UNUSUAL SURPRISE PROMOTION SHATTERS LONGEST WHITE BELT RECORD
From left to right, Conner Essery, Sensei Suhr, Jake Kane
On October 8th, 2025, at a class with only four students in attendance, a spectacle occurred in the form of a promotion. Jake Kane, the individual being promoted, entered the Des Moines Judo Academy a white belt, only to leave as Sankyu, a brown belt. This amazing promotion, which over the novice ranks of yellow, orange and green belt, was Jake’s first, since he began training in Judo in 2006. Jake has not been able to training continuously, often having lengthy stretches of inactivity and time away from the dojo, but has always been greeted with open arms and a mix for familiar and new faces across the 19 years he’s been training. Upon being promoted, he beat the previous record, held by Jason Maluilo (commonly called “Muscle Jason”) by approximately 18 years and 3 months.
Having trained extensively across several major revisions in rules, Jake is familiar with a number of Kodokan techniques no longer commonly taught due to their prohibition at tournament. During unstructured training time he can be found practicing many of these techniques, such as Morote-Gari (“both hands reaping,” judo’s unique take on the double leg takedown), Kuchiki taoshi (“dead tree drop,” judo’s version of the single leg takedown), and Kibisu-Gaeshi (“heel trip reversal,” which wrestler’s know as an ankle pick). As befitting someone promoted to brown belt, Jake is also familiar with moves which are still tournament legal, including his favorite throw, seoi-nage.
Off the mat, Jake enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids.
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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