HOUSTON, TX, February 6, 2012 – Yesterday was a big day at one of Houston’s longest-running academies as Elite MMA promoted four of its longtime students to the rank of BJJ black belt in front of a large crowd in attendance at their Westheimer location.
“I added up all the hours and realized it actually took me longer to reach black belt here than it did to become a heart surgeon,” said 52 year old Charles Hallman, a cardiovascular surgeon at the Texas Heart Institute who also began training with Elite 2001. “Training here all these years has been very special for me. This is a very big accomplishment and I know it’s also the start of another journey with plenty more to learn.”
Also achieving the rank of Elite MMA black belt and echoing those sentiments along with Dr. Hallman are Michael Kubes (began in 2002), Michael Shields (began in 1998), and Dallas Mabry (began in 2005).
Reiterating the school’s mission, head instructors Eric Williams and Hai Nguyen had this to say at the conclusion of the test:
“We’re really proud of these guys not just for what they’ve earned on the mat but also with what they’ve been able to do in their lives. Our community here at Elite is about being a service to others along with how we transform ourselves through training. What we accomplish in here is just training to condition ourselves to take on the larger challenges life will bring to our families, friends, and community. Our philosophy is about growing each day, both inside and outside the school. These guys live up to that and we’re both proud and fortunate to have them as part of our family.”
Hallman, Kubles, Shields, and Mabry now join a group at Elite that also includes Williams, Nguyen, Frost Murphy, Jordan Rivas, Spenser Scrivner, Forrest Flanary, and more at the rank of faixa preta.
A Few Photos from Elite MMA
More photos here.
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