07/03/2026
Congratulations to Andrey, Matthew, Dayce, and Jude on their well-earned promotions. Every one of these athletes has earned their rank through consistency, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
š„ Andrey ā Blue Belt
Andrey has truly grown into a martial artist. Having competed since he was a kid, itās been incredible watching him matureānot only as an athlete but as a young man. At just 16 years old, heās constantly testing himself, stepping into competition, and challenging his abilities alongside his brother. His Blue Belt is well deserved, and Iām excited to see where this next chapter takes him.
š„ Matthew ā Purple Belt
Matthew didnāt start with us heās newer to the team, but you wouldnāt know it by the way he approaches training. He shows up consistently, asks great questions, puts in the work, and has embraced our approach with an open mind. His intentionality and willingness to learn have accelerated his development tremendously. This Purple Belt represents his commitment to the process, and Iām excited to continue watching him grow.
š„ Dayce ā Brown Belt
Dayce came to HQ as a Blue Belt, and watching his evolution has been incredible. His improvement has been nothing short of remarkable. Whether heās competing, training, or helping teammates, Dayce brings full effort every single day. Heās an exceptional athlete, an outstanding teammate, and someone I trust completely to help carry the culture weāve built at HQ. His Brown Belt is incredibly well deserved, and Iām proud to have been part of his journey.
š„ Jude ā Blue Belt
Jude has earned every bit of this promotion. From the beginning, he was the student taking notes, asking questions, and doing everything he could to understand the sport on a deeper level. Since then, heās continued to compete, challenge himself, help his teammates, and grow into a tremendous martial artist. His curiosity, consistency, and willingness to learn have been some of his greatest strengths, and itās been awesome watching him develop.
As I always tell our students, the belt isnāt the destination. Itās simply a recognition of the work thatās already been done and a reminder that thereās still more to learn.