The annual Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori End Of Summer Party was brilliant! Thank you to all the CBJJS Athletes, friends and family that came out to celebrate! There were promotions, food, fun, festivities and, of course, much rolling! What a way to share the day with such an amazing community! Thank you folks for an excellent time.
There were many promotions:
DON WESTMAN – FIRST DEGREE BJJ BLACK BELT:
“Doomsday” Don Westman, who accomplished an amazing feat of technical skill and athleticism by winning the 2021 IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu No-Gi Championship at Black Belt, received the first degree on his BJJ Black Belt. Big Don has long been the Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori Champion, and now, after three years as CBJJS’ first Black Belt (having trained from White Belt to Black Belt under Professor Sean Stewart up at CBJJS), Professor Don is now the first Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori Black Belt to earn a degree on his Black Belt. Brilliant!
GREGG STEPHENSON – FIRST DEGREE BJJ BLACK BELT:
Big Gregg Stephenson, who has trained along side Professor Sean Stewart since before Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori first opened its doors in 2009, and who has generously shared his knowledge of highly functional and effective Jiu Jitsu technique as an Instructor up at CBJJS since his days as a BJJ Purple Belt under the founder of Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Professor David Ruiz, was awarded the First Degree on his BJJ Black Belt by Professor Sean. Way to go Big Gregg! Outstanding!
PETER KIM – FIRST DEGREE BJJ BLACK BELT:
Peter Kim, who came to Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori as a BJJ Brown Belt many years ago, who has trained all over the United States, in South Korea, and elsewhere, and who continues to train up at CBJJS whenever life brings him to Colorado, who was awarded his BJJ Black Belt by Professor Sean Stewart in 2018, and who continues to impress by proving on the mat that the smaller athlete can consistently defeat the bigger, heavier, opponent through the application of proper Jiu Jitsu technique, earned the First Degree on his BJJ Black Belt. Well done Peter! Excellent!
COLORADO BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU SATORI BJJ BLACK BELTS – 2021:
(From left to right: Professors Gregg Stephenson (1st Degree) – Peter Kim (1st Degree) – Don Westman (1st Degree) – Sean Stewart (2nd Degree) – Teri Stewart)
TODD POWERS – BJJ BROWN BELT:
Todd Powers earned his BJJ Brown Belt. Todd has been an indispensable member of our Jiu JItsu community up at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori ever since joining the crew as a Purple Belt in 2018. His promotion is likely a year overdue (thanks to the pandemic), but Todd continues to be the type of athlete, training partner, and assistant instructor that every Academy needs: Great Jiu JItsu, tough rolls, but always willing to take the time to teach others what he knows and to learn from others as he grows! Thank you for all you do Todd! Way to earn that BJJ Brown Belt! Brilliant!
DR. BIANCA GREENWOOD – BJJ PURPLE BELT:
Dr. Bianca Greenwood earned her BJJ Purple Belt. Dr. Bianca is a continuing inspiration to us all. Practicing physician, mother, and smallest adult on the mat, somehow Dr. Bianca still finds time and motivation to train regularly. Anyone who has done Jiu Jitsu for any period of time will tell you that regularly being smallest athlete on the mat comes with its own special set of challenges that some larger athletes never experience. Yet it is the development of that uncommon tenacity, perseverance, and skill that being the smallest athlete on the mat, day in and day out, requires that we recognize with Dr. Bianca’s promotion. Outstanding! Way to go Dr. Bianca!
ANGELO SBROCCA – BJJ PURPLE BELT:
Every now and again, up at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori, you run into an athlete who does not often train in the Gi. This happens as we train both Gi and No-Gi Jiu Jitsu up at the Academy, and some peoples’ schedules and preferences lead them to do the majority of their training without the Gi. On the odd occasions that Angelo does show up in a Gi, this leads to the exclamation “Wow, given how often you kick my butt, I thought you were already a Purple Belt!” Today marks the end of such exclamations with respect to Angelo, as he has earned his BJJ Purple Belt up at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori. Excellent! Thank you for being such a great and challenging training partner and ambassador for the sport and for our gym. Way to earn that Purple Belt Angelo!
MANUEL “MANNY” MORALES – BJJ PURPLE BELT:
Some folks arrive at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu along the road of their personal Jiu Jitsu journey having started elsewhere, but immediately make such an impact at the Academy that one finds it hard to image the Academy without them. Manuel “Manny” Morales is one such individual. Not only has he made the “Lunchbunch” Noon Jiu Jitsu Class that much more competitive, but his authentic smile, love for the art, positive energy, and wicked good Jiu Jitsu skills have made him a indispensable member of our team in a surprisingly short span of time. And with the complete domination of the Blue Belt Division in the recent Fight To Win Colorado Open, it’s time for Manny to step up to the big leagues of Purple Belt competition. I am certain we will see him winning on the big stages of the Fight To Win Pro and IBJJF at Purple Belt in no time! Brilliant! Way to earn that Belt Manny!
KEVIN RAMOS-AGUILAR – BJJ BLUE BELT:
Big congratulations are in order for Kevin Ramos-Aguilar! Kevin began his Jiu Jitsu journey with us here at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori a little under 7 months ago. Kevin has been the type of student that is always on the mat ready to learn more and to challenge himself to roll with everybody in the gym. It’s great to see that type of enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Kevin’s eagerness to train and progress has paid dividends as Kevin has earned his BJJ Blue Belt, and now steps into the deep waters of Blue Belt Jiu Jitsu! Outstanding! Way to earn that BJJ Blue Belt Kevin!
COLORADO BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU SATORI LADIES – 2021:
COLORADO BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU SATORI END OF SUMMER PARTY CANDIDS:
Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Satori – CBJJS – Excellent Instruction – BJJ – MMA – Martial Arts – Self Defense – Fitness – Community – Fun – Central Park – Denver – Aurora – Jiu Jitsu Colorado
