Black Belt Roster
[updated July, 2020]

Below is a listing of all students promoted to black belt grades since Bill Fromm and I started teaching Budoshin Ju-Jitsu at the Burbank, CA YMCA in 1967. There are two promotional lists here. The first list is for students promoted by me or one of my black belts. Students sublisted under a particular black belt were promoted directly by that black belt or with the support of a black belt board. The second list shows students that were promoted by Bill Fromm or one of his black belts. Bill’s list is structured a bit differently because it is based on the American Jujitsu Association’s Black Belt Roster which is organized differently.
Every Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Black Belt promoted or certified by me or another BJJY certified black belt will be able to wear the BJJY logo/patch on their gi as a quick means of recognition. [Note that the outer ring is black with white print.] They should also have their BJJY Certificate of Promotion posted in the dojo. It should have their photo sealed & stamped on it, or, starting in 2017, their picture is actually an integral printed part of the document, along with a registration number for verification and authentication purposes.
If a listed yudansha on “my” list has a double-asterisk [**] after their name it means that they were initially either promoted by Sensei Bill Fromm [deceased], Sensei Dennis McCurdy [retired], Wade Suzie [deceased], Paul Klara, or a senior yudansha promoted by Sensei McCurdy or the AJA NSCB [National Standards & Certification Board], but have since been promoted by me.
If a person is claiming to be a black belt in Budoshin Jujitsu and they’re not on this list, please click HERE to get in touch withe me. I will be glad to check it out & get back to you.
If you were promoted by a deceased or retired Budoshin Ju-Jitsu sensei and you wish to be on this list please send me a copy of your yudansha certificate stating such.
If you would also like an official BJJY certificate of rank you must be a current BJJY member.

A Budoshin Jujitsu Yudansha [black belt] may promote students up to one rank below his/her own rank. The use of a black belt board [additional instructors] can increase the credibility, integrity, and validity of the promotional evaluation if all of the instructors are competent [ranked] in the martial art for which a candidate is being tested.
If a black belt is listed under more than one instructor it means that those instructors were part of the Black Belt Board that evaluated him/her for promotion.
Black Belt Promotions by Sensei George Kirby
Honorary Titles:
Marc Tucker – Kyoshi -2017
William Harris – Kyoshi 2020
Thomas Salander – Kyoshi – 2020
Chris Hendricks – Renshi – 2015
Jeff Wynn – Renshi – 2016
Enrique Torres – Renshi – 2017
Tony Damigo – Renshi – 2017
Steven Castorena – Renshi – 2017
Paul Sheasby – Renshi – 2020
Cross- Certification:
Paul Sheasby – Godan – 2020
David Dye – Godan – 2015
Ray Eber – Nidan – 2015
Gary Garnett – Yodan – 2015
Kudan – 9th degree black beltHachidan – 8th degree black beltMarc Tucker – 2020Paul Sheasby – 5d – 2020David Dye – 5d – 2015Gary Garnett – 4d -2015Ray Eber – 2d – 2015Vince Di Bella – 1d – 2015Angelo Castro – 1d – 2015Tony Carreno – 1d – 2013 Stark Howell – 1d – 2012 |
Yodan – 4th degree black belt
Dave Clark – 2019
Paul Haynes – 3d – 2019
John Castellon -2019
Scott Finley** – 2017
John Frank** – 2017
Gary Garnett – 2015
Cindy Rivera – 1981
Victor Rivera – 3d – 197?
Axelle Rohrbach – 1d – 197?
Kenneth Harte – 1994
Carmen Harte – 2d – 1999
Tom Shelburne – 1d – 1995
Byron Reyes – 1d – 1997
Steve Mittleman – 1d – 1999
Matityahu Elyashiv – 1996
Kevin Harte – 2001
Ron Sekulich – 2004
Michael Sebastian – 2d – 2002
Steve “Kimo” Williams – 2d – 2004
Paul Hale – 1d – 1997
Ed Diffner – 1d- 1998
Brian Sincomb -1d – 2003
Dave Stuart** – 2011
Michael Langewisch – 2017
Jeremy Yamauchi – 1d – 2011
Byron Davis – 2017
Angelo Castro – 1d – 2015
Jeremy Yamauchi – 1d – 2011
Matthew Gelaude – 1d – 2011
Sandan – 3rd degree black belt
Dan Stone – 1977
Daniel Nofal – 1981
Tevis Verrette – 1985*
Francis Leidinger – 1d – 1986
Stephen Copping – 1990
Eugene Roddenberry – 1d – 1992
Anthony Ibbott – 1994
Lynden Holloway – 2001
Bob Pruitt – 2004
Linda DellaPelle – 2008
Christian Zivelonghi – 1999
John Portlock – 2003
Dustin Contreras – 2004
Cesar George – 2007
Bill Swope – 2009
Kevin Saul – 1d – 2009
Adam Kennedy -3d- 2019
John Valceanu -1d-2019
Sherry Gibson – 3d – 2019
Nidan – 2nd degree black belt
Steve Gwynn – 1976
Jeff Mullich – 1985
R David Moore – 1987
Paul Martino -1d- 198?
Patrick Tobey – 1d – 1991
Mitch Shands – 198?
Jennifer Clark [Toot] – 1992
Rodney Toot – 1991
Paul Martinez – 1999
John Portlock – 1d – 2003
Dustin Contreras – 1d – 2004
Linda Crochiere – 2002
Michael Sebastian – 2002
Frank Blaney – 2006
Paul Blaney – 1d – 2007
Michael Langewisch – 1d – 2007
Marc Kolodziejczyk – 2006
Paul Blaney – 1d – 2007
Michael Langewisch – 2007
William Sherman, Jr. – 2011
Antonio Ramon – 2013
Joe Walstrum – 2013
Jay Baldwin – 2015
Ray Eber – 2015
Glenda Perl – 2017
Shodan – 1st degree black belt
Robert ” Kelly” Harte – 1977
William White – 1978
Fird White – 1978
Gary French – 1979
Jorge Chaves – 1976
Richard Stone – 1971
Carol Vielleux – 197?
Kevin Mullich – 197?
Gwyn Jolly – 197?
Hannie Blaauw – 1982
William Perrin – 1986
Glen Mayeda – 1987
Edward Idian – 1987
Arif Halaby – 1988
Tina Campos – 1983
Dan Carrison – 1990
Mark Myer – 1990
Robert Price – 1992
Alan John – 1994
Rod Lopez, Jr. – 1994
Sean Gallimore – 2003
Brian Sincomb – 2003
Denny delos Reyes – 2005
Paul Blaney – 2007
Peter Jones – 2007
Steve Pendergrass – 2007
Chris Carstons – 2007
Paul Sucher – 2007
Lee Jacobs – 2008
Dan Duran – 2009
Jeremy Yamauchi – 2011
Matthew Gelaude – 2011
Chris Martell – 2011
DiAnn Reese – 2012
Kelley Robins – 2012
Stark Howell – 2012
Jodi Canapp – 2012
Tony Carreno – 2013
Jason Hirata – 2014
William Griffin – 2014
Charlie Armstrong – 2014
Vincent Di Bella – 2015
Mike Montes – 1d – 2016
Black Belt Promotions by Sensei William [Bill] Fromm
Notes:
“NSCB” refers to the American Jujitsu Association National Standards and Certification Board. The NSCB has three functions: to approve different ryu of traditional jujitsu dojo for AJA membership, to promote black belts under circumstances presented in the AJA Constitution and Bylaws, and certify black belts as qualified to teach traditional jujitsu. Refer to the AJA website www.americanjujitsuassociation.org for more information.
Also, please be aware that this list contains promotions made ONLY in Budoshin Jujitsu dojos as of June 2020, that originated from Sensei Bill Fromm. Therefore it will look different from the AJA roster which contains ALL black belt promotions regardless of ryu [style].
SENSEI | SENSEI RANK | STUDENT | DAN | DATE |
Bill Fromm | 10 NSCB | Jerry Sewell | 4 | 1991 |
Jean Stanley | 4 | 1985 | ||
James Howard | 3 | 1982 | ||
Mary Jo Mueller | 3 | 1985 | ||
Charles Blackwell | 2 | 1978 | ||
Stephen Forest | 2 | 1982 | ||
John Godfrey | 2 | 1982 | ||
Bruce Lloyd | 2 | 1978 | ||
Charles Nader | 2 | 1990 | ||
James Plowden | 2 | 1978 | ||
Richard Reilly | 2 | 1984 | ||
Cythia Baker | 1 | 1978 | ||
Claire Brown | 1 | 1978 | ||
Neal Bunja | 1 | 1977 | ||
Barbara Chalmers | 1 | 1983 | ||
Robert English | 1 | 1984 | ||
Tanya Gardner | 1 | 1984 | ||
Walter Mayer | 1 | 1985 | ||
Jeff McMahon | 1 | 1979 | ||
Gregory Myers | 1 | 1981 | ||
Bob Pantoulis | 1 | 1981 | ||
Andrew Pawluczkowycz | 1 | 1983 | ||
Michael Pawluczkowycz | 1 | 1983 | ||
Judith Plowden | 1 | 1979 | ||
Steven Rhyne | 1 | 1981 | ||
Todd Smith | 1 | 1983 | ||
Steven Stokes | 1 | 1983 | ||
David Taylor | 1 | 1988 | ||
NSCB | NSCB | John McCurdy | 10 | 2007 |
Reginald Heffner | 8 | 2017 | ||
Debbie Burk | 7 | 2020 | ||
David Boesel | 6 | 2017 | ||
Howard Kee | 6 | 2018 | ||
Robert McKean | 3 | 1988 | ||
Sherry Gibson | 3 | 2019 | ||
John D. McCurdy | 10 NSCB | Terry Feelemyer | 9 | 2009 |
Donna Mathews | 9 | 2014 | ||
Karen Curley | 8 | 2006 | ||
Bruce Jones | 8 | 2014 | ||
Wade Susie | 8 | 2006 | ||
Bill Swope | 8 | 2014 | ||
Robert Anderson | 6 | 2000 | ||
Scott Anderson | 6 | 2009 | ||
Gwynn Hughes | 6 | 1991 | ||
Paul Klara | 6 | 2014 | ||
Richard Cuno | 5 | ? | ||
Mario Harold | 5 | 2009 | ||
Scott Finley | 4 | 2017 | ||
Robrt Gardner | 4 | 1989 | ||
Richard Lab | 4 | 1993 | ||
Brian McClernan | 4 | 2017 | ||
Thomas Carroll | 3 | 2010 | ||
Frances Carterat | 3 | ? | ||
Terry Greenwood | 3 | 1989 | ||
Larry Linville | 3 | 1991 | ||
Jeff Michael | 3 | 1986 | ||
Anthony Posinski | 3 | 2006 | ||
Lois Wheeler | 3 | 1988 | ||
Ron Wyatt | 3 | 1987 | ||
Matt Hampton | 2 | 2019 | ||
Will Lissauer | 2 | 2011 | ||
Michael McCurdy | 2 | ? | ||
Josh Wood | 2 | 2002 | ||
Bill Young | 2 | 1987 | ||
Charles Horn | 1 | 2007 | ||
Josh Marsiglia | 1 | 2001 | ||
Paul Marsiglia | 1 | 2001 | ||
Craig Sobe | 1 | 1989 | ||
Wade Susie | 8 – McCurdy | Will Harris | 7 | 2010 |
George Boden | 6 | 2012 | ||
Mark Burton | 6 | 2010 | ||
Tom Edwards | 5 | 2012 | ||
Gerard Mueller | 5 | 2004 | ||
John Frank | 4 | 2017 | ||
Bill Needer | 4 | 2004 | ||
Richard Beard | 3 | 1995 | ||
Vernon Davis | 3 | 2002 | ||
Dennis Jones | 3 | 2004 | ||
Chad Kabler | 3 | 2009 | ||
Mike Parks | 3 | 2000 | ||
Stephen Stekas | 3 | 1992 | ||
Alainna White | 3 | 2010 | ||
John Boden | 2 | 2004 | ||
Joe Connelly | 2 | 2005 | ||
Ryan Levin | 2 | 2004 | ||
Andy Speara | 2 | 2006 | ||
Jay Beard | 1 | 2013 | ||
Collin Bender | 1 | 2009 | ||
Carmella Boden | 1 | 1997 | ||
Jerry Collins | 1 | 2001 | ||
Patrick Jones | 1 | 1999 | ||
Mike Levin | 1 | 2006 | ||
Rick Martin | 1 | 2006 | ||
Bruce Jones | 8 McCurdy | Jancel Conroy | 5 | 2013 |
David Patton | 5 | 2008 | ||
Ibrahim Majeed | 4 | 2009 | ||
Dean Dunwoody | 3 | 2014 | ||
Wade Jones | 3 | 2001 | ||
Kathy Patrick | 3 | 2008 | ||
Arnold Smith | 3 | 2008 | ||
Luis Tsuji | 3 | 2011 | ||
Stephania Walker | 3 | 2006 | ||
Jared Wynn | 3 | 2012 | ||
Louise Wynn | 3 | 2012 | ||
Kevin [Yousefi] Adams | 2 | ? | ||
Stacie Beard | 2 | 1996 | ||
Rex Ellis | 2 | 1996 | ||
Bruce Geyman | 2 | 2008 | ||
Kevin Mathis | 2 | 2013 | ||
Amelia Nemitz | 2 | 2013 | ||
Chuck Norris | 2 | 2006 | ||
Donald Parsons | 2 | 2010 | ||
David Tucker | 2 | 2013 | ||
Tony Wong | 2 | 2011 | ||
Katie Bajis | 1 | 2009 | ||
Jonathan Beal | 1 | 2012 | ||
Iris Bombelyn | 1 | 2007 | ||
Paul Coleman | 1 | 2012 | ||
Kevin Curtin | 1 | 2010 | ||
Rose Delany | 1 | 2012 | ||
David Dunham | 1 | 2003 | ||
Martin Georgievski | 1 | 2013 | ||
Judith Kaleh | 1 | 1995 | ||
Ira Kukic | 1 | 2005 | ||
Ned Libby | 1 | 2014 | ||
Leon Mansfield | 1 | 2011 | ||
Bob Rosenblum | 1 | 2007 | ||
Michael Rott | 1 | 2008 | ||
Mark Stoyan | 1 | 2014 | ||
Jordan Tucker | 1 | 2014 | ||
Rich Vinnacombe | 1 | 2013 | ||
Hung Vo | 1 | 2013 | ||
Don Raphael Wynn | 1 | 2000 | ||
Will Harris | 7 Susie | Jodi Canapp | 2 | 2016 |
Thomas Dineen | 1 | 2020 | ||
Mike Jackson | 1 | 2020 | ||
Debbie Burk | 7 NSCB | Tyler Garner | 3 | 2018 |
Vernon Garner | 3 | 2018 | ||
Adam Laser | 1 | 2005 | ||
Jeff Stevenson | 1 | 1993 | ||
David Boesel | 6 NSCB | Amanda Diddlemeyer | 2 | 2019 |
John Gress | 2 | 2013 | ||
Daniel Gress | 1 | 2011 | ||
David McComas | 1 | 2014 | ||
Kendrick Smith | 1 | 2017 | ||
James Sutherland | 1 | 2010 | ||
Shane Wissman | 1 | 2004 | ||
Howard Kee | 6 NSCB | Jess Strom | 3 | 2019 |
Valerie Wade | 3 | 2018 | ||
Roger Chen | 2 | 2019 | ||
Boris Korol | 2 | 2017 | ||
Chris Murphy | 2 | 2019 | ||
Paul Klara | 6 McCurdy | Michael Hickey | 6 | 2019 |
Michael Balog | 2 | 2017 | ||
Samantha Finley | 2 | 2017 | ||
Michael Hickey | 6 Klara | David E. Racine | 4 | 2018 |
David W. Racine | 3 | 2019 | ||
James Boothe | 2 | 2020 | ||
Steven Bowman | 2 | 2019 | ||
Conner Bowman | 1 | 2015 | ||
Jarrett Bowman | 1 | 2016 | ||
Scott Coldiron | 1 | 2019 | ||
Tyler Hickey | 1 | 2017 | ||
Scott Anderson | 6 McCurdy | Gabe Florit | 1 | 2007 |
Robert Gardner | 4 McCurdy | Edwin Effert | 2 | 1995 |
Terry Wingler | 2 | 1993 | ||
Scott Brown | 1 | 1995 | ||
Kevin Cole | 1 | 1989 | ||
Hank Hirschman | 1 | 1987 | ||
Wiiliam Smith | 1 | 1988 | ||
Brian McClernon | 4 McCurdy | Darrin Fox | 2 | 2019 |
Adam Auerback | 1 | 2019 | ||
Dominic Calabria | 1 | 2018 | ||
Matt Clark | 1 | 2019 | ||
Emmanuel Hamwright | 1 | 2017 |