We have some new Black Belts! February 7, 2026 was a good day up at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori. It was a day of celebration, with a bit of Jiu Jitsu technique, some live rolling, and Jim Norman and Andrew Smith were each awarded the coveted rank of BJJ Black Belt. Brilliant.
This is what Jim Norman had to say on Instagram (jimnormanphotography) about the big day:
“I got my black belt today! I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 12 years ago, trained for 11, and have been up at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori with Sean and Teri Stewart for the last ten.
Thank you to all my training partners. I think there is something to be gained from every roll, from the whitest white belt to the most experienced black belt. You can’t do Jiu Jitsu alone, and you’re only as good as your training partners, and I appreciate everyone I’ve trained with.
Thank you to my wife Jenny. I think it would be hard to continue to train without her support. She has never wanted to train, and her rule is “No Jiu Jiusuing the Wife,” but she has always supported me continuing to train.
Thank you Sean and Teri. You are excellent instructors and some of my favorite people. You have created a space that I always want to come back to, and training with you has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.
See you on the mats!”
This is what Andrew Smith had to say on Facebook about earning his Black Belt:
“Today I was awarded my black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
I’ve always been a hobbyist, and honestly, I can’t think of another life activity I’ve done with this kind of consistency for 16 years now. I’ve been a brown belt for nearly 8 of those years, learning patience, humility, and how to keep showing up even when progress feels slow.
I’m incredibly grateful to the black belts who have taught me along the way: Beto Barros, Brick Welch, Idriz Redzovic, Downtown Jiu Jitsu Club Adem Redzovic, Sy Nguyễn, Jeff Ake, Nobuo Yagai, Jalen, Kevin White, Gregg Stephenson, and Joshua T. Baerwolf — thank you for the lessons, on and off the mats. And especially to Professors Sean Stewart and Teri Stewart: your guidance, standards, and generosity shaped not just my jiu jitsu, but how I approach learning itself.
Huge thank you to my home at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori and all my training partners. This belt belongs to the room as much as it does to me.
Most of all, thank you to Hana and the kids for the support, patience, and love that made all of this possible…thanks for putting up with my jiu jitsu shenanigans.
“A black belt isn’t about being the best. It’s about being better than you were yesterday — and helping others do the same.”
Forever a student.”
What a day. Brilliant!
PICTURES
Jim Norman – BJJ Black Belt
Andrew Smith – BJJ Black Belt
Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori Black Belts
(Left to Right: Sean Stewart – Teri Stewart – Andrew Smith – Jim Norman – Gregg Stephenson)
Dr. B. (Dr. Bianca Greenwood) – BJJ Brown Belt
Michael Alessi – BJJ Blue Belt
Juan Rios – BJJ Blue Belt
Leo Nguyen – BJJ Blue Belt
Jose Ramirez Garcia – BJJ Blue Belt
Liam Hughes-Butler – BJJ Blue Belt
Three Stripe BJJ Blue Belts – Shastin and Rebekah
Scott Dye – 1st Degree BJJ Black Belt
SHENANIGANS
Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori – CBJJS – Excellent Instruction – BJJ – Martial Arts – Self Defense – Fitness – Community – Fun – Central Park – Denver – Aurora – Jiu Jitsu Colorado
