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.

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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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.