2019


  • January: Promoted to nidan (second degree black belt) in Judo, announced by head of NC promotion board Woody Bostic at Travis Stevens seminar in NC (necessary time in grade reduced from 3 years to 1 year because of competition points)
  • June: Requested for seminar, private lessons, and guest teaching while visiting Northern Ireland
  • June: 1x gold at Northern Ireland Summer Open, 3-man division, went up a weight class to 82.3kg division to face opponents
  • July: 2x silver at London Open, including 5-man absolute division; loss was to world champ
  • October: 3x gold (including open weight) at Fall Brawl Judo comp in Waynesville, NC
  • October: Taught at 1st BJJ Globetrotters Arizona Camp ("Judo for Guard Pullers" & "Judo 80/20: Judo you can actually use"
  • November: 2x gold at NAGA in Charlotte, NC

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2019

2018


  • February: 2x gold (Gi open-weight brown belt, no-gi expert) at Submission FC BJJ comp in Austin, TX
  • May: Instructed at Globetrotters USA camp in Portland, ME
  • July: Moved to Asheville, NC, to teach for 5 weeks while gym owner travelled. They asked me to stay and start a Judo program and keep teaching advanced BJJ
  • September: 1x gold at Grappling on the Gridiron (no-gi open skill, open weight) BJJ comp in Asheville, NC
  • October: 2x silver in 73kg & open weight divisions at Fall Brawl Judo comp in Waynesville, NC
  • October: 1st place in Grapple for Good charity costume event
  • November: 2x gold (160 lb gi, no-gi) at NAGA in Charlotte, NC
  • December: 2x gold (73kg, 81kg) + undefeated in unfinished open-weight division in Winston-Salem, NC
  • Noticed by senior members of state promotion board, recommended for fast-tracked promotion to Judo nidan


2018

2017


  • January: Promoted to shodan (first degree black belt) in Judo
  • July: Taught and studied in Northern Ireland
  • August: Trained throughout Portugal in BJJ and Judo
  • August: Attended first BJJ Globetrotters camp in Heidelberg, Germany
  • September: Continued training and teaching in Germany
  • October: Attended first BJJ Globetrotters Zen camp in Poland and surprise promoted to brown belt in BJJ there
  • October: 1x Gold (81kg) in round-robin double-elimination 3 man division included sandan former OTC member Zach Goldbold
  • December: Taught and studied again in Northern Ireland


2017

2016


  • September: 2x gold (81kg, newaza) at Becerra Challenge in Garland, TX
  • October: 2x silver (81kg Brown, 81kg Senior Elite) at Go Shibata in College Station, TX (loss in senior elite to Arthur Wright)
  • November: 1x gold, 1x silver (90kg, up to weight classes [$150 prize), Open Weight[missed $500 prize]) at Houston Open in Houston, TX
  • November: Tied for 5th at Dallas Invitational (D level National Tournament; 17 man bracket) as sankyu (loss to Jack Hatton)


2016

2015


  • April: 1x gold (Lightweight) Eastside Austin Elite Sambo Competition (run by Richard Crenwelge) in Austin, TX
  • Summer: Taught private newaza lessons weekly to Judo black belt


2015

2014


  • February: Gold (no-gi beginner) at Matshark in San Antonio, TX
  • Spring: Began teaching several times a week at Austin Jiu Jitsu in Austin, TX
  • July: 3x gold (blue belt gi, no-gi beginner & intermediate) at Machado Naturally Fit Games in Austin, TX
  • July: Promoted to purple belt in BJJ by Dave Thomas following competition performance
  • August: 2x gold (expert no-gi, purple belt gi) at NAGA in Austin, TX
  • September: 1x gold (Judo Novice 73kg) at Alamo Classic in San Antonio, TX
  • October: 1x gold (no-gi expert) at Fight 2 Win in Austin, TX
  • November: 1x gold (Judo Novice 73kg) at Dallas Invitationl (one of most difficult novice divisions in the country) in Dallas, TX
  • December: Promoted to Judo sankyu (brown belt) after 1yr, 10mo study


2014

2013


  • February: Began studying Judo at Kokoro Judo in Austin, TX
  • July: Began studying BJJ again at Austin Jiu Jitsu under Dave Thomas in Austin, TX
  • August: Promoted to blue belt in BJJ at Austin Jiu Jitsu under Dave Thomas in Austin, TX
  • October: 1x silver (Novice 73kg) at first Judo competition, Go Shibata, in College Station, TX
  • November: 1x gold (Novice 73kg, $100 prize) at Houston Open in Houston, TX


2013

2010



2010

2008


  • August: Moved to Israel to teach English in the West Bank as an 18-year-old. Lived there for three years, studying for two years in university.

2010

2006


  • Spring: Began studying BJJ at Vandry's BJJ in Austin, TX

2006

2005


  • Fall: On high school wrestling team in Cedar Park, TX

2005

High School Wrestling


  • Trained at Cedar Park High School

Fall 2005

Began studying BJJ


  • Vandry’s BJJ
  • Studied for 6 months, then a 6 month break, then 1 more month, then
  • Participated in adult class as a scrawny 16 year old with obnoxiously flexible shoulders, mostly got smashed a lot

Spring 2006

Moved to Israel to teach English


  • Lived on donations
  • Taught English in the Palestinian West Bank
  • Never found any BJJ while I was there, nor could I afford it :(
  • Taught private lessons of my white belt BJJ to kids in exchange for French lessons

Summer 2008

Trained at AKBAN


  • A martial arts school that took pity on me and let me pay $5~ per class
  • Threw my first seoi-nage, was a beautiful moment
  • Trained at AKBAN in Jerusalem, Israel; got my first exposure to Judo throws, they also cross-trained in BJJ-- they'd had Renzo Gracie in for a seminar way back in 2004.

October 2010

Began studying Judo


  • Trained at Kokoro Judo
  • Instructors included Glenn, Dario, Che, Louie, Nick, and many others who graciously threw me repeatedly
  • We had visiting instructors from around the world drop in, including national team members from Germany, Israel, Iran, et al

February 2013

Restarted BJJ Study


  • Was invited to train at Austin Jiu Jitsu under Dave Thomas

July 2013

Promoted to Blue Belt in BJJ


  • Promoted by Dave Thomas


August 2013

Go Shibata Judo


  • Silver in Novice 73kg
  • First Grappling Competition (other than HS Wrestling)


October 2013

Houston Open Judo


  • Gold in Novice 73kg ($100 cash prize)


November 2013)

Matshark BJJ


  • Gold in no-gi Beginner division

February 2014

Eastside Austin Elite Sambo Comp


  • Gold in Lightweight category


February 2014

Began Teaching BJJ Classes


  • @ Austin Jiu Jitsu
  • Taught for 6 months

Spring 2014

Naturally Fit Games BJJ


  • Gold in blue belt division (all wins by submission, including kneebar)
  • Gold in no-gi beginner division (all wins by submission)
  • Gold in no-gi intermediate division (all wins by submission, including kneebar)


July 2014

Promoted to Purple Belt in BJJ


  • Promoted by Dave Thomas


July 2014

NAGA BJJ


  • Gold in purple belt division (all wins by submission)
  • Gold in no-gi Expert division (faced TX state wrestling champ and BJJ black belt) (wins by submission & by 12-0 point lead)

August 2014

Alamo Classic Judo


  • Gold in Novice 73kg
  • Best of 3 against a fellow Judo green belt + BJJ purple belt, all very close matches
  • Competed in spite of having had a motorcycle wreck at 3am that morning and barely sleeping after working all night


September 2014

Fight 2 Win BJJ


  • Gold in no-gi Expert category (all wins by submission)


October 2014

Bought some Globetrotter Merch!


  • I legit still have this keychain.


October 2014

Dallas Invitational Judo


  • D Level Competition, faced competitors from across the country
  • Gold in Novice 73kg


November 2014

Promoted to Judo Brown Belt / Sankyu


  • Fast promotion (1 yr 10 mo) in part due to exceptional competition performance; gold in every novice division entered except for 1st comp (where I got a silver, losing to an experienced samboist)


December 2014

Eastside Austin Elite Sambo Comp (again)


  • Gold in Lightweight category (all wins by Total Victory from 12 - 0 lead)
  • Reigning Champ 2 years in a row

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#Sambo comp. #bjj #purple, #judo #sankyu, #haraigoshi

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April 2015

Gave Paid Private Lessons in BJJ to Judo Yudansha


  • Personalized newaza lessons


Summer 2015

Becerra Challenge Judo


  • Gold in 81kg Senior Elite (all wins by ippon throws)
  • Gold in 81kg ‘newaza’ division (all wins by kansetsu-waza ippon)
  • All wins in less than 1 minute in both divisions


September 2016

Go Shibata Judo


  • Silver in 81kg Brown Belt category (7 man bracket) (loss by wazari point in last minute in final)
  • Silver in 81kg Senior Elite category (6 man bracket) (loss in 81kg Senior Elite was to Arthur “Kyle” Wright, ”B” rank international competitor)
  • All wins by ippon


October 2016

Houston Open Judo


  • Gold in 90kg Senior Elite (weighed about 78kg) ($150 cash prize)
  • Silver in Open Weight category (winner--not me--received $500 cash prize)
  • Only two losses in open weight were to same single competitor who weighed 100~ lbs more with international european competition experience
  • All wins in both categories by ippon, including victory against previous year’s open weight champion


November 2016

Dallas Invitational Judo


  • D level National tournament
  • Tied for 5th in 81kg Senior Elite (17 man bracket)
  • Lost only to two athletes who placed 1st and 2nd (First match was with Jack Hatton, “A” rank international competitor)
  • Same losses as 3rd place finisher
  • 4 ippon victories


November 2016

Promoted to shodan in Judo


  • Performed all 5 section of nage-no-kata
  • First student to go from nanakyu (white) to shodan (black) at my club
  • After exceptional competition season and club teaching, promoted directly to shodan after 2 years at sankyu, a few days before the fourth anniversary of the day I began Judo.


January 2017

Trained in Europe


  • Trained Judo and BJJ in multiple clubs in Ireland, Portugal, Germany, Poland
  • Regularly invited to teach


Summer-Winter 2017

Promoted to Brown Belt in BJJ


  • Surprise promotion
  • Promoted by “Council of Traveling Black Belts”
  • Push for my promotion was made by Oliver Geddes


Read more October 2017

Featured BJJ Globetrotter of the Month


  • Interviewed for the BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter. Neat.


Read more September 2017

Go Shibata Judo (3rd time)


  • Gold in 81kg Senior Elite (all wins by ippon)
  • Two ippon wins against Zach Godbold, sandan, former member of Olympic Training Center
  • Win in exhibition match against -90kg yudansha by ippon


October 2017

Watched Craig Jones Nearly Armbar Gordon Ryan at finals of EBI 14


  • Watched history in the making
  • Got to take pics with some cool people
  • Sat right behind big Gord, who awkwardly commentated the whole thing during quiet moments


December 4, 2017

Taught and trained in Northern Ireland again


  • Love this little gym
  • Also trained Judo at a few places


January 2018

Submission FC BJJ


  • Gold in Gi; faced 270+ lb opponent; won by submission
  • Gold in expert no-gi; all wins by submission


February 2018

Invited to teach at various places around Austin


  • Taught at Kokoro Judo, John's Gym ATX
  • Invited to run own satellite Judo program with Kokoro Judo
  • Invited to teach at Veteran's Jiu Jitsu (by Joey Zente)
  • Invited to co-run gym with Concept BJJ in Taylor, TX
  • Taught at Insight BJJ in Bastrop, TX


Spring 2018

Created the Open Mat ATX list




Spring 2018

BJJ Globetrotters Camp Instructor


  • Taught 'Famous Fight Analysis - Kron Gracie vs Marcelo Garcia, ADCC 2009'

May 2018

Invited to be Instructor in Residence @ Open Source BJJ


  • Open Source Jiu Jitsu is a super cool place
  • Trusted to manage gym for two weeks while head instructor was out of town, teach all classes
  • Invited to teach 5 part 'Judo for BJJ' course


July 2018

Grappling on the Gridiron BJJ


  • Gold in no-gi open weight, open skill division. (Featured 4 brown belts, was lightest in division.)


September 2018

Invited to stay at Open Source


  • Asked to stay for a minimum of three months (later extended)
  • Founded Open Source Judo program
  • Designed BJJ kids curriculum and lead kids program
  • Continued teaching theory, advanced, and fundamentals classes on rotating basis


September 2018

Fall Brawl NC State Championships Judo


  • Silver 73kg Senior Elite/Mixed (10 man bracket, double elimination, loss in final to nidan in 10.5 minute golden score match)
  • Silver in Open Weight category, (4 wins, including 2 wins against yudansha -- 1 by ippon, 1 by wazari throw in Golden Score against same nidan victor from 73kg division; 16 man division; loss in final was to 240 lb opponent, who I scored wazari against before he scored ippon)
  • One Open Source Judo student who attended received bronze in large 81kg senior division


October 2018

Grapple For Good BJJ


  • 1st place, open weight/open skill division (final vs. 215lb purple belt)
  • For charity, “light” event (one division, competitors wore costumes)


October 2018

NAGA BJJ


  • Gold in 160 lb brown belt division
  • Gold in 160 lb no-gi Expert division

November 2018

Nito Grappling Cup Judo


  • Gold 73kg Senior Elite/Mixed (13 man bracket; $100 prize) (Won all matches by ippon)
  • Gold 81kg Senior Elite/Mixed (13 man bracket; $100 prize) (Won all matches by ippon, including against nidan opponent)
  • Undefeated in Open Weight (made to semifinals; due to record attendance, however, the venue closed before we could finish the division, and we were unable to finish the bracket)
  • Won all 10 matches by ippon (threw ko-soto-gari, uchi-mata, & tomoe-nage for ippon; also received ippon from various collar chokes and arm attacks)
  • Only one opponent scored a wazari
  • Noticed by senior members of state promotion board, recommended for fast-tracked promotion to Judo Nidan


December 2018

Promoted to Nidan


  • Promotion based on recommendation of head of state board (Ron Hansen, hachidan) after viewing local competition performances
  • Promoted in less than two years because of point accumulation (without competition points, minimum time-in-grade is 3 years at shodan)

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I had the great fortune to attend a 12-hour, 2-day seminar by Olympic Silver Medalist Travis Stevens (@judosilencer) at Nito Judo Club. The Judo newaza content was incredible, and I'm sure I'll be resharing much of that content for the rest of my life, as I internalize it into my game. My promotion to Nidan (second degree black belt) in Judo was also announced by the head of the promotion board of NC, Sensei Woody Bostic. A special thank you to Kokoro Judo, a wonderful little club in Austin, Texas that I'm honored to have come from and received my shodan through. And a special thank you to @opensourcejiujitsuavl, for adopting me and giving me the chance to hone my art and share what I have. I love being a part of what you have created and contributing to it. I'm also grateful to Sensei Ron Hansen for taking notice of my judo in the past few months and guiding me through the promotion process. Finally, thank you to all my instructors, training partners, competition opponents, and students I've had on this path. It is through your sharing yourselves with me that I have had the opportunity to reach where I am today. It's been quite a journey–perhaps I should say quite a "dō" or "way". I've been very fortunate to have you all.

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January 2019

Invited Instructor in Northern Ireland


  • Invited to teach as often as willing during month-long stay
  • Requested for seminar, private lessons
  • Was given a free hat :)

June 2019

Northern Ireland Summer Open


  • Gold!
  • Competed up in weight at 82.3kg (180~lb, 10 lb up)
  • 3-man division, featuring a jacked, crazy good polish competitor


June 2019

Grappling Industries London


  • Silver in Absolute brown belt
  • Silver in 170lb brown
  • Absolute was a 5-man division
  • Loss in final in absolute was to world champion Taylor Pearman


July 2019

Waynesville Fall Brawl


  • Gold in 81kg Elite
  • Gold in 90kg kosen
  • Gold in Absolute
  • Win in Absolute Final was to ~200lb jacked competitor who won -90kg division; win was by ippon throw for kata-guruma
  • Was not scored on in whole competition


October 2019

NAGA BJJ


  • Gold in 170lb no-gi Expert
  • Gold in 170lb gi combined black/brown belt division
  • All wins by submission in first two minutes of match
  • Not scored on once

November 2019