechi-Ryu/ Shohei-Ryu Karate throughout the world. He was also instrumental in organizing the Okinawa Karatedo Kyokai...ZenQuest’s parent organization for Karate.

After the training and demonstration, the group will go for some dinner (location to be decided.) There is no costs associated with the training and meals will be ordered from the menu. This is open to all experience levels. Please come lend your energy and spirit for some great training and discussion!

Newsletter - September 2015 3

WELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTS!!!! YOUTH: Sophia Collins, Levi Denmark, Jasce Coco, Krish Jindia, Seth Staebler

ADULTS: Matthew Lenehan, Talon Loglisci, Michael Sullivan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Matthew Anish 9/26 Patrick Barry 9/21 Holly Chappell 9/15 Atticus Clark 9/17 Justice Davis 9/19

Dominic Dignard 9/10 Ben Ginsberg 9/28 Gabriella Hall 9/15 Robert Haywood 9/29 Ayden Jezak 9/30 Michael Jezak 9/6 Jake Lyons 9/14 Taryn Martin 9/19

Leanne Maschino 9/28 Michael McHugh 9/16 Jaqueline McHugh 9/30 Michelle Moreau 9/19 McKenzie Morin 9/18 Audrey O'Leary 9/22 Ryan Pope 9/7

Nick Ricciarini 9/20 Jacob Schulman 9/4 Norm Soule 9/4 Ryan Timm 9/20

RECENTRECENTRECENTRECENT PROMOTIONSPROMOTIONSPROMOTIONSPROMOTIONS CRANES: TIGERS: 7kyu - Tom Lucy DRAGONS: COBRAS: 8kyu - Teresa Navin UECHI: 6kyu - Matt Anish YOUTH JIU-JITSU: ADULT JIU-JITSU: 2 stripe purple - Mike Reis, Tony Riello Blue belt - Frank Scago 4 stripe white - Beth Yanuskiewicz

IMPORTANT DATES September/October

Sat, Sept. 5, 1:00pm: JJ Advanced Training

(Blue Belts & above)

Mon, September 7: Labor Day, NO CLASSES

Sat/Sun, September 26-27: Self-Defense Certification, Steve Kardigan

Sunday, October 11, 1:30 pm: Memorial Shugeyo

Saturday, October 17: NAGA Rhode Island

Sunday, October 25, 1:30 pm:

Possible Kyu Test

Sunday, November 1, 1:30 pm: Possible Dan Test

Please remember that student lists will be generated for each youth class in the schedule! Your Class Selection forms should be filled out and returned as soon as possible (with tuition payment through September if needed.) Also, appropriate programs will be highlighted for each student on their form (i.e. Tigers, Dragons, etc.) This is based on the student’s age, size, and experience level and is intended to maximize the student’s development in the martial arts. Please be sure to complete this portion of your form, and be sure to update any changes to contact information, too.

Students who have continued through the summer season should complete their selection form to confirm their class choices. Students not enrolled through September should also include tuition payment with their form submission.

So, get those forms in, and we’ll see you soon for more fun and learning at ZenQuest!

(Continued from page 2) Planning For Success

Newsletter - September 2015 5