Few days ago I got promoted to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. It was 19 years in the making. I am training and teaching 5x a week. Blood, sweat, tears, and laughter were my daily companion in this journey.
First of all, I love to thank my Lord and Savior for sustaining me. Praise be unto you.
Thanks to my professor Marcio Alencar of Brookfield BJJ and the Connecticut BJJ Federation for promoting me. Thank you professor. I will be forever grateful.
Thanks to my dear friend professor Ali Ramezani of Marcelo Garcia Association / Kambiz Warriors Malaysia for doing the ceremony of tying the belt.
Thanks to my long time senseis Scott Brown and Theresa S. Brown for backing me up and supporting me for 3 decades (2000’s, 2010’s, 2020’s). Thanks for showing us what is the essence of Martial Arts and helping us start the ministry.
Thanks to my former coaches coach Steve and prof Kahana, you guys are part of this journey.
Thanks to my Victory Dojo friends (Carl, Anthony, Ben, Cris, etc).
Thanks to my brother from another mother Kent Toledo.
To my students who gave me the chance to share to them my little knowledge. Always hide your necks and wrists, I’ll still hunt them.
My students at Hybrid Self Defense Academy - Jiu-Jitsu & MMA you guys are the best. Keep on training. Thanks!
To the Blind Samurai Jiu-Jitsu you guys are an inspiration. I can’t wait to train with you all again.
Thanks to my bros and sisters at the Jiu-Jitsu Mission Federation. Your vision of a Faith based BJJ federation is awesome. Martial arts is always connected with spirituality and religion. Go go go
Thanks to my number one supporter, Cathy. Thanks for not competing against Jiu-Jitsu. You know that Jiu-Jitsu always win . To my kids Ali and Julfa for inspiring me to wake up every morning. Luv you kiddos.
My journey started in the mid 90’s. Together with cousins and friends we got a hold of the UFC 1 and 2 and we were blown away of Royce’s Jiu-Jitsu. Until now, I still love the art.
I decided to learn the art. Aside from learning from coaches, I bought books and watched Jiu-Jitsu vs other martial arts. I was hungry in learning and I realized that I can learn from the best of the best if I will be their video editor. I approached some of them and offered my service as a video editor.
Thanks to my video editing clients and whom I consider as virtual instructors. Thanks to Absolute MMA (Craig Jones, Lachlan Giles, Livia Giles, Mikael Yahaya), Thiago Stefanuti, Nicholas Gregoriades, Elliot Bayev, Chris Martin, Malachy Friedman, Bernardo Faria, BJJ Fanatics, Fanatics Wrestling, etc. Thank you all for the knowledge!!!
Thanks to everyone whom I met along the way. You are all part of this journey. The journey is more important than the destination. Destination is static and stagnant. Journey is mobile and dynamic.
The journey will never stop. This journey has no end.
Shout out to my sponsors
BJJ gi sponsor “Astrum” gi by Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood (Nic Gregoriades).
Thanks to sensei Scott for my Fuji BJJ black belt
Maraming Salamat po!
-Hamir “Gentle Warrior”