Quest BJJ and Self-Defense

Quest BJJ and Self-Defense in Chapel Hill traces its roots back to 1998, when Dr. Richard S. Stack founded the original Chapel Hill Quest Center as the first To-Shin Do school in North Carolina. Dr. Stack, a seventh degree black belt and longtime student of Stephen K. Hayes and Grand Master Masaaki Hatsumi, oversaw the dojo’s growth before passing leadership to his student Hardee Merritt. Hardee has trained at the school since its early days and expanded its curriculum to include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, survival skills, and security tactics, while also developing extensive youth programs and summer camps for the wider Triangle area. The academy’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program is rooted in traditional gi training, offering classes for adults of all levels and a dedicated kids’ curriculum for ages 7 to 13. Younger children can get started in the Mighty Dragons class, designed specifically for ages 4 to 6. Quest’s teaching philosophy emphasizes building technical skill, self-reliance, and practical self-defense, whether students choose to focus on Jiu-Jitsu, To-Shin Do, or both disciplines. Open mat sessions and private lessons are available for those wanting extra mat time or individualized instruction. Beyond grappling, Quest runs To-Shin Do self-defense classes for youth and adults, including advanced black belt sessions, as well as fitness kickboxing, strength and conditioning, and meditation practice. The facility was designed by architect Richard Gurlitz to reflect the spirit of classic Japanese dojo halls, and the school continues to serve as a training home for families, children, and adults from Chapel Hill, Durham, and the surrounding area.

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