Fight Recap: Knucklehead Fight to defeat ALS

 "Knucklehead Fight To Defeat ALS" MMA promotion, Salem Oregon. 

Artem Marchuk vs Angel Espino

The first fight saw Artem Marchuk take on a tough undefeated striker from Animals MMA, Angel Espino. These two fighters had faced each other previously in a kickboxing match earlier this year, where Espino had won the bout because Artem had injured his knee during the fight. Marchuk was eager at the chance to avenge the loss and get back in the win column. 

ROUND 1

At the opening bell Artem did well to find his range and land some crisp calculated combinations to the head and body of Espino. The two traded a few hard shots back and forth before Artem shot in for a beautiful blast double which slammed Espino to the canvas. After a few hard punches from Artem while in Espino's guard, the fight became a technical grappling match with Espino trying to secure an arm bar which Artem easily managed to escape and continue to reign down punches from the top as the bell rang to end the round. 

ROUND 2

The second round, Espino came out guns blazing, throwing his signature right hook, that resembled a rock tied to the end of a rope. Fast and powerful, swinging relentlessly at Artem's head, Espino was just barely missing the Team Quest fighter's jaw. Artem did well to slip, dodge and duck most of the Espino's striking efforts and countered with a hard shovel hook to the body of Espino. After some more quick flurries from Espino, Artem landed a jump knee and shot in for another takedown which set him back up in Espino's guard. This time, Artem was able to land more vicious ground and pound and at one point passed guard to get to full mount and continued to unleash hard punches on Espino. 

ROUND 3

The pace of the third round was all set by Artem. He was in complete control and managed to keep any and all of Espino's striking efforts at a safe distance. Eventually Artem managed to back Espino in to the cage and secure his third take down of the fight. Once again in Espino's guard, Artem stayed busy on top, postured and struck Espino with more hard punches and a few well placed hammer fists to the side of Espino's head. The pressure of Artem's ground and pound forced Espino to try and escape, scramble and move to avoid anymore damage which allowed Artem to take his back, secure an air tight body triangle and continued to strike. Artem had a rear naked choke half way in, which Espino managed to stay clam and avoid. The end of the round saw Artem on Espino's back with the body triangle, striking say to the head and body. 

RESULT: ARTEM MARCHUK WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION  

Kody Kramer, Artem Marchuk & Scott McKendry

John Constien vs TJ Khoeler

This highly anticipated match up between two tough fighters making their pro debuts, had fireworks written all over it. Sure enough, this fight was one of the best on the entire fight card with non stop, back and forth action! 

ROUND 1

Khoeler started things off immediately landing two hard jabs to John's nose, which was previously injured from his training camp in preparation for this bout & set the tone for the round. John fired back with some hard hooks to the head and body of Khoeler while coming forward, that you could hear from the stands. Constien was staying active with well placed kicks and punches while Khoeler kept firing hard straight punches down the middle, connecting on the button (being John's nose) which made it extremely hard for John to breath. Clearly stunned by the power of Khoeler's punches, John pressed forward and landed a barrage of heavy hooks to the head of Khoeler sending him stumbling backwards in to the fence. John tried desperately to capitalize on the hurt Khoeler but was unsuccessful in his efforts to keep him down and got called for an alleged illegal knee, which cost him a point. At the restart, John's mouth piece was becoming an issue as he was unable to breath through his nose. After a few hard striking exchanges, both fighters actually lost their mouth pieces at one point and the action resumed. Khoeler did well to take John down with strong takedowns, keeping john flattened out while maintaining top control position landing some nasty elbows to John's temples. 

ROUND 2

Right at the bell, both fighters came out throwing bombs at each other at a relentless pace. The crowd was going crazy watching these two swing big punches at each other. John again landed some great up and down striking combinations that kept Khoeler at a safe distance, but Khoeler being the taller of the two fighters, managed to keep scoring hard accurate punches down the pipe, which allowed for easy take downs. More elbows and more problems with the mouth piece saw John getting out pointed. 

ROUND 3

"It's all or nothing! You have to go right now, you have to take him out. We are down on points!", yelled Kody Kramer, team mate and corner for Constien. TJ Khoeler managed to weather another hail storm of Constein's hard hooks to the head and body that have managed to put away all of John's previous opponents. Once again the fight went to the ground, seeing Khoeler control most of the wrestling to secure advantageous positions to score hard punches from the top. John did everything in his power to get back to his feet and managed to do so in a short scramble only to go back to landing more hard punches to Khoeler's left cheek with his right hook. 

RESULT: KHOELER WINS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

John and Artem both did exceptionally well under pressure and performed like professionals while representing Team Quest with courageous heart. We are extremely proud of both guys and happy to have such great guys both on and off the mat representing us in combat. Although we were stunned to see John lose, we know he will be back, better than ever and ready to take the next challenge in his MMA career. 

Do what is RIGHT, not what is EASY

Do what is RIGHT, not what is EASY

In the martial arts and fitness industry, we see people of all shapes and sizes come through the gym doors looking to improve themselves. For most of these people, especially when they start training with us, they try and take the easy way out. They cheat a few reps, cut some corners to get a better time or maybe stop a workout early because it's hard. In a competition setting, where people are watching you and the pressure is on, if you take the easy way out, you get exposed. All the false layers come off when you engage in combat.  

Dead weight never lies. It's always going to be heavy and never stops being heavy. It's inexhaustible. 

Mario Lara came to us a few years ago looking to improve his self confidence, gain some basic skills in martial arts and lose a few pounds. Since he started training with us back in May of 2012, he has lost over 100lbs and has developed an amazing level of self esteem and confidence. This process of change did not happen overnight and was not an easy one. There were many days spent suffering and enduring uncomfortable workouts. Mario stuck to it, managed to address his weak areas and relied on his coaches during his times of self doubt. 

This past weekend, Mario travelled up to Seattle to compete in the IBJJF Seattle Open. The international Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation is the premier Jiu Jitsu competition in the world. Every year, the IBJJF sees thousands of jiu jitsu competitors attending these tournaments. Needless to say, this is a real test for those looking to measure their skills in Jiu Jitsu. 

“Mario performed very well in his first IBJJF tournament, much better than I did as a white belt. He stayed with the game plan that we developed in training, and adapted beautifully to his opponents. His stand-up game was very impressive, he hit a drop seoinage that threw his opponent out of the combat area. Mario is a great example for anyone wanting to start in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu; show up, train, and work hard and you will see results.”

— BJJ Head Coach, Bruce Elliott

Mario managed to earn a bronze medal in a tough weight class which had lots of people in his bracket. He could have easily dropped down to a different weight division or simply not have competed at all to avoid looking bad, like most people do. Instead, Mario stepped up and tested himself by training on a daily basis, putting in extra time on the mat to drill the techniques that he was having problems with and eventually stepping out on the mat in front of hundreds of people to compete in a physically demanding combat sport. 

Confidence comes from countless hours of practice. 

I asked Mario earlier in the week before his BJJ competition, how he was feeling and if was worried about his weight class. His answer was the same thing that I hear from other athletes who compete in combat sports, "Honestly, Im not worried about anything other than gassing out and looking bad." 

Doubt leads to FEAR, which leads to FAILURE

We all experience fear. It comes in many forms. Fear becomes heightened when we do not understand or know the outcome of a situation. Anxiety causes stress which allows us to lose focus. When we lose focus, we simply lose. The only sure way to get over fear is to eliminate the doubt by doing the things that scare us frequently. Confidence is built by proficiency. When we understand something and know what the outcome will likely be, we eliminate doubt and thus eliminate fear which increases our chances of success. 

Mario completely exhausted, or so he thinks. 

In Mario's case, his biggest fear of "gassing out" meant that he was more concerned about not having the endurance to perform at his best. His fears had nothing to do with pain, not winning or not making weight. Most people would be more concerned about the dangerous nature of the sport with the joint locks and chokes. Mario on the other had none of these fears going in to his competition. Why? Simply because he had put the time in on the mat, developed proficiency in being in those positions or tough spots that eliminated the doubt. It should also be noted that Mario's fear of not having the endurance most likely comes from his past. 

If NOTHING changes, nothing CHANGES

In May of 2012 when an overweight and shy Mario first came to Team Quest, we had no idea we would eventually see a strong, confident and skilled martial artist develop. We assumed that he would make an improvement and most likely make some changes with his body, but the outcome of the hard work and dedication has been impressive to say the least. Mario now is a completely different person. 

Mario before and after: 90lbs lighter 

If someone is serious about making changes in their life, they have to forfeit control. Again, when we seemingly lose control, we get scared and lose focus. If we can develop enough confidence to not have to control everything and be able to adapt to unforeseen changes, we make progress. Most of the success for Mario came from his ability to trust his coaches and team mates. His success did not come from trying to control his workouts and always drill the positions in jiu jitsu where he was already confident. Mario like so many others who have reached new levels of success in their goals had the ability to "trust the system" or "go with the flow". The coaches and members at Team Quest are all too familiar with this term and have all at some point in their martial arts and fitness journey submitted to the authority of their coaches and given them enough respect to TRUST them. 

Boxing class, smiles all around.

Team Quest would like to congratulate Mario Lara for his superb effort last weekend as well as his dedication to better himself through martial arts and fitness. He has been an outstanding example of hard work and dedication as well as inspiring confidence for many others both inside and outside the gym. Well done Mario!!! 

Great turn out for women's self defense seminar

Last weekend, Team Quest MMA Portland held a women's only self defense seminar that saw over 20 women attend. The 90 minute seminar covered multiple scenarios for realistic self defense techniques that showed women how to be aware of their surroundings as well as understand the gravity of being in a potentially life threatening situation. Although the scenarios and techniques were somewhat serious, the seminar was fun and full of energy. All the women who attended the seminar received valuable techniques for self defense but most importantly gained confidence and were empowered by the coaches. 

Several coaches and junior coaches from Team Quest were on hand to assist and demonstrate techniques, which gave the seminar almost a 4 student to 1 instructor ratio. This allowed the women to drill and practice the newly learned techniques and self defense tactics. Most of the women who attended this seminar gave similar feedback: that after seeing the coaches explain the drills and practicing the situational defense that they all felt a little bit more confident to protect themselves. Drilling and practice is the key to any sport, martial art or applied skill and is no different in this case. In fact, because we believe that people need mat time and the ability to practice, we gave each attendee a free 7 day class pass to the gym. We want people of all ages and skill levels to be able to defend themselves. 

The lead instructor for the seminar was Team Quest Sambo instructor, Coach Vlad Novikov who is a EMT and has over 20 years of martial arts experience. Supporting coach Bruce for the ground defense portion of the seminar was BJJ head coach Bruce Elliott who also has multiple years of experience in various martial arts. 

We would like to give a special thanks to the coaches who volunteered their time for this event as well as all the team quest members who participated, and a big thanks to all of those who attended this great event. 

MMA Training For Teens | Breaking The Myths

MMA Training for Teens

Mixed Martial Arts for teens is becoming one of the fastest growing classes in the gym, with the numbers steadily increasing due to popularity of the UFC which has a huge teenage fan base. More than ever, teenagers between 12 - 17 are training in martial arts classes. The martial arts industry has not seen this many people of this age group training in the arts since the days of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. Subsequently more parents are becoming alarmed about the safety risks and dangers of what is mostly perceived as a violent and barbaric sport. The field is split between worried parents who are concerned about broken bones and parents who see the value in their adolescent's becoming empowered and confident while being able to defend themselves as well as develop better character qualities. 

Safety by Comparison | Martial Arts vs Popular Sports

Most middle and high school kids play sports that involve a huge amount of inherent risk, but because of popular culture and tradition those risks are often overlooked. The statistics of injuries  occurring in most high school sports is raising some eyebrows. 

Sports Concussion Statistics:

• 3,800,000 concussions reported in 2012, double what was reported in 2002
• 33% of all sports concussions happen at practice
• 39% -- the amount by which cumulative concussions are shown to increase catastrophic head injury leading to permanent neurologic disability
• 47% of all reported sports concussions occur during high school football
• 1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season
• 33% of high school athletes who have a sports concussion report two or more in the same year
• 4 to 5 million concussions occur annually, with rising numbers among middle school athletes
• 90% of most diagnosed concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness
• An estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a traumatic brain injury-related disability (CDC)

Concussion Rates per Sport

The below numbers indicate the amount of sports concussions taking place per 100,000 athletic exposures. An athletic exposure is defined as one athlete participating in one organized high school athletic practice or competition, regardless of the amount of time played.

• Football: 64 -76.8
• Boys' ice hockey: 54
• Girl's soccer: 33
• Boys' lacrosse: 40 - 46.6
• Girls' lacrosse: 31 - 35
• Boys' soccer: 19 - 19.2
• Boys' wrestling: 22 - 23.9
• Girls' basketball: 18.6 - 21
• Girls' softball: 16 - 16.3
• Boys' basketball: 16 - 21.2
• Girls' field hockey: 22 - 24.9
• Cheerleading: 11.5 to 14
• Girls' volleyball: 6 - 8.6
• Boys' baseball: Between 4.6 - 5
• Girls' gymnastics: 7

source: http://www.headcasecompany.com/concussion_info/stats_on_concussions_sports

Injuries occur in all sports. It's foolish to assume that you won't get injured playing any sport, however the numbers above indicate a high number of concussions in training as well as games. MMA Training For Teens is no different. There are risks. However, the amount of injury is lower than most sports because of the controlled environment and most MMA & Martial Arts injury stats are based off of adult competition where people are usually competing at a professional level. 

Martial Arts classes see an annual amount of 6 million participants nationwide. Considering the amount of people training in MMA & martial arts and the amount of injuries that occur, the risk is considerably lower than most other sports. 

The benefits out weigh the risks

As outlined above, there is risk in most sports. However, the benefits of teenage youth sports programs out weigh the risk of injury because of the character defining qualities forged while playing those sports. Any athlete in any sport understands the dedication, determination and focus that goes in to playing their respective sport. Allowing fear to dictate our lives leaves us not taking action which leads to doubt. That lack of confidence because of doubt has a trickle effect which can play in to other aspects of our lives. Confident people often make better decisions and do not let others influence their lives. All sports are great for kids, teenagers and adults, but we have to understand the risk and know that it's part of the game. Some of the best athletes are those who learn how to overcome adversity by going through an injury and learning how to bounce back from it. Do your research, learn about the risks and find out for yourself why that sport is a good fit for you before committing to it. MMA training for teens is just another option that can be utilized to gain confidence and become empowered, much like any other high school sport. 

Kids Martial Arts Classes Gresham

Martial Arts Classes Will Give Your Child Confidence

Kids who are train in martial arts classes are less likely to be bullied, succumb to peer pressure and make smart decisions because of their confidence learnt through training. Discipline and character building are just part of the normal bi-products that parents can expect their kids to gain while training in the kids martial arts classes in Gresham at the world famous MMA gym, Team Quest. 

Our expert coaches are here to help give your child a safe and encouraging platform to practice realistic forms of self-defense that could potentially save their lives and prevent them from being bullied. The kids martial arts classes are designed to teach kids how to learn the basics in mixed martial arts. We cover everything from Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Boxing & most importantly self awareness to be able to control a situation that could be dangerous.  

BULLYING BY THE NUMBERS

The numbers on bullying are staggering! 42% of the kids at school are bullying other kids. The chances that your child is going to be bullied is high enough that you should consider taking preventative action by empowering them to be confident enough to stand up to bullying for themselves and others. 56% of the kids at school witness bullying at their schools in their class rooms and do nothing about it. If your child unfortunately lands up in the 14% of the kids at school that are complete victims, that means 86% of the kids at school are literally doing nothing to stop bullying or bullying your child. Choosing to enroll your child in our kids martial arts classes in Gresham at Team Quest MMA could literally make the difference between them being a victim or a confident individual that has the ability to stand up to bullies for themselves and others. 

What our kids martial arts classes do for your child

• FOCUS
• DISCIPLINE
• CONFIDENCE
• RESPECT
• SELF-AWARENESS

We are confident that our kids martial arts classes will help your child with the skills listed above and encourage you to have them come and try a class for FREE. We feel that the skills learned will help your child succeed in life as well as on the training mat. 

Fill out the form below to schedule your child's first free class. 

TOP 10 WAYS TO GET IN AMAZING SHAPE

WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE TOP 10 WAYS TO GET IN AMAZING SHAPE, WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND A FORTUNE OR STARVE TO DEATH. 

 

#10 SHUT UP & DO IT!

Eventually, you are going to run out of excuses and then the decision to make a change will become an easy one for you. We are all guilty of making excuses and putting off the things we know we should do for another time. You can’t expect great things to happen without taking any action. If you want to make it easy, set the bar low and take baby steps towards your fitness goals. Set a reasonable goal that can be achieved and slowly build off of that forward momentum. If day 1 of your new workout plan merely involves just getting to the gym, then do it, get there and let the rest take care of itself. Overcome the obstacles and quit making the excuses by writing out “come backs” to those excuses.

For example, ” I don’t have time to workout today” can be met with
“There are 24 hours in a day, all I need is one.“
After writing these out and seeing these excuses be refuted with your own words will help you reach your goals.

#9 NO MORE SODA 

Americans consume almost 50 Billion liters of soda per year. That’s Billions with a B! The average person can gain 15lbs of unwanted fat per year from consuming just 2 glasses of soda per day. One can of Coke contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. If you seriously want to lose weight and get in shape, pour that sweet stuff down the drain and drink water, natural fruit juices, coffee, tea and anything else than sodas and soft drinks.
That goes for you too Mr. Energy Drink guy. The number of people needing emergency room treatment for energy drink related incidents in the US has doubled since 2007. “A recent government survey indicates that from 2007 to 2011, the number of emergency department (ED) visits related to energy drink consumption nearly doubled, increasing from 10,068 to 20,783.” – medical news today

The marketing companies who design the ads for these energy drinks know you are not a professional athlete, but position the product beautifully amongst some of the best athletes in the world. I can assure you Kelly Slater doesn’t slam an energy drink before he rides the waves. Don’t fall for the marketing ploy and think that energy drinks are any better than soda, it’s the same thing. Ditch it!

#8 MEASURE EVERYTHING

You can not track your success if you don’t measure your performance. Keep an accurate journal and record of your meals & workouts. The more details, the better. If you know that your mile run time has improved by measuring your progress over the last few weeks, you are more likely to continue to workouts and will undoubtedly see more positive results. There a hundreds of apps for smart phones that will help you get in to amazing shape by simply keeping track of your progress. Use the most effective way for you to keep these records. Voice record your times, text or email your workouts to yourself or go old school and actually write it down in a journal with a pen and paper. Crazy, we know.

#7 REFUEL YOUR BODY

Protein supplements are not the be all, end all when it comes to refueling your body after a workout.

“Too many athletes are obsessed with rapidly refueling the minute they stop exercising. They are afraid they will miss the one-hour “window of opportunity” when glycogen replacement is fastest. They fail to understand that refueling still occurs for several hours, just at a slowing rate.” – USA Triathlon website

Unless you are a high level athlete who trains multiple times per day, you have got some time before the dreaded “muscles start eating themselves” myth. Given a steady influx of adequate carb-based meals and snacks, muscles can refuel within 24 hours. If you have a full day to recover before your next training session, or if you have done an easy (non-depleting) workout, you need not obsess about refueling immediately afterwards.

Here are some options:

•fruit smoothie (Greek yogurt + banana + berries)
•cereal + milk
•bagel + (decaf) latté
•pretzels + hummus
•baked potato + cottage cheese
•turkey sub
•pasta + meatballs

#6 CHANGE IT UP

Not every workout needs to be a high intensity interval circuit or a cardio workout. Train specific muscle groups but be sure to incorporate some dynamic workouts for the entire body as well. If you can successfully incorporate Stamina (a.k.a Cardio), Strength, Endurance & Durability in to your workouts, you will effectively lose weight, sleep better, gain muscle and develop speed and agility while looking healthy.

#5 AB WORK AS A WARM UP

We have all seen “that guy” who obnoxiously does sit ups what seems like forever at the gym. Core workouts are great for stamina and stability, however for effective fitness training, you should try and use these ab workouts as a warm up. 10 to 15 minutes of ab work is plenty and a great way to get the heart rate up and get a light sweat before you start a workout. It’s not an effective workout by itself. Don’t be “that guy”.

#4 BUILD MUSCLE

OK, if this is the 1 & only thin you take away from this article, understand this:
LIFTING WEIGHTS WILL NOT MAKE YOU BULKY

Weight lifting is often seen as weird and difficult discipline for those who don’t know how to lift or are under the false impression that lifting weights will just make you stocky. Lifting weights with the appropriate amount of weight in the right work capacity will help you develop not only muscular endurance but also help you develop lean muscle that will act as armor to protect your bones and vital organs.

Lift light weights with lots of reps right? F**K NO!!!!

If that philosophy for developing muscle was accurate, we would be able to lift pencils and staplers to get ripped. Ditch it!

Your target for developing long lean muscles should be something like this:

• (@40 – 60% of your max)
• 5 to 7 sets
• no more than 12 reps
• super set (pyramid)
  eg. 15 reps  at 20lbs – 10 reps at 25lbs – 5 reps at 30lbs -10 reps at 25lbs – 15 reps at 20lbs

Train for strength by lifting medium to heavy weights:
(75% of your max) with low to medium increments (5 – 7 reps) with no more than 5 sets.

Simplify the lifts.
You are not training for the Olympics, no need to clean and jerk 95lbs a billion times as fast as you can. By the way, in case you can’t detect my sarcasm, Olympic lifters would never train that way. If you don’t know how to lift weights with a barbell, don’t attempt to perform the movements unless you have either been properly taught by a credited coach or under the safety and supervision of someone who is experienced. Don’t be that guy who watches Rich Froning on YouTube and tries to copy him, you will hurt yourself…horribly. He’s spent years developing and perfecting his technique, he definitely didn’t learn how to lift by watching other people on the internet.

#3 FIND (GOOD) WORKOUT PARTNERS

You can only do so much by working out alone. The best results you will see is when you are training in a group or team setting. That is why so many of us were in the best shape of our lives when we played team sports or did activities as a group. A team will hold you accountable, keep you motivated and eliminate the ability to quit without receiving a rash of teasing from your workout partners. The best workout partners are those who either share a common goal (weight loss, want to run a marathon etc.) and those who are 100% committed to training. Avoid choosing workout partners who are flaky, the will just drag you down.

#2 DEVELOP A HABIT

Experts say it usually takes 14 to 21 days to develop a habit. Commit to a training program for 30 days and stick with it, no matter what. If you haven’t seen results after that 30 days its either something you are doing or not doing that is negatively effecting your progress but at least, you have the satisfaction of knowing you can commit to training for 30 days. Within that first 30 days, you will be able to make the needed adjustments to your diet, sleeping patterns and workouts to optimize your performance.

#1 DO SOMETHING AMAZING

Run a marathon, take a MMA fight, Kayak across the state, do 1000 burpees. Do something amazing that is challenging. Setting a goal like this will help you stay focused and motivated to continue to train. Set a goal, pick the date and start training for it. Make a big announcement on your twitter or Facebook page so all your friends know, this will hold you accountable. By letting others know what you are working towards, will inspire them to do amazing things.

JIU JITSU PORTLAND

THE BEST JIU JITSU PORTLAND HAS TO OFFER IS AT TEAM QUEST MMA

Our Jiu Jitsu classes are fun, friendly and provide a positive learning environment for all of our students. The types of people who train in our BJJ classes, vary from paramedics, attorneys, firefighters, construction workers & the list goes on. The point being, that these instructional classes are for everyone!

 

WHAT IS BJJ?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit. Due to the fact that control is generally easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the technique of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is centered round the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions from where the opponent can be rendered harmless.

Team Quest’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program also has a structured belt grading system for all classes (kids too)! Most techniques involve the students on the mat, with a heavy emphasis on positional strategy, live rolling, and drills to help with your submissions and techniques. Once in proper position, many different types of submissions can be applied such as: armbars, wristlocks, chokes, and leglocks.

GREAT FOR KIDS

Kids between the ages of 4 to 11 years old can train in our kids BJJ classes which are offered every Tuesday & Thursday at 4pm. These classes are great for confidence, respect, discipline and skills to effectively defend themselves from bullies and would be attackers. The various skills and techniques the kids learn help them get more confident with being in uncomfortable situations as well as being aware of their surroundings to better identify dangerous situations.

Come and see why Jiu Jitsu Portland enthusiasts all rate Team Quest MMA & Fitness as the best jiu jitsu gym to train at.

Enroll your child for kids jiu jitsu classes at Team Quest MMA

Why should your child train in MMA?
A child trained in MMA learns many skills and life lessons.

• Brings in discipline to life
• Teaches self focus and determination to perform
• Builds self control
• Helps in coordination and interaction with peers
• Teaches respect and compassion
• Builds patience, perseverance and dedication
• Builds confidence and self belief

Kids Jiu Jitsu classes offer tremendous self confidence which stays with them for life – helping them to succeed and grow, meeting every challenge of life.

What Additional Advantages do Jiu Jitsu Trained Children Have?
Grow to be confident adults who are ready to pursue different goals of life – much better than children who are not lucky enough to get trained in martial arts.

• Understand value and importance of elders in their lives with through jiu jitsu life sessions
• Unimaginable self control helping them stay out of troubles
• Ability to handle difficult situations easily
• Complete emotional control
• Healthy living
• Active and Optimized always

Wouldn’t You Like Your Child To Develop a Healthy Mind and Great Values?
It’s time to act and help your Child Succeed In Life!

5 LIFE HACKS USING MARTIAL ARTS

5 WAYS THAT MARTIAL ARTS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER & MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE IN ANY SITUATION.

We believe that discipline is key for developing strength & confidence. A disciplined mind is a strong one that can endure and overcome challenging situations. Martial Arts training allows you to be challenged in a safe and controlled environment that makes difficult circumstances easier to deal with. When you are constantly put in uncomfortable situations over and over again, it starts become more comfortable. Here are 5 reasons why Martial Arts is essential for your success and how you can use the benefits of the training in your everyday life.

#1 MARTIAL ARTS GIVES YOU “BULLET PROOF ” CONFIDENCE

It’s no secret that martial artists are some of the most confident people on the planet. The physical training that is required demands a level of discipline and strength that can only be derived from being pushed to the limit over and over again. This type of mental and physical conditioning creates a level of confidence that is forged through countless hours of training. When you have done something so many times that it becomes second nature, your confidence in that skill set becomes unbreakable. Preparation and planning are a daily ritual for martial artists and in turn makes them confident to take on any obstacle that might stand in their way. If you are lacking confidence in yourself or your abilities, martial arts can make a profound difference.

#2 CARDIO FOR DAYS

Martial Arts will get you in to the best shape of your life! Don’t believe us? Try wrestling with someone or punching a heavy bag at full speed for 1 minute and see if your heart rate stays under 120 beat per minute. In Mixed Martial Arts competition, the bouts are 3 five minute rounds. Training for 3 five minute rounds will get you looking lean and mean in no time. The best part is that it’s total body conditioning! We apologize in advance for the sore muscles and lack of oxygen. Don’t worry, it get’s easier…we promise.

#3 MENTAL TOUGHNESS THAT WOULD CRUSH A JEDI

The biggest benefit to martial arts training has to be the mental toughness element. We all have seen the Hollywood style training of people brick breaking, board smashing & tree kicking but the reality is that the mental toughness gained in martial arts is easily applied in all aspects of daily life. Martial artists typically handle stress and pressure much better than most because of this discipline and self control. Simple skills like regulating breathing make incredibly stressful or traumatic situations easier for us. Obi-wan has got nothing on the mental toughness of a martial artist.

#4 TRAINING PARTNERS THAT BECOME FAMILY

 

The environment at martial arts gyms and dojo’s are safe, fun and friendly. There are no ego’s, no attitudes and despite what you might see on TV, your training partners are there to help you get better by pushing you to be the best you can be. The relationships that you will make in the martial arts gym will be unique. Your training partners see you at your worst and at your best.

#5 THE ABILITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF & OTHERS

Martial arts will give you one of the best gifts that you can imagine. The ability to help others in need. Once you gain the confidence and ability to defend yourself, you will be able to develop the skills to defend others. Whether that be defending them from bullies, domestic violence or simply stepping in to break up a fight between two strangers. Bottom line, martial arts will make YOU a better person and help change your life as well as helping others.

3 Reasons Why Teenagers Need Martial Arts Training

Reason #1.
The numbers related to bullying statistics are both shocking and disheartening.

Times have changed for those of us who have been out of middle and high school for the last two decades. Bullying has become a normal part of the landscape in American schools. The sad truth is that bullying has become just as cool in school as making the varsity sports team. The insecure kids with little to no self-esteem are the ones who are being bullied relentlessly both at school and online. Without any confidence to defend themselves or ability to defuse a physical confrontation, these kids are being ridiculed and abused by their peers daily.

20 percent of U.S. students in grades 9-12 reportedly have experienced bullying or are feeling bullied, while 28 percent of students in grades 6-12 report the same. Experts agree that most incidences of bullying occur during middle school.
According to one study cited by the DHHS, 29.3 percent of middle school students had experienced bullying in the classroom; 29 percent experienced it in hallways or lockers; 23.4 percent were bullied in the cafeteria; 19.5 percent were bullied during gym class; and 12.2 percent of bullied kids couldn’t even escape the torture in the bathroom.
70.6 percent of teens have seen bullying occurring in their schools – and approximately 30 percent of young people admit to bullying themselves.

source: http://nobullying.com/bullying-statistics-2014/

Martial arts training has been proven to give kids confidence, self control and the ability to defend themselves from bullying or stranger danger. At Team Quest we have been teaching kids, teens and adults to become more confident and have taught self defense through martial arts training for over a decade.

REASON#2.
Obesity has more than quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.

In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.

source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

Team Quest offers fitness training as well as martial arts training for teenagers. Under close supervision and through functional fitness conditioning our programs will help you get in shape while learning martial arts in a fun and safe environment.

REASON#3.
One in five high school girls have been physically and/or sexually assaulted.

1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys is sexually assaulted by age 16
43% of girls and 30% of boys  experienced unwanted sexual attention, including pressure for dates and sex
One in five high school girls have been physically and/or sexually assaulted by a dating partner, significantly increasing their risk of drug abuse, suicide and other harmful behavior.

The statistics for sexual abuse are horrific. The goal for us at Team Quest is to empower our youth so that they do not become a victim. Through martial arts training our teenage mma program students are becoming stronger, more confident and fully aware of their surroundings. Our hope is that they are positive role models and examples in their communities and would be able to defend themselves and others if need be against physical and sexual abuse.

Get started today! Call 503-661-4134 and learn how martial arts training can change your life!