By TXMMA Staff | Christopher Story
Busy couple of weeks in Texas BJJ include well-deserved belt promotions
these past few weekends have been busy in Texas with many high level promotions in the Brazilian Jiujitsu community. Aside from the usual tournaments, F2W PRO grappling superfights, and tons of action to watch at both the local and national level, a few of Texas’ best were promoted as well. This included brown belts moving up to the much coveted rank of black belt and even some well established area black belts promoted to their next degree as well.
Check out some of the promotions below:
Oct. 14, 2016 – Professor Pat Hardy a.k.a “Hawk” was promoted to his 3rd degree by the legendary Royce Gracie. Pat Hardy is the Owner and Head Instructor of Texas Punishment Crew in Beaumont, TX. Professor Hardy opened up Texas Punishment Crew over 20 years ago.
The Ebarb Bros. – 2nd Degree Black Belt
Oct. 14, 2016 – Jason and Randall Ebarb were promoted to their 2nd Degree Black Belt by Royce Gracie. The Erbarb brothers are under Pat Hardy, Texas Punishment Crew/Royce Gracie Affiliate.
Travis Orr – 1st Degree Black Belt
Oct 15, 2016 – Professor Orr was promoted to 1st Degree by Professor Octavio Couto who leads the jiu-jitsu program at Octagon MMA in Dallas, Texas.
Michael Foster & Brian Lewis – Black Belt
Oct 15, 2016 – Newly promoted black belts Michael Foster & Brian Lewis were promoted Saturday morning by their instructor Professor Steven Hall. This is a special honor for Professor Hall as their are his first two black belts ever! They are out of Octagon MMA/ Pesadelo Jiu-Jitsu.
Joaquin Garay and Servando Almaraz – Black Belt
Oct 15, 2016 -Now black belts under their professor Ulpiano Malachias, Joaquin and Servando were promoted under the presence of some esteemed guests at GB Westchase, including Romulo Barral, Inacio Neto, Edwin Najmi and Vinicius ‘Draculinho’ Magalhaes.
Joey Zente – Black Belt
October 21, 2016 – A former 0331 Machine Gunner with the USMC, Joey leads Veterans Jiu-Jitsu in the Austin Area and was recently promoted to the rank of BJJ black belt by “Dirty Dozen” alum Chris Haueter, one of the first American black belts.
Big congratulations to all of the newly promoted black belts and veteran black belts earning the next degree! Texas jiu-jitsu has grown so much over the last 10-15 years and will continue to grow into jiu-jitsu meca!
We try hard to make sure we don’t miss anyone. If you have new black belt promotions at your academy please contact Christopher Story and we’ll make sure to announce the promotions.