NEWSLETTER

May 2016

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Summer Fun for Kids

This summer season ZenQuest will be making it’s kids classes EXTRA fun! During the months of June, July and August each week will feature a theme that is sure to maximize your child’s enjoyment as they continue to advance their skills in the martial arts. This will include themes like board breaking, games only, t-shirt week, pot-luck snack week, face painting, and visits from super-heroes! ZenQuest will also attempt to bring back the popular “movie nights”, where kids watch martial arts related children’s movies on the mats. The movie nights will be $5 for enrolled students and $20 for non-students, with proceeds going to the Bill Wright Scholarship Fund.

In addition, don’t forget to highlight your child’s summer with two weeks of fun and learning in the Berkshire Martial Arts Camp! The 2016 camp will feature a FUN and age appropriate martial arts immersion with classes in Karate, Kickboxing, Jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga, Classical Weapons, and Bully-Defense. The kids will also participate in games like “Gauntlet”, “Cage-Ball”, “Javelins”, “Ants at the

Picnic”, and “Hot Potato” AND fun activities like board-breaking, throwing stars, and “Martial Art” finger painting!! Targeted for ages 6 to 13, the Camp will run during the weeks of July 18 through 22, and August 8 through 12. Each session is $160 for enrolled students, and $185 for non-students. Call 413-637-0656 or visit ZenQuest to register today!

In this Issue In this Issue In this Issue In this Issue PagePagePagePage

Summer Fun For Kids 1

Grappling News, Demian Updates, Tokkun Moved 2

Promotions, Dates to Note, Welcome Students, Birthdays 3

Dan Promotions, Future Fights, advanced Training 4

Kids Summer Camp 5

Rick Hawn Seminar 6

Newsletter - May 2016 2

Tokkun Moved

Despite the interest and excitement shown for a second Tokkun Karate camp, it will now be postponed until August of 2017. The primary reasons for this are calendar conflicts including the Obon Festival and the Okinawan Karatedo Association tournament in Okinawa, and another training camp in England scheduled for September. Based on talks with Okinawan Seniors, we will now begin planning on next year.

The original Tokkun camp took place in 2005 and featured a week of training with four senior Okinawan Masters. The event drew a healthy group of students and instructors from around the U.S. Like the 2005 camp, next installment of Tokkun, or “special training”, will included clinics on Kata, Bunkai, Kumite, and conditioning. The current plan is to have Tokkun II will also feature instruction on joint locks, pressure points and escape techniques from the visiting masters.

More information will be shared when it becomes available. Thanks for your interest and support.

Demian Updates Demian Maia is returning to the octagon again

on Saturday, May 14 in his pursuit of a shot at the UFC Welterweight title. ZenQuest’s Jiu-jitsu Guru will be facing Matt Brown, a veteran fighter currently ranked 7th in the welterweight division, while Maia is placed at 6th.

“The Immortal” Brown is known for his striking, conditioning and tenacity with a record of 22-13-0. Demian is, of course, dominant with perhaps the best Jiu-jitsu in MMA, and is currently 22-6-0. This looks to be a classic “striker vs. grappler” match-up. A win for Demian should give him a shot at the Welter-weight title.

On Tuesday, May 3rd Demian was promoted to his 5th degree black belt (4 stripes) in Jiu-jitsu. Given his accomplishments in competitive Jiu-jitsu, in Mixed Martial Arts, AND as a critically acclaimed instructor...this is completely appropriate. Congratulations to Demian and the entire DMJJ association!

Also, Demian’s new website is now up, and features a nice page on ZenQuest! Check out demianmaia.com when you have a chance.

Grappling News

The ZenQuest grappling team has been hitting some recent tournaments and taking home some hardware!

On Saturday, April 23 Chris Kupernik and Brennon Stockton competed in the “Tap Cancer Out BJJ Open” Charity tournament. Both placed 2nd and took home silver in their respective divisions. The event, known for being fairly competitive, drew over 460 grapplers. Brennon and Chris helped the event raise well over $100,000 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

On Saturday, May 7 six members of Team Z competed in the NAGA East Coast Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. Stepping on the mat were

Taryn Martin, Karyn Bienia, Chris Brouse, Matt Bienia, Neil Von Flatern and Tim Somerville. All of the competitors showed technique, strategy, and tremendous heart in their matches. Several of them came home with medals in their respective divisions, including: Taryn Martin - 2nd Place Women's Novice No-Gi, Karyn Bienia - 3rd Place Women's Beginner No-Gi, Chris Brouse - 1st Place Men's Beginner No-Gi and 3rd Place Men's White Belt Gi, Neil Von Flatern - 3rd Place Men's Blue Belt Gi, and Tim Somervile - 2nd Place Men's Expert No-Gi and 2nd Place Men's Purple Belt Gi. Congratulations to all of the competitors and thanks to everyone who came out to support the team!

Newsletter - May 2016 3

WELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTSWELCOME NEW STUDENTS!!!!

YOUTH: Liam Cowhig, Sriram Raminent

ADULTS: Aaron Collinson, Kenji Francois

WELCOME BACK:

Aaron Nicholson

RECENTRECENTRECENTRECENT PROMOTIONSPROMOTIONSPROMOTIONSPROMOTIONS

CRANES: TIGERS: 7kyu - Thane Adams, Seth Staebler 8kyu - Oliver Lamb, Clay Steven 9kyu - Emma Papkey DRAGONS: 8kyu - Nina Lamb COBRAS: YOUTH JIU-JITSU: Gray - Atticus Clark 3 stripe gray/white - Brayden Gerlitz 2 stripe white - Thomas Lucy 1 stripe white - Jolyan Tessier, Luna Wilhelm UECHI: 5 Dan - Michelle Moreau 1 Dan - Joe Willson, Stephen Taglieri, AJ Yener 9kyu - Marissa Maher ADULT JIU-JITSU: 1 stripe white - Fernanda Machado

IMPORTANT DATES May/June/July/August

Sat, May 14 - Demian Fights!

Sat, May 21, 11:30 am - Adv. Uechi Training

NO KOBUDO CLASS

Sun, May 22, Noon-3:00 pm - Rick Hawn Seminar NO AM CLASSES

Sat, May 28, 1:00 pm - Dojo SPRING

CLEANING!

Sun/Mon, May 29/30 - NO CLASSES Happy Memorial Day!

Sat, June 11, 1:00 pm - Adv. Jiu-Jitsu Training

Sat/Sun/Mon, July 2/3/4 - NO CLASSES

Happy Independence Day!

BMAC Session I: July 18-22

BMAC Session II: August 8- 12

Matthew Bienia 5/24 Karyn Bienia 5/27 Jay Boland 5/18 Alex Cestone 5/6 Liam Cowhig 5/22

Sydney-Rose Emerson 5/8 Dennis Fougere 5/21

Mihiraan Gangisetty 5/4 Matthew Gilbert 5/28 Nicholas Glass 5/9 Jedd Hall 5/25

Miron Kaczala 5/15 Mathieu Moreau 5/19 Stephany Pascetta 5/11 Kathy Petrucci 5/11 Beth Prescott 5/30 Ethan Rougeau 5/4 Samuel St. Peter 5/5

Edouard Tremblay 5/21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Coming soon!

Newsletter - May 2016 4

Dan Promotions

Four students received advancements in Uechi-Ryu Karatedo on Sunday, May 1. All of them performed exceptionally well in meeting the standards established by the Okinawa Karatedo Association, based in Okinawa, Japan. The promotions included: AJ Yener, Stephen Taglieri, and Joe Willson to Shodan (first degree black belt); and Michelle Moreau to Godan (fifth degree black belt.)

Omedeto min'na to hokan shite kudasai!...Congratulations everyone and please continue!

Future Fights

Team Z is planning on returning to the cage soon. Right now the plan includes a potential fight for Kaged Kombat contender status Matt Bienia in July. If all goes well there, Matt would fight for the 155 pound title in the Fall.

Neil “Beast Mode” Von Flatern is also looking to return to the cage soon, too. Neil is taking his training, nutrition, and conditioning more serious than ever.

ZenQuest has several students “cooking” in preparation for their MMA debut. This includes a variety of weight divisions including our first Light-Heavyweight fighter, and some ladies, too! Stay tuned for updates on the ZenQuest fight team soon.

Advanced Training

Advanced training is scheduled for both Karate and Jiu-Jitsu students at ZenQuest. These workshops are designed to cover thought provoking techniques and strategies for advanced students that are sure to improve their understanding of their art.

First, on Saturday, May 21 we’ll have “Advanced Concepts in Uechi-Ryu.” This clinic will include some discussion on teaching/ Sempai issues, as well as Advanced Kata, Bunkai, and self-defense based on the style. The training will be from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and all students ranked Ikkyu, or Brown-Belt with black stripes, and above are encouraged to attend.

Then, on Saturday, June 11 there’ll be “Advanced Concepts in Jiu-jitsu.” This will also include some discussion on teaching and leadership issues, and focus on strategies involving the “50/50 Guard.” This training will be from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, and all students ranked Blue-Belt and above, or by invitation should attend.

Up your game!

Dojo - News May 2016 5

ZenQuest Martial Arts Center 55 Pittsfield Road, Bldg # 10 Lenox, MA 01240

(Label)

Jyukyu - White Belt Kyukyu - Yellow Stripe Hachikyu - Yellow Belt Nanakyu - Blue Stripe Rokkyu - Blue Belt Gokyu - Green Stripe Yonkyu - Green Belt Sankyu - Brown Stripe Nikyu - Brown Belt Ikkyu - Black Stripe Sempai - Brown/Black Belt Jun Shodan - Black/White Belt Shodan thru Godan - Black Belt Renshi Rokudan - Black Belt w/1 gold stripe Kyoshi Nanadan - Black Belt w/2 gold stripes Kyoshi Hachidan - Black Belt w/3gold stripes

Hanshi Kyudan - Black Belt w/4 gold stripes Hanshi Jyudan - Black Belt w/5 gold stripes Note: Students must demonstrate progress in Form, Strength and Spirit/ attitude for promotions. It is considered bad form to inquire about the timing of a students next test.

CRANES

1 Gold Star - 15 classes of appropriate behavior

2 Gold Stars - 35 classes of appropriate behavior

1 Red Star - 65 classes of appropriate behavior

2 Red Stars - 105 classes of appropriate behavior

Shohei-Ryu Karate Ranking System

Adults White Belt Blue Belt Purple Belt Brown Belt Black Belt Note: Each belt can have up to four stripes. Students must demonstrate progress in Form, Strength and Spirit/ attitude for promotions. It is considered bad form to inquire about the timing of a students next test. Youth (ages 15 and under) White Belt

White/ Yellow Belt Yellow Belt White/ Orange Belt Orange Belt White/ Green Belt Yellow/ Green Belt Orange/ Green Belt Green Belt Note: Each belt can have up to four stripes. Upon graduation into Adult ranks, youth students are promoted to Blue Belt.

Jiu-jitsu Ranking System