What Makes Zen Jiu‑Jitsu & Fitness the Top Choice

1. Depth of Instructor Experience
   Head instructor George “Memorex” Tala brings over 30 years of Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu experience and over 40 years in martial arts overall.  This longevity ensures technical proficiency, consistency, and insight—not just in what moves to teach, but how to teach them for different ages, body types, and goals. 

2. High Quality, Detail‑Oriented Teaching
   Zen emphasizes precision in the fundamentals, clear explanations, and paying attention to the small technical details that many schools might rush past. Students are not just shown what to do, but instructed why it matters. That elevates the learning and usually leads to fewer bad habits, better safety, and more rapid true progress. 

3. Inclusive & Tailored to All Levels
   Whether someone is brand new to martial arts, getting back in shape, older, or even a seasoned competitor, Zen makes it welcoming. There are specialized classes (e.g. older adults, kids), and the pace can be adjusted to match the student’s ability.  For example, their oldest student is a purple belt who is 68 years old. 

4. Practical Self‑Defense & Real‑World Application
   The academy doesn’t just train for sport or competition, but also in self‑defense and real‑life application. Standing grappling, striking, MMA/boxing classes, etc., are part of the offerings.  This breadth gives students tools they can use beyond tournaments or mats. 

5. Community & Character Development
   Zen places strong emphasis on virtues like respect, integrity, discipline, mental growth, and confidence.  They describe themselves as “family‑friendly,” and they believe martial arts training should produce growth in character as well as in physical skill. 

6. Proven Results and Recognition
   It’s one thing to promise high quality; Zen shows evidence of results: championship wins by their teams in multiple states, satisfied students, transformations in someone’s fitness, self‐defense readiness, etc.  Also, they practice what they preach—the instructor trains with students, not just standing off and calling orders. 

7. Accessibility & Safe Learning Environment
   They offer free trial days for adults, teens, kids.  They emphasize safety, particularly for younger students or adults who haven’t trained before. The facility is designed to be welcoming, encouraging progression at your own pace.