Team Quest Redding

As you can see, more great things are happening at the academy. We have just added an extra kids' class each day to accommodate the ever growing number of new students and our adult programs are better than ever. There is an excitement and enthusiasm that is evident at Team Quest and training has never been more fun and challenging. Team 'Axis' continues to thrive as a Jiu-Jitsu team within Team Quest Redding, and 2010 promises to be a year of many great achievements for our BJJ players. Our coaches are working tirelessly to keep our academy at the forefront of the martial arts community and our members are dedicating themselves to constant improvement and learning.
Growth in a martial arts school is good, but also presents obstacles that force us to adjust schedules and training so that each student is getting the best training experience possible. Thank you for growing with us. I truly believe in what we do at Team Quest. I believe that the tremendous growth we experience is not accidental, but rather the fruits of everyone's hard work and commitment. We will not sacrifice quality for quantity and will always ensure that we are meeting the highest standards of expectation for mixed martial arts training. There are many more good things to come and some special dates ahead....Stay tuned for upcoming events!

Decisions

Making decisions is difficult. Too often, we refrain from making choices for fear that we will make the wrong one. When our default state becomes one of indecisiveness, we become stagnant and complacent, moving in no direction, thus becoming directionless. Everyday I meet people who are at crossroads in their lives, people who are faced with monumental moments that require them to make a decision - often very hard decisions. There is great reward in living life in such a way that we create things, influence people, and constantly progress who we are. The process in achieving a life that is complete and filled with joy requires us to make decisions and act positively in the direction that we choose. When we are faced with monumental or decisive moments, we must not waste the opportunity to test our judgment. If our default state is to sit and wait, then decisions will be made for us and this usually leads to a dependence on others that ultimately does not free us, but shackles us at the mercy of the 'powers that be'. It is essential that we take control of our own lives, believe in our own abilities, have faith that we are not alone, and move into action to reap the reward for making those tough decisions. Do not wait until you are backed into a corner and your choices for survival are limited to short sighted, rash options. In tough times, you will act out of fear and, in doing so, will regress into 'safe mode'. Let me assure you that 'safe mode' is anything but safe. When you make decisions based on fear, you are not taking a forward path. You quickly become the guy who drives too slow on a two lane road who people despise and eventually pass. You make U-turns often and spend more time backtracking than moving forward. You actually slow the progress of those around you and become something that just needs to get out of the way. If we always make 'safe' decisions, then we will certainly never be the owners of our destiny and will never endure the necessary life process of glory and defeat. When I talk with people, I find that they often already know the right thing to do but are apprehensive in making the right choice. Did I mention that the right way is very rarely, if ever at all, the easy way? Of course it's not. God does not bless us by giving us an easy path. He blesses us with the knowledge and assurance that He is with us and will guide us through the path that has not yet been beaten down by the masses. He honors our courage to decide and act and even blesses the decisions that are, perhaps, not the perfect ones. A mediocre plan executed now is much better than a perfect plan executed late. Make the hard decisions, act confidently in the choices you make and see what you are really made of.

What It Takes

I am blessed to have been raised the way I was. My parents taught me early that intelligence and hard work are necessary to succeed in life. They valued education above all else - an education that consisted of academics, sports, faith, and culture. School was a priority and anything less than an "A" was unacceptable. I remember thinking when I was young that my parents were too strict and that they expected too much of me. I felt their expectations for me were due to their own shortcomings and, in a sense, I was right. My parents wanted me to have a life that was better than theirs. They did not want to see me make the mistakes that they learned from and ensured my academic success from day one. My mom was a perfectionist and would tear up my homework assignments if they had so much as a smudge on them that did not belong there. If a single letter was crooked, erasing was not an option since erasers left marks - I was sure to restart the entire assignment - clean and ready for presentation. I learned that my work was a reflection of me. Sure, I could have gotten by on average effort and received average grades, but average was for everyone else. If I wasn't at the top of my class in school, it was bad news for me. So why am I thankful for being raised in such a regimented environment? Because it instilled in me the iron will to do better, to be better, to succeed. My raising instilled good habits that I continue to use today. Life is, after all, about habits. I saw the way my parents suffered when they couldn't pay bills and money was tight. I know what it's like to see my parents searching the entire house for change so they could buy a meal. At an early age, I knew that things would be different for me - they had to be. I had two parents who believed strongly in me and would not allow me to take a road that would end in failure. But success comes at a price and much sacrifice. The many late nights making homework assignments perfect, the sports practices that went longer than they should have, the commitments at church and all the constant chores. I was not allowed to sit around the house. If my parents would see me sitting down on the couch, it could only mean that I had too much time on my hands and that time was sure to be filled with something productive. I always thought, "My friends have it so easy." I look back now, though, and I look at where I am today and I am grateful for it all. It paid off....but the journey does not end and there is still much work to do. I remember when I received my Commission as a brand new Officer in the Marines. After my initial training, I received orders to a unit where I would get the chance to lead Marines right away. The day I received my platoon of 41 Marines, my Battery Commander asked me why I thought I would succeed. I responded that I was scared to death of failure because I knew that in this business, failure meant dead or injured Marines. It was a humbling moment and today I maintain the same mentality - I still refuse to fail. Notice that I did not say that I am afraid to make mistakes - We all make mistakes, but failure is not an option and it shouldn't be an option for you. Let me forewarn you, however. Once you succeed, many people will want to dethrone you. They will want what you have and they will want it from you. They will feel entitled to your stuff. They will say whatever it takes to make people believe things that are untrue about you. Their own insecurities will lead them to foolish action and for that, you will pay the price. Remember, I said that success comes at a price. People will want to see you fail and they will go to extreme measures, even deceive the ones you love and care about, to defame your name . They will turn people against you. However - If you are tough enough and you have the mettle to succeed, then push forward and do so with pride and dignity. Don't be jaded by a few insignificant people that have never amounted to anything in life, or by the people that will gladly ride on your coat tails and exploit your success. These people will go away with the wind. They will be a pain in your butt for awhile, but in time they will fall on their face and be forgotten. Take the high road! Don't let them get to you - Live the life you dream of living! I promise you it is worth all of the effort!

Mental Perseverance

Your mind will quit on you long before your body does. While it is good to listen to your body to avoid being sidelined for extended periods of time due to injury or overtraining, you must also push the limits of your physical threshold. If you push yourself consistently in training, you will be amazed at how your body reacts, rebuilds, and adjusts to the rigors of whatever you put it through. To do so, however, you must exercise and train the mind. You must convince yourself that toughness is worth achieving and that the pain is only temporary and serves as a rite of passage for those who will make it far enough to reap the rewards of training. Pain is what tests our will to learn and challenges our commitment to continue the journey. Now - I am not saying that you have to train through injury. There is a difference in being "hurt" and being injured. If you are injured, take a step back - rest, recover and come back when you feel ready enough to train. If you are hurt, then welcome to the club. Accept this as part of your life and wear it proudly as a token of your commitment to improvement. I love seeing the guys who are hurt but continue to push through and progress. I also love seeing the guys who are injured that still show up to class just to watch technique and stay sharp while sidelined. This shows dedication and perseverance. Keep up the good work!

curve ball

I love it when life throws me a curve ball and I knock it out of the park!

Axis Academy Update

All I have to say is - WOW! What an exciting time for Axis! If you have been around the academy lately, you can see that there's a LOT going on.

Our newest addition is Coach Beau Rositani. Beau comes to us from the San Diego area where he was the boxing coach for Paulo Fernando's academy (Carlson Gracie Team). He is now bringing his superb coaching skills to Axis Academy and training our fighters in the 'sweet science' of boxing. Beau is also a Purple Belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Paulo Fernando, adding to our ever growing stable of players. Welcome, Coach!

Our Muay Thai program continues to expand and Coach Josh Hernandez is doing a phenomenal job in teaching and training his students. He continues to show that coaching is about the student and not the instructor by putting the needs of his students before his own and developing each one in the art of Thai Boxing.

Our Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling classes are hitting record numbers - Because of this, we have added a couple of new classes. New schedules are available at the front desk.

Due to the tremendous growth of our kids' program, we are also adding a Friday class at 3:30pm for advanced young students. This class will be 'no-gi' and will include some more intense training for our young ones. Thanks to the kids and parents who continue to bring new faces to Axis Academy!

The kids ask me everyday: When is Roger coming back?! Coach Roger DeMers will be here August 1st and he has prepared an extensive program for our kids. He is a true visionary and those of you who got the chance to meet him last week know that he has serious goals for himself and for his students.

A few of you guys know that I had a great meeting with Matt Lindland this past weekend in Portland...Great things to follow! Stay tuned...Don't miss a beat!

New Academy

Our new academy is now open in Redding! This is an exciting time for the members of Axis Academy as we are growing and expanding to fulfill our vision of spreading Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai to the people of the North State. We are blessed to have everything we have and I continue to believe in the impact that Axis makes in people's lives. I am amazed and thankful each day for the people who give so much to ensure that we continue to move forward. There are many people that work super hard to make sure that we have a place to train and people to train with. Our students show up consistently to train and this benefits the team immensely.
Although our core values remain the same, you will notice some changes at the new academy. You will see some rules on the wall, extended hours, new faces, new ventures. I am not scared of change and you should not be either. The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality does not work for me. As people and as organizations, we must constantly sharpen ourselves, reinvent our methods, and progress in the execution of our plans. If we don't change, then we are stagnant and eventually die. While we continue to keep our core values of hard work, dedication, commitment, and integrity alive, we find and develop better and more innovative ways of exercising these values. The most difficult thing for people to accept is change...I hope you join, accept, and support the changes and embrace these coming days as the strong history we will forge together as a team.
It seems that every success is followed by trial and fire. This is good as it tests the will of those pushing forward. While I am sure that most are happy and excited about the future of Axis, there are many who would love to see it fail. This does not deter us..It strengthens us. It gives me resolve to lead this pack and to make sure that each student is fulfilling the goals that they have set for themselves....Our mission is people - Our method is Jiu-Jitsu. If we all carry the same mission of improving people's lives, then our method will become better and stronger.