I began training Ninjutsu with Hardee back in 2005. My oldest son and I earned our Ninjutsu black belts there, and my youngest progressed up to green belt. The dojo was an integral part of our community for years. I also spent time in what we called "ground-fighting" classes, or jutaijutsu.
Hardee creates great culture. The folks who train at Chapel Hill Quest are top-notch. They work hard, and everyone seems invested in helping everyone else improve. Hardee excels at breaking down complex motor movements into digestible content, and he cares about his students. But, as my sons got older and moved to other high school activities around 2013 we stopped training. Despite this, I always felt like I was a part of the community.
Back in January 2024, I began to think about possibly training again. I was a bit overweight, and dealing with mobility issues. Obviously, I'm also older than I was, and now 57. February 1st I returned to the dojo specifically to study jujitsu. I was 221 lbs, and stiff as a board along my spine. Fast forward to November 2024, and I am a lean 184 lbs, and while I'm still working on mobility, I've experienced big improvements. I move better, and frankly I feel better than I have in a long time.
If you are looking for a good place to train, to learn real martial arts with supportive staff (Hardee, Rachel, Brett, Justin, DeeDee, and John are terrific), and to be a part of a great community, you should consider Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts.
Posted 4 months ago