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.
OFFICER RANKS UP
From left to right - Conner Essery, Sensei Suhr, Jake Kane
On October 8th, 2025, Connor Essery, an officer with the Des Moines Police Department, earned his first promotion, becoming rokkyu and receiving his yellow belt. Connor came to judo from a background in Brazillian Jujitsu, where he is a third stripe white belt (equivalent to a judo green belt in their ability with newaza). Connor’s interest in understanding the roots and origins of BJJ, and in developing his upright game, led him to begin studying Judo.
Connor has been rapidly improving his upright game, particularly with his favorite throw, O-Soto-Gari. That being said, his ground game still exceeds his upright, with his favorite submission being sankaku-jime. Conner most frequently attends Monday and Wednesday classes, staying late to to attend the fundamentals classes as well.
Off the mat, Conner engages in horseback riding and spending time with his wife.
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.
Student Promoted to Rokkyu, Securing White Belt Record
Jason Maluilo and Sensei Suhr
Jason Maluilo first began to grace the Des Moines Judo Academy with his presence in mid-August of 2024, attending classes two to four times a week as his work schedule permitted. With the exception of period of approximately three months, Jason continuing in this fashion, chasing skills rather than promotions, and content to remain a white belt. On May 21st, 2025, after a couple weeks of ribbing by certain of his fellow students and prodding from instructors, Jason tested for the rank of “rokkyu” or "yellow belt, and passed.
A typical judoka at the Des Moines Judo Academy who trains two days a week remains a white belt for approximately two months.
Jason ended his tenure as a white belt at a couple days after nine months, almost doubling the time of the previous holders’ record of 5 months.
Jason’s silent and observant nature made him easy to overlook, making this feat possible. Despite being reserved, his uchi-mata and drop seoi-nage speak for themselves, each reflecting the intense amount of training and attention to detail they received during his tenure as a white belt. Jason is most commonly seen at Monday and Wednesday classes and Saturday open mats, though lately has been frequenting Wednesday fundamentals classes. When off the mat, Jason is a skilled dancer, which led to him developing balance and body control which assist him in his study of Judo.
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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.
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.
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.