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.

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!

Kids Place at Minnesota Classic

Brayden (5th Junior Rank) and Jayce Hanssen (4th Junior Rank), students at the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy, and sons of instructor Ryan Hanssen, both participated in the Minnesota Classic. The tournament was held at the North Dale Recreation Center in St. Paul Minnesota on September 15th, 2024. The boys placed 3rd and 4th in their respective weight classes and generally made an impressive showing. Their proud papa was proud to show off footage of each taking down an opponent with “Koshi-Guruma” (“Hip Wheel”) a hip throw performed on an opponent held in a headlock. Both boys are regular competitors, and we look forward to seeing them on the mat more in the coming months.