04/26/2026
Wow… what a night! I received my purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu this past week. This belt represents so much time, energy, sacrifice, love, and care.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to my instructor, Rocky Glen, at Gracie University Woodland Hills. Thank you for setting such a high standard of culture and community. You’ve created a space that is safe, fun, and challenging to train in. I’m especially grateful for your emphasis on strong fundamentals, first and always. That will remain the backbone of my game. Your passion for Jiu-Jitsu is infectious. You truly are a teacher’s teacher.
To my Woodland Hills team, thank you. I don’t get better on or off the mat without incredible training partners.
Tyrone, your support knows no bounds. That includes braving the 405 going north on a Thursday at 5p.m. 😄. Thank you for always showing up for me. You’re kind, generous, and just a good man. I appreciate you, brotha.
Alex Stuart your mastery is on another level. Testing with you was a peak experience and will always be one of my core Jiu-Jitsu memories. Thank you.
Carol, you’ve been a constant source of support through all of my wild endeavors. Thank you for listening, caring, and occasionally being my test dummy for new moves. 😄
And finally, a big thank you to the art itself. When I started in 2020, it was simply because it looked fun. Today, it’s become something much more. It’s a tool that’s helped me align with the best version of myself so far.
I feel ready to step into the energy that comes with this belt. It’s crisp right now… and I can’t wait to wear it in.
