SISTER SCHOOL PROMOTION: PURPLE BELT AND PRODIGEE OBTAIN ORANGE BELTS
We at the Des Moines Judo Academy have been blessed with amazing instructors since our founding by Bret Parkhill in the early 90s. Each instructor’s history and experience brings a unique perspective to our art, offering perspective and insight students might otherwise not benefit from. Sensei Leo Rodriguez, our Thursday evening instructor is not only a renown judoka, but is also a black belt in the art of Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ for short) under Gabriel Gonzaga, and heads Grinnell College’s chapter of the Squared BJJ Club. Both schools benefit from a sister school relationship, with members of one being permitted to attend events for the other at no costs, a benefit several members of our dojo have taken advantage of regularly for over a year. Sensei Leo encourages this cross training with a pragmatic “iron sharpens iron” rationale. The benefit of this cross training relationship is that some students from each school have begun to attain ranks in the other art, their interest piqued by their experiences against their opponents on the mat.
Most recently, on March 22nd, 2026, two students of Grinnell Squared BJJ have tested and advanced to the rank of gokyu in Judo; Will Schulte and Bolivar Aponte Rolon.
From Left to Right - WIll Schulte, Spiderman, Sensei Leo, Bolivar, Hot Blue
Note - No one took promotion pictures, so I made do. Lesson - Take promotion pictures.
Will Schulte is a former wrestler and long time student of Sensei Leo in the art of BJJ, as week as a decorated and seasoned competitor in that art, having previously relied primarily on his wrestling experience for takedowns, with some study of nage-waza (throwing techniques) to enhance his wrestling. However, soon after cross-training became a regular thing between the Des Moines Judo Academy and our sister school, Will began to see the benefits of developing his Judo. On March 9th, 2026, Will was awarded his purple belt in BJJ, marking his progress as being halfway to his black belt. In BJJ belts are awarded when an instructor believes you’re adequately accomplished, with no formal testing, and no language or history requirement. While Will finds the Japanese terminology and technique nomenclature challenging he is none the less a marvelous judoka, overcoming those portions of examination to make it to the technique demonstrations, where he shines. Will, like many former wrestlers, has an affinity for O-Goshi, and O-Soto-Gari. However, his recent experiences with those who primarily study judo, along with the influence of Sensei Leo, have seen him greatly improve his foot sweeps, namely Ko-Uchi-Gari and De-Ashi-Barai. Off the mat, Will applies his training in his work as a corrections officer, and spends time with his wife and daughters.
Bolivar Aponte Rolon (“Boli” for short) should be familiar to reader of this blog, having made his competitive debut at the 2025 Iowa State Championship, and sweeping each division with repeated used of his masterful Harai-Goshi, and remarkable athleticism. Boli also is a fan of Ippon Seoi-Nage, and lately has been broadening his mastery of koshi-waza (hip techniques) with Koshi-Guruma. While confident on the ground, Boli, unlike many BJJ practitioners, seems to almost prefer to begin engaging opponents standing. Off the mat, Boli spends most of his limited free time with this wife and daughter.
Congratulations to both of newly promoted members of our sister school, and may our continued association be fruitful.
Second Fundamental’s Class Promotion Sees Three Students Rank Up
Des Moines Judo Academy’s fundamentals classes, originally developed as an experiment to make taking up Judo later in life easier for adult students, has continued to have great ongoing success. While individual class sizes fluctuate, most evenings see four to eight students practicing, with the heart of the group being a consistent core of students whose primary engagement is through the program. This program, helmed by Sensei Chaye Thompson, has experienced numerous successes, including increased student retention, and strong tournament performance among its attendees. It’s most recent success was had on March 9th, 2026, when a group of its students underwent the programs’ second round of promotions.
From Left to Right - Sensei Chaye Thompson, Rachel Salisbury, Audrey Wirth, Joseph Swedenhjelm
The promotion group consisted of Joseph Swedenhjelm, Rachel Salisbury, and Audrey Wirth.
Joseph Swedenhjelm (“Joe Swede” or “Swede” for short), is a married father, former wrestler, and regular competitor. He recently took silver in two divisions at the Governor’s Cup and gold at the 2025 Iowa State Championship. He almost exclusively attends fundamentals classes, with occasional visits to Thursday night classes with Sensei Leo. While his Ko-Uchi-Gari to O-Soto-Gari combination brought him a lot of success at the 2025 State Championship, and he continues to work on a tournament legal version of Kata-Guruma or “Fireman’s Carry,” due to its familiarity from his wrestling background, he has recently had success with O-Goshi and been developing his Sumi-Gaeshi. He’s also grown more expressive with his fellow judoka in class, though is still subtle and quiet. Swede was promoted to gokyu, receiving his orange belt.
Rachel Salisbury, a pharmacy technician whose passion for judo was ignited when she observed the 2023 Iowa State Championship, has been a frequent competitor with a ravenous training scheduled. In addition to fundamentals classes, Rachel also attends 5:30 PM judo classes on Monday and Wednesday, Thursday class, Friday and Saturday open mats, and open mat at our sister-school Grinnell BJJ on Sundays. This training schedule has fueled an explosive amount of growth, as well as consistent silver medals at the 2026 Governor’s Cup and 2025 State Championship. Rachel continues to develop her drop Morotre-Seoi-Nage, which, along side her O-Soto-Gari, has brought her much success at tournament recently. Similarly, she continues to cultivate her ude garami from guard, but has expanded her ground game to include a solid Kesa-Gatame and Koshi-Jime on opponents in turtle position. Rachel was promoted to gokyu, receiving her orange belt.
Audrey Wirth is the newest edition to the promoting class. A manga enthusiast whose passion grew into an interest in martial arts, Audrey first started judo several months ago. Originally having started in 5:30 PM judo classes on Monday and Wednesday, and Thursday class, Audrey found the fundamentals classes better suited to her needs and transitioned to primarily attending those. She is also a regular attendee of Saturday open mats. Audrey currently only knows a very limited number of “nage-waza” (throwing techniques), the majority being footsweeps, namely De-Ashi-Barai and Ko-Uchi-Gari, due to her small stature. Despite being small, she has also developed an explosive Hasami-Gaeshi (Scissor Sweep), allowing her to easily take Tate-Shiho-Gatame (mount) against opponents in her guard. Audrey was promoted to rokkyu, receiving her yellow belt.
Dojo Continues Pattern of Excellence at 2026 Governor’s Cup
The 2026 Governor’s Cup was held on March 7th in Ames this year at Teikiatsu Judo, with 61 total participants, a twenty-five percent (25%) increase over last year. Among the adult judoka who took to the mat that day, only three (3) hailed from the Des Moines Judo Academy: Logan Ballanger (yonkyu/green belt), Joseph Swedenhjelm (rokyu/yellow belt), and Rachel Salisbury (rokyu/yellow belt). The trio was coached by Sensei Chaye Thompson.
Salisbury awarded medal
Rachel fought in the women’s combined bracket, facing familiar opponents Zoe Mytides and Alayna Guschin. Rachel’s first match was against Zoe, and was characterized by Mytides alternation between powerful pushes straight back and rightward circular motion to create openings for footsweeps and reaps. Rachel demonstrated growth in the face of this aggressive style of play, focusing on maintaining good balance and posture, while waiting for the ideal opportunity to attack. Salisbury was taken down once early in the match during a failed attempt at a drop morote-seoi-nage (her preferred attack), which saw Zoe awarded a yuko before Salisbury obtained a half-guard and the pair were returned to their feet. After returning to the action on their feet, Rachel charged in for a chain of attempts at sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, throwing Zoe out of position, allowing Rachel to attempt to move into position for tani-otoshi. Unfortunately, Zoe caught on and slipped out of position, before scoring ippon with o-uchi-gari. Against Alayna, Salisbury scored a quick waza ari on her first attack (o-soto-gari) after obtaining a grip following some initial grip fighting. Salisury followed her waza ari up with an attempt at kesa-gatame that rapidly transitioned to koshi-jime, but didn’t quite secure the submission. After returning to their feet for another bout, Alayna was reluctant to grip with Rachel, who none the less secured a grip on her opponent and obtained a second waza ari via drop morote-seoi-nage, winning her the match. Rachel took home a silver medal from this competition.
Ballanger (on right) grips up with opponent.
Logan Ballanger competed in the heavy men’s novice (which was large enough to be split into two divisions), the master’s heavy, and the senior men’s heavy divisions. He fought seven (7) of his eight (8) scheduled matches before succumbing to injury and being forced to concede the final match, earning one silver medal and two bronze. Ballanger established dominance early, winning his first match swiftly by obtaining guard as the follow up to a failed sumi-geashi, then making his opponent submit with kata-juji-jime.
Left to Right: Referee Scheid, Logan Ballanger, Joseph Swedenhjelm
Ballanger’s second match was a dynamic battle with Joseph Swedenhjelm (“Joe Swede” or “Swede” for short), with Joe leaning heavily on his wrestling experience, adopting a thoroughly bent over posture. Ballanger leveraged his superior experience, first as a judoka, by using a lapel and over the back grip of the belt to gain control over the larger man and foil his attempt as sumi-geashi, and then as a jujistuka, by using a peterson roll when he ended up in the bottom on turtle after the scramble, to reverse the position and end up in ushiro-kesa-gatame. Swede rapidly escaped Ballanger’s ushiro-kesa-gatame via leg entanglement, resulting in the two being stood up. After being stood up, Logan immediately obtained a double sleeve grip and began playing defensively, until Swede freed one hand to secure a belt grip, prompting Logan to attempt uchi-mata, which took both competitors to the ground, with Swede landing on top. Ballanger was in good position and seemed like he might escape this as well, but unfortunately turned into Swede as he rolled to escape, rather than away from him, tightening his hold, allowing him to assume mune-gatame and secure the win via osae-komi.
Logan fought Erik Whiting of Sempai Judo, located in Nebraska, several times. In the first match between the two, Ballanger attempted to distract his opponent with antics, but failed in the attempt, being foot swept with de-ashi-barai in approximately 10.5 second, for the fastest adult ippon of the day. In their second match, Ballanger approached Whiting with more intensity and more defensively, dodging several foot sweeps and attempts to get inside or hip throws, while attempting, and at one point succeeding, at maneuvering Whiting to the ground without giving up a throw. After being stood up, and then receiving a shido for going out of bounds, Ballanger countered Whiting’s attempt at uchi-mata with ura-nage, securing an ippon and the win.
In Ballanger’s final match of the day, he fought Joseph Swede again. The match was much more dynamic, with the two clashing fiercely several times, only to end unfortunately. Swede finally managed to use his bent posture to maneuver into position for a hip throw, tossing Ballanger with o goshi for ippon, but landing on the side of Ballanger’s knee and ankle in the process. The resulting injuries temporarily stopped action, while medical staff check out Logan and determined him to be okay, before instructing that he sit out his final match of the competition.
Left to right - Joseph Swede and Erik Whiting awarded medals
Joseph Swede starting the morning with the first match of the day, a master’s men’s heavy match against Erik Whiting, an brown belt an experience competitor. Despite the difference in experience, Swede manage to counter an early attempt at uchi-mata by Whiting with tani-otoshi, earning Swede a yuko with a move he’d only learned approximately a week earlier. Once on the ground, the award of yuko caused some confusion for the competitors, who slowed briefly before succumbing to the crowd’s urging to continue, with Swede gaining the top position in the resulting scramble. Whiting obtained a half guard, which Swede passed with some difficulty, but not before Whiting was able to turn face down, a position he maintained until the pair was stood up. When action recommenced, the pair gripped up with Whiting applying the “sticky foot” method of de-ashi-barai, leading to a brief hopping exchange and Swede attempted to free his foot. While Joe was able to finally get his foot free, Erik capitalized on the moment, charging in for o-soto-gari, winning the match by ippon. Despite this, Swede left the tournament with silver medals in both the men’s master’s heavy and the men’s novice heavy.
Kids Kick Butt at 2025 Governor’s Cup
Des Moines Judo kids with Sensei Hanssen
On March 15th of 2025, nearly an hour before the adult competition, Sensei Ryan Hanssen led a squad of five (5) young Judoka from our children’s judo program as they took to the mat for the honor of our dojo and personal glory. Jayce and Brayden Hanssen, Cillian Nizzi, Brogan Lindsey, and Aurora Wright all took to the mat in their respective divisions to demonstrate the skill and athleticism developed through long hours of training, and test their mettle against the best competitors they could find.
While each competitor’s matches were action packed and worthy of review, this author would only expound upon each competitor’s best performance for his loyal audience.
Brayden and Cillian each rapidly defeated the third competitor in their bracket and met one another in a heated match to determine who would take gold or have to settle for silver. Brayden tried his best to bring his opponent down with Hanssen family’s signature Koshi-Guruma, but Cillian presented a competent defense each time, hipping in and posturing up. On offense Cillian demonstrated a far more mobile style of judo, using circular motion to disbalance his opponent to create openings for Uchi-Mata and O-Soto-Gari. Unfortunately for Cillian, Brayden, being a seasoned competitor was able to meet and overcome this tactic through strategic us of grips and defensive posturing. After a reset by the referee, both combatants switched tactics, opting for a brief exchange of foot sweeps, with Cillian bringing Brayden to the ground for a non-scoring Tai-Otoshi. The two continued in this fashion for a short while longer before Cillian was finally able to catch Brayden off-guard with a will timed Uchi-Mata for victory by Ippon. The two fought well.
Aurora’s determination and aggression allowed her to take a bronze medal in her division, with her most exciting match being against Isabella from Sempai Judo Academy. Both girls came out guns blazing, charging one another to immediately grip up and throw a flurry of O-Soto-Gari at one another. While Aurora was the first to fall in her match, immediately escaping her opponent’s attempt at Kesa-Gatame, she was quick to follow up with an O-Soto-Otoshi, scoring a yuko, and to capitalize on her success by using Kesa-Gatame herself. The next bout yielded a solid Waza-Ari for Aurora off O-Soto-Gari, prompting her opponent’s team of coachs to prompt Isabella to make a drastic change in tactics. After another hard fought bout with no score, Aurora and Isabella clashed again, with Isabella disbalancing Aurora mid-attack, knocking them both over. In the mad scramble for position, Isabella was able to out scurry Aurora and secure a firm pin via Kesa-Gatame, which she maintained long enough for Ippon. While Aurora might not have won this match, which lasted over three minutes, she was in the lead when the final bout began, had maintained a lead for most of the match, and fought hard to the bitter end. Aurora should take pride in her accomplishment and in that it took her competitor benefitting from the combined experience of Sempai’s extended coaching staff to overcome her.
On his path to silver medal, Brogan faced off against Luca from Teikiatsu Judo, in a match lasting only fifteen (15) seconds. Luca assumed an aggressive and forward stance from the onset of the match, immediately charging to grip up with Brogan. Rather than meeting Luca’s charge directly, as many of our other junior competitor’s would have, Brogan embraced the teaching of “Seiryoku Zenyo” or “maximum efficiency",” shifting to the side and out of Luca’s path as he attempted O-Goshi. Luca stopped his forward charge in time to spin Brogan in almost a complete circle, which Brogan responded to by shifting neatly into Harai-Goshi followed by Kesa-Gatame on the ground. The pin was unnecessary, as the throw’s satisfying “thawp” told both the referee and the crowd Brogan has scored an Ippon.
Lastly, Jayce got to meet his rival, Asher Bruner, in the most recent in a long line of contests between the two. The most recent match was a furious affair, both upright and on the ground, ranging across the entirety of the tatami. The first bought ended with Jayce up a Waza-Ari from De-Ashi-Barai, with the follow up on the ground resulting in no further score. The second bout, in which both competitors were making textbook demonstrations of the down then up method of kuzushi, saw Asher tie the score using Uchi-Mata, with neither judoka able to score on the ground as follow up. After two bouts with the young judoka’s duel ranging to the edges of the mat and yielding no score, the rivals clashed a final time. Jayce managed to get his lapel hand around Asher’s neck and began to drag him into the Hanssen’s signature Koshi-Guruma. As the two spun with Jayce creeping his hips into position to reap his final score, Asher, familiar with the familial technique from prior encounters, shouldered into Jayce and threw out a leg, brining Jayce to the ground with Tani-Otoshi for Ippon. Jayce took home a well earned silver medal, and this author looks forward to seeing what Jayce brings to overcome his rival when next they meet.
Honor and glory to our young competitors! We all look forward to great things from you in the future!
Rokkyu Duo Clean Up at 2025 Governor’s Cup
From Left to Right - Kasten Lappe, Jon Milledge, Ian Schaff
On March 15th, 2025, two yellow belts or “rokkyu” from the Des Moines Judo Academy made their competitive debut at the Iowa Governor’s Cup Tournament, which was hosted by Teikiatsu Judo in Ames, Iowa. Adult competitor turnout was a sharp decline from 2024, during which sensei and academy founder Bret Parkhill made his final regular appearance coaching. Despite adult participation being thinned by scheduling and recent injuries, Karsten Lappe and Jon Milledge made up for quantity with quality.
Karsten, is a young man of 22 years of age who attends most, if not all, weekday classes at our dojo and occasional Saturday open mats. Standing 6’7”, Karsten fought in the 220lbs+ senior men’s open rank, winning both his matches against the green belt, or “yonkyu,” Brent Shipley from Sempai Judo. Karsten’s first match was won by application of the “renraku waza'“ (combination technique; when two or more attacks are made in sequence) Uchi-Mata, followed by O-Soto-Gari, earning an “Ippon” (full point, which wins a match). His second match was won by scorring Ippon via “Osae Komi” (pin), a varient of Yoko-Shiho-Gatame (commonly referred to as side control in jujitsu), after taking his opponent to the ground without scoring, securing the gold medal for his division. A southpaw, Karsten is known in our club for his explosive strength, preference for extremely high collar grips, and his love of Uchi-Mata, which he’s striven to improve since he first arrived at the Des Moines Judo Academy.
Jon Milledge, a man of 35 who stands at approximately 5’8”, fought in both the senior men’s middle weight novice, and the senior men’s 161lbs & Under open rank divisions. Jon, an mma fighter in the process of winding down his mma career, is one of a pair of far travelling Judoka who consistently grace our dojo at Saturday open mats and the occasional Thursday class. Jon fought five total matches between the two divisions. While Jon lost his first match by throw for Ippon, he went on to only have one more loss for the day, by submission while attempting to pass guard. Jon’s extensive drilling of “ashi waza” (leg/foot techniques), particularly foot sweeps, showed, as he scored “Waza Ari” (half point, two of which are required to win a match) by both Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, and De Ashi Barai. While he did win one additional match by submission, the highlight of the adult competition of this tournament was an Ippon scored using Nidan Ko-Soto-Gari as a counter to Uchi-Mata, further demonstrating Jon’s ashi waza dominance. Sensei Parkhill, reviewing a video of the match, commented that the counter was “a thing of beauty!” Jon took gold in the open rank, and silver in the novice.
Despite being the only adult judoka to take to the mat or “tatami” to represent our Academy at this tournament, they were not alone. Ian, Jon’s long time training partner and travelling companion, was also present to give his support despite being wounded. Jon’s family was also present to cheer him on, and were enthusiastic, if frequently confused. The three are seen together in the cover photo for this entry, celebrating their victory.