Long Training Pair Promoted Together

From Left to Right - Adisa, Jae, Sensei Formaro, Sensei Suhr, Olivia

Under the USJA ranking system, under which the Des Moines Judo Academy operates, attaining the brown belt is a momentous occasion for several reasons.  Not only does it take years of study and dedication, it also serves as the delineating line between a novice and advanced student, with most tournaments only allowing those under brown belt to compete in novice divisions.

Monday June 9th, 2025, Adisa Ganic and Olivia McBee crossed this rubicon together when they were promoted to Sankyu.  The actual testing took place over the week prior, with the ceremony being conducted on the Monday to allow for the reverence due such an occasion.  The two young women began their journey into Judo together in approximately March of 2023, when they were the first two regular students in the Monday & Wednesday classes conducted by Sensei Suhr.  For months they were the primary, if not only, students in the now popular class time.  The two have supported each other through countless hours of training, promotions, injuries, and numerous tournaments, to arrive at this point.

Olivia, with Sensei Formaro and Sensei Suhr

Olivia, normally called “Liv” keeps a busy scheduled between work, frequent trips to visit her significant other, whom is finished technical school, crafting, training, and helping teach Des Moines Judo Academy’s children’s classes.  Though its rare to see now, due to an earlier injury, Liv has cultivated a great drop tai-otoshi.  Liv shines brightest in ground where, were weeks of drills following a leg injury have resulted in masterful skill at shime-waza or “choking techniques.”  Her hadaka-jime, commonly known as the rear naked choke, is excellent.  However, her ability to work her arms past nearly any defense for “nami-juji-jime” (normal cross collar choke)  and gyaku-juji-jime (reverse cross collar choke), often before her opponent realizes they’re in danger, is a marvel of the elegant interaction of technique maximizing on a natural advantage, and desmonstration of Seiryoku Zenyo.

Adisa, with Sensei Formaro and Sensei Suhr

Adisa, keeps a similarly busy schedule, maintaining employment, continuing her education, spending time with her significant other at his school, and training.  Adisa’s work learning Sensei Parkhill’s “sticky foot” method ko-soto-gari shows, with the attack often serving as her lead in, and consistently forcing a defensive response from her opponent. She often finishes matches with her swift tai-otoshi, launching near instantly at well chosen moments, which has brought her several wins at tournament, where she has consistently brought home medals.  Lately she has been seen working on expanding her foot sweep arsenal.

An African proverb states “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  Congratulations to both young women on coming this far, and we’re excited to see how far they go!