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!
BJJ Convert Develops Stand Up Game and Earns Promotion
From Left to Right - Sensei Chey, Johan, Sensei Rodriguez
BJJ practitioners looking to develop their takedowns are a regular sight at the Des Moines Judo Academy. Most pass through, polishing a throw or two for competition before returning to their primary art, never making it past white belt. June 5th, 2025, Yauhen split from the pack for that trend by testing for, and being promoted to, “rokkyu” or “yellow belt.”
Yauhen first joined our dojo in November of 2024, and was more than a little scared of doing “randori,” a form of sparring, upright. Since then, Yauhen has developed his “ukemi,” the skill of falling or being thrown with minimal or no injury, enough to overcome his hesitation and can be seen regularly taking on other students at the dojo on thursday nights. His favorite stand up moves thus far are O-Goshi and Sumi-Gaeshi. Yauhen continues to train on BJJ at the No Coast school twice a week. When talking about the changes Judo has made in his overall grappling game, Yauhen explained that it caused him to appreciate gi fighting over no-gi, due to the increased technicality.
We look forward to more exciting developments from this man just beginning to make major headway in the Gentle Way, and anticipate watching his grappling style evolve as he becomes even more comfortable upright.
Far Travelling Pair Promoted Together
From Right to Left - Sensei Pohl, Ian Schaff, Jon Milliedge, Sensei Hilleshiem
Ian and Jon, regulars at Saturday open mats, have taken the next step on their journey into the Way of Gentleness, by being promoted to “gokyu” or orange belt. The duo normally spend several hours every Saturday developing their skills from approximately 9:30 AM until the open mat host is done the day or events demand they yield (usually around 12:40 PM), so they can work master what they learn training with each other during weekday. On May 3rd, 2025, they chose to forego training to instead demonstrate what they’ve learned in the pursuit of recognition of their hard won skills. Testing was overseen by Sensei Hilleshiem and Sensei Pohl, who determined the two passed muster, while a few stragglers looked on.
Ian, a student of jujitsu, bujinkan, and kali-silat in addition to Judo. As to be expected his “newaza” or “ground fighting” (the portion of combat that takes place after one or more of the combatants has fallen to the ground) is more developed than his “nage waza” or throwing techniques, he not only demonstrated competence with the required number of throws, but demonstrated an affinity for tai-otoshi, o-goshi, and uchi-mata. When not training, Ian enjoys tabletop roleplaying games, making mead, hunting, and spending time with his beloved dog.
Jon, a judoka with an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and wrestling background, who also cross trains in jujitsu and bujinkan, has a more robust standing game of the pair, despite Ian having a better flare for technical details. Jon also posses boundless positivity and enthusiasm, which makes long training sessions go by and the blink of an eye. While his foot sweeps won him gold and silver in the Governor’s Cup earlier this year, and even earned praise from Sensei Parkhill, Jon chose to instead show off his o-soto-gari, ippon seoi-nage, and tani-otoshi, all of which he’s been drilling endlessly since March. When off the mat, Jon spends most of his time with his family, being married and a father.
Armored Combat Judoka Receives Yellow Belt
On Monday, December 23rd, 2024, Adam Thompson, tested for and was given his yellow belt or “rokyu.” This initial promotion requires a student demonstrate a a knowledge of some basic judo terminology and knowledge concerning the creation of judo, as well as several basic techniques.
Adam has been a student of the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy for months, attending as frequently as his obligations to employment, wife, two children, and blacksmithing practice permit him to do so. He most commonly attends Monday and Wednesday classes, and occasionally makes time for Saturday open mats, time he primarily uses to drill. In addition to judo, Adam also is a competitor in Armor MMA, a form of armed competition where participants are clad in European medieval armor.
Mass Promotion on Monday
Four members who regularly attend Monday classes were all promoted on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Christian Wilson and Kasten Lappe both recieved their first promotion, moving from white belt, which has no Japanese name in the USA Judo ranking system, to yellow belt or “rokyu.” Both young men began training a few months ago, and have wrestling backgrounds, which have benefitted them in transitioning to judo. Both have worked hard, with Christian having already experienced his first competitive win at the Governor’s Cup in November of this year.
Logan Ballanger and Jacob van Cleaf both recieved their third promotion, transferring from orange belt or “gokyu,” to green belt or “yonkyu". The training partners and rivals made fast friends upon first meeting in their first week of training at the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy. Since then, they’ve committed to making this journey together, being consistently promoted at the same time, with each at times delaying testing to allow the other more time to prepare and be certain of success. The bantering pair can frequently be found training together, both in our dojo and attending open mats elsewhere to test and further develop their skills.
Both pairs are featured in photograph, along with several of the instructors who helped them make it this far.
Brown Belt Promotion for Long-Standing Member
From Left to Right- Sensei Suhr, Romnick Pamatmat
On December 9, 2024, Romnick Pamatmat tested for and received his first brown belt rank of “sankyu.” Most judo organizations consider the brown belt to the tipping point where you are no longer considered a beginner, and no longer eligible able to participate in the novice division of competition. Attaining the rank is typically requires years of study and practice, as well as demonstrating mastery over several techniques, and competence with several more. The testing is also academic, requiring knowledge of the history of judo and Japanese terminology.
Romnick is a regularly attending member of the Academy and inspiration; not only finding time for health, training, and fitness, but also to raise his three children, all while keeping his wife (and the light of his life) smiling. On the mat, Romnick is a quick and dexterous opponent, frequently darting in and out of gripping range to make lightning fast attacks, most notable drop tai-otoshi, and seoi-nage.
His promotion is well deserved, and this author looks forward to seeing him develop through the ranks remaining between him and the first degree black belt or “sho-dan.”
Second Part of Far Travelling Pair Promoted to Yellow Belt
Ian, a regular attendee of Saturday open mats and semi-regular Thursday student, travelling an hour each way from south western Iowa, has finally earned his promotion. Testing at the end of open mat on Saturday, November 22rd, 2024, with Sensei Gary Hilleshiem, Ian earned his yellow belt or “rokkyu.” Ian’s long time friend Jon Millidge served as his “uke” or “person upon whom a throw is performed” for his examination, and stood with him for his promotion picture. Ian is featured in his signature olive drab gi, with its Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy patch prominently featured.
Ian has a strong general interest in martial arts, and studies jujitsu in addition to judo, as well as several other styles of armed and unarmed combat. However, due to a lifelong dream of studying Judo, Ian began making the drive to Des Moines several months ago to become a member of the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy, and we are richer for his choice.
Far Travelling Member Promoted
While many of our members were at tournament on November 9th, 2024, Jon Milledge was testing for, and promoted to, “rokkyu,” earning his yellow belt. Jon is a regular attendee of Thursday evening classes and Saturday open mats, who also trains in Bujinkan with Sensei Hilleshiem, and has both a wrestling and MMA background.
Jujitsu Promotion
Logan Ballanger was promoted this past Sunday, November 10th, 2024, at an open mat, receiving his first stripe on his white belt. Logan currently holds the rank of “gokyu” or orange belt in Judo and frequently represents the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy at competitions through out the midwest. Logan’s recent use of ground fighting techniques at the 2024 Iowa State Championship the day before his promotion, no doubt contributed to the decision to award his first stripe.
Jujitsu, unlike judo, does not , typically issue a new belt with each rank, instead adding stripes to a black area on the practitioner’s belt until they accumulate their 4th stripe, after which their next promotion results in them being awarded a stripeless belt of a new color.
Jujitsu Promotions!
Two students were recently promoted in Jujitsu! Congratulations!
Congratulations to Josh Pohl and Zac Strahl, both of whom were promoted in their Jujitsu training last night. Each of them received a stripe on their white belt, denoting a substantial increase in skill and understanding. Each has worked hard to achieve this, and has substantially improved their ground game in the process.
Jujitsu classes are available to all members of the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy as part of their membership. See class schedule for dates and times.