March 12th was the first of 4 belt and stripe promotions to be held this year at Jay Pages Jiu-Jitsu and Phoenix Combat Academy. With the New Year came new changes to the format that had been used for many years. In past Belt Promotions, I had put forth a test. A test of a student’s competency level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its techniques! However, in past years it had simply taken too long to go through the test. I wanted to involve all who came to show their support of the strip or belt recipients. So with that in mind, I put the changes in motion.

 Let me start this review by saying holy s**t! What an amazing experience! A kid in the candy store feeling doesn’t describe the feeling I had as I sat watched world, national, and international Black Belt champions walk through the door of Atos head, Andre Galvao’s San Diego California Academy. That description would do it justice. I would say what I was feeling that evening was closer to the feeling of one of those kids in the Disney commercial when they jut they realize they’re going to Disneyland for the first time. I was star struck and in awe!