Black Belt Roster

[updated April, 2024]

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Promotions by George Kirby

Promotions by William “Bill” Fromm

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
Scott Anderson – Kyoshi – 2023
Chris Hendricks – Renshi – 2015
Jeff Wynn – Renshi – 2016
Enrique Torres – Renshi – 2017
Tony Damigo – Renshi – 2017
Steven Castorena – Renshi – 2017
Paul Sheasby – Renshi – 2022
Darryn Melerine – Renshi – 2023
Dave Clark – Renshi – 2023

Cross- Certification:
Lao Lucas – Godan – 2024
Thomas “TJ” Gentry – Godan – 2022
Darryn Melerine – Godan – 2021
Paul Sheasby – Godan – 2020
John Castellon — Yodan — 2019
David Dye – Godan – 2015
Ray Eber – Nidan – 2015
Gary Garnett – Yodan – 2015

Kudan – 9th degree black belt

Hachidan – 8th degree black belt Marc Tucker – 2020
Thomas “TJ” Gentry – 5d – 2022
Darryn Melerine – 5d – 2021
Paul Sheasby – 5d – 2020
David Dye – 5d – 2015
Gary Garnett – 4d -2015}
Ray Eber – 2d – 2015
Vince Di Bella – 1d – 2015
Angelo Castro – 1d – 2015
Tony Carreno – 1d – 2013
Stark Howell – 1d – 2012
Frank Blaney – 2d – 2006
Marc Kolodziejczyk – 2d – 2006
Sean Gallimore -1d – 2003
Denny delos Reyes – 1d – 2005
Paul Blaney – 1d – 200
Byron Davis – 2d – 2010
Jeremy Yamauchi – 1d – 2011
Will Harris – 2020
Dave Stuart – 5d – 2015
Jay Baldwin – 2015
Jodi Canapp – 2d – 2016
Joe Walstrom -3d – 2016
John Frank – 4d- 2017
Mike Parks – 4d -2021
Thomas Dineen – 1d – 2020
Mike Jackson – 1d -2020**

Shichidan – 7th degree black belt
Jeff Wynn – 2019
DonRaphael Wynn – 1d – 2000
Jared Wynn – 3d – 2012
Cory Wynn – 2d – 2010
Greg Catanese – 2d – 2010 DonRaphael Wynn – 1d – 2000
Louise Wynn – 2d – 2010
Tony Damigo – 4d – 2011
Matthew Gelaude – 1d – 2011
DiAnn Reese – 2d – 2015
Kelley Robins – 2d – 2015
Jason Hirata – 1d – 2014
William Griffin – 1d – 2014
Charlie Armstrong – 2d – 2017
Kelly Garcia – 1d – 2016
Ben Hirata – 1 d – 2016
Jason Claus – 2d – 2016
Lindsay Price – 1d – 2017
Kirk Price – 1d – 2017
Damon Cronin – 3d -2021
Thomas Salander – 2019
John Valceanu -1d-2019
Adam Kennedy – 3d – 2018
Daniel Gaul – 1d – 2013
Charles Youman – 5d – 2019
Stark Howell – 1d – 2012
Kevin Brennan – 2d – 2003
Michael J. Hobson – 2d – 2006
Lawrence Tomek – 2d – 2006
Robert Connolly – 2d – 2005
Daniel Orkwis – 1d – 2003
Robert Rogers – 1d – 2006
Chris Martell – 1d – 2011
Kelly O’Briant – 1d -2018
Watkins Gray – 1d – 2018
Coral Burke – 1d -2019
Stewart Burke – 1d – 2019

Rokudan – 6th degree black belt

Bruce Jones – 2006 [hon]
Arnold Smith – 3d – 2008 Bruce Geyman – 2d – 2011

Robert Wong – 1994
Jennifer Wong – 4d – 1995
Leo Byrd – 4d – 1999
Sandra Chang – 2d – 2002
Laureano Alvarez – 1d – 2004
Rod Carrasco – 2d – 1997
Nick DeMauro – 2d – 1997
David Newton -1d – 1989
Jim Dangerfield – 1d – 198?
Ben Miller – 1d- 1996
Dennis Dionesio – 1d – 1997
Sam Rodriguez -1d- 1997
Mark Jordan – 2009*
Andrew Sparks – 2d – 2013 Antonio Ramon – 2d – 2013
Cheri Zoe’ Walker – 1d – 2012
Stark Howell – 1d- 2012
Jeff Wynn – 5d – 2011
Tony Damigo – 4d – 2011
Matthew Gelaude – 1d – 2011 Bobby Hill – 2007
Willie Huang – 2007
Ezra Pugh – 2007
David Eckardt – 2003
Daniel Erickson – 2003
Michael Sebastian – 2d – 2002
Paul Hale – 1d – 1997
Ed Diffner – 1d- 1998
Mark Burton – 2010
Chris Hendricks – 2014
Chris Martell – 1d – 2011
Rick Torres – 2019
Ed Kimes – 1d – 2014
Clint Sparks – 1d – 2014
Kyle Winfield – 1d – 2014
Arronn Baylor – 1d – 2014
Walker Baylor – 1d – 2014
Harrison Baylor – 1d – 2014
Eric Tollett – 3d – 2019
Juan Alcantar Jr. -2d – 2006
Jason Allen – 1d – 2004
Paul Sheasby – 2020
Gary Purcell – 4d – 2024
Rebeca Purcell – 2d – 2022
Joshua Purcell – 3d – 2021
Scott Kenee – 2d – 2021**

Godan – 5th degree black belt
Michael Langewisch – 2023
Dave Clark – 2023
Paul Haynes – 3d – 2019
George Cushinan – 2020
Jeff Newton – 3d – 2015
Gary Bulian – 3d – 2015
Robby Moss – 2d – 2014
Roger Fung – 2d – 2014
Nick Cushinan – 2d – 2014
Ellery Bunn – 2d – 2014
Julia Piotrowski – 2d – 2014
Roy Long – 2d – 2005
Raymond Tam – 1d – 2011
Rowan McCormick – 1d – 2011
Marino Brilli – 1d – 2012
Cynthia Yan – 1d – 2008
Travis Morrison – 1d – 2008
Jeff Morrison – 1d – 2008
Robert Reynolds – 2d -2006
Allan Beattie – 1d -2006
Greg Oortwyn – 1d – 2003
Hayley Manning – 1d – 2003
Raj Dhanasar – 1d – 2003
David Dye – 2015
Tony Damigo – 2015
Michael Gelaude – 2d – 2013
Matthew Gelaude – 2d – 2011 William Sherman, Jr. – 3d – 2013
Sherry Gibson – 2d – 2016
Steve Pendergrass – 1d – 2007
Chris Carstons – 1d – 2007
Dani Pendergrass – 1d – 2007
Mason Yohn – 1d – 2006
Steven Castorena – 2015
Dee McCafferty – 3d — 2023
Mike Montes – 1d – 2016
Cheri Zoe’ Walker – 1d – 2012
Andy Sparks – 1d – 2012
Antonio Ramon – 1d – 2012
Cheri Zoe’ Walker – 1d – 2012
Steve “Kimo” Williams – 1d – 2002
Peter Jones – 1d – 2007
Pierre Lautischer – 19

Yodan – 4th degree black belt
John Castellon – 2019
Scott Finley – 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
Michael Langewisch – 2017
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
Glenda Perl – 2022
Dennis McCafferty — 2023
Ray Eber — 2023

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
Beshara Alraii – 2022
Rebeca Purcel – 2022
Akagi Kayashima – 2023
Chris Clark – 2025
Eric Sallee – 2025

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
John Bowman – 1d – 2021
Eric Sallee – 1d 2021
Christopher Clark – 1d 2023

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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:

Bill Fromm

Sensei Rank:

10 NSCB

Student:

Jerry Sewell – 4d – 1991
Jean Stanley – 4d – 1991
James Howard – 3d – 1982
Mary Jo Mueller – 3d – 1985
Charles Blackwell – 2d – 1978
Stephen Forest – 2d – 1982
John Godfrey – 2d – 1982
Bruce Lloyd – 2d – 1978
Charles Nader – 2d – 1990
James Plowden – 2d – 1978
Richard Reilly – 2d -1984
Cythia Baker – 1d – 1978
Claire Brown – 1d – 1978
Neal Bunja – 1d – 1977
Barbara Chalmers – 1d – 1984
Robert English – 1d – 1984
Tanya Gardner – 1d – 1984
Walter Mayer – 1d – 1985
Jeff McMahon – 1d – 1979
Gregory Myers – 1d – 1981
Bob Pantoulis – 1d – 1981
Andrew Pawluczkowycz – 1d – 1983
Michael Pawluczkowycz – 1d – 1983
Judith Plowden – 1d – 1979
Steven Rhyne – 1d – 1981
Todd Smith – 1d – 1983
Steven Stokes – 1d – 1983
David Taylor – 1d -1988

Sensei:

NSCB

Sensei Rank:

NSCB

Student:

John McCurdy – 10d – 2007
Reginald Heffner – 8d – 2017
Debbie Burk – 7d – 2020
David Boesel – 6d – 2017
Howard Kee – 6d – 2018
Robert McKean – 3d – 1988
Sherry Gibson – 3d – 2019
Brian McClernan – 5d – 2021
Paul Klara – 7d – 2020

Sensei:

John D. McCurdy

Sensei Rank:

10 NSCB

Student:

Terry Feelemyer – 9d – 2009
Donna Mathews – 9d – 2014
Karen Curley – 8d – 2006
Bruce Jones – 8d – 2014
Wade Susie – 8d – 2006
Bill Swope – 8d – 2014
Robert Anderson – 6d – 2000
Scott Anderson – 6d – 2009
Gwynn Hughes – 6d – 1991
Paul Klara – 6d – 2014
Richard Cuno – 5d – ?
Mario Harold – 5d – 2009
Scott Finley – 4d – 2017
Robert Gardner – 4d – 1989
Richard Lab – 4d – 1993
Brian McClernan – 4d -2017
Thomas Carroll – 3d – 2010
Frances Carterat – 3d – ?
Terry Greenwood – 3d – 1989
Larry Linville – 3d – 1991
Jeff Michael – 3d – 1986
Anthony Posinski – 3d – 2006
Lois Wheeler – 3d – 1988
Ron Wyatt – 3d – 1987
Matt Hampton – 2d – 2019
Will Lissauer – 2d – 2011
Michael McCurdy – 2d – ?
Josh Wood – 2d – 2002
Bill Young – 2d – 1987
Charles Horn – 1d – 2007
Josh Marsiglia – 1d – 2001
Paul Marsiglia – 1d – 2001
Craig Sobe – 1d – 1989

Sensei:

Wade Susie

Sensei Rank:

8 – McCurdy

Student:

Will Harris – 7d – 2010
George Boden – 6d – 2012
Mark Burton – 6d – 2010
Tom Edwards – 5d – 2012
Gerard Mueller – 5d – 2004
John Frank – 4d – 2017
Bill Needer – 4d – 2004
Richard Beard – 3d – 1995
Vernon Davis – 3d – 2002
Dennis Jones – 3d – 2004
Chad Kabler – 3d – 2009
Mike Parks – 3d – 2000
Stephen Stekas – 3d – 1992
Alainna White – 3d – 2010
John Boden – 2d – 2004
Joe Connelly – 2d – 2005
Ryan Levin – 2d – 2004
Andy Speara – 2d – 2006
Jay Beard – 1d – 2013
Collin Bender – 1d – 2009
Carmella Boden – 1d – 1997
Jerry Collins – 1d – 2001
Patrick Jones – 1d – 1999
Mike Levin – 1d – 2006
Rick Martin – 1d – 2006

Sensei:

Bruce Jones

Sensei Rank:

8 – McCurdy

Student:

Jancel Conroy – 5d – 2013
David Patton – 5d – 2008
Ibrahim Majeed – 4d – 2009
Dean Dunwoody – 3d – 2014
Wade Jones – 3d – 2001
Kathy Patrick – 3d – 2008
Arnold Smith – 3d – 2008
Luis Tsuji – 3d – 2011
Stephania Walker – 3d – 2006
Jared Wynn – 3d – 2012
Louise Wynn – 3d – 2012
Kevin [Yousefi] Adams – 2d – ?
Stacie Beard – 2d – 1996
Rex Ellis – 2d – 1996
Bruce Geyman – 2d – 2008
Kevin Mathis – 2d – 2013
Amelia Nemitz – 2d – 2012
Chuck Norris – 2d – 2006
Donald Parsons – 2d – 2010
David Tucker – 2d – 2013
Tony Wong – 2d – 2011
Katie Bajis – 1d – 2009
Jonathan Beal – 1d – 2012
Iris Bombelyn – 1d – 2007
Paul Coleman – 1d – 2012
Kevin Curtin – 1d – 2010
Rose Delany – 1d – 2012
David Dunham – 1d – 2003
Martin Georgievski – 1d – 2013
Judith Kaleh – 1d – 1995
Ira Kukic – 1d – 2005
Ned Libby – 1d – 2014
Leon Mansfield – 1d – 2011
Bob Rosenblum – 1d – 2007
Michael Rott – 1d – 2008
Mark Stoyan – 1d – 2014
Jordan Tucker – 1d – 2014
Rich Vinnacombe – 1d – 2013
Hung Vo – 1d -2013
Don Raphael Wynn – 1d – 2000

Sensei:

Will Harris

Sensei Rank:

8 Kirby

Student:

Jodi Canapp – 2d – 2016
Thomas Dineen – 1d – 2020
Mike Jackson – 1d – 2020

Sensei:

Debbie Burk

Sensei Rank:

7 NSCM

Student:

Tyler Garner – 4d – 2021
Vernon Garner – 4d – 2020
Adam Laser – 1d – 2005
Jeff Stevenson – 1d – 1993
Ward Lily – 5d – 2021
Greg Udzinski – 1d – 2020

Sensei:

David Boesel

Sensei Rank:

6 NSCB

Student:

Amanda Diddlemeyer – 2d – 2019
John Gress – 2d – 2013
Daniel Gress – 1d – 2011
David McComas – 1d – 2014
Kendrick Smith – 1d – 2017
James Sutherland – 1d – 2010
Shane Wissman – 1d – 2004
Young Kim – 4d – 2020

Sensei:

Howard Kee

Sensei Rank:

6 NSCB

Student:

Jess Strom – 3d – 2019
Valerie Wade – 3d – 2018
Roger Chen – 2d – 2019
Boris Korol – 2d – 2017
Chris Murphy – 2d – 2019

Sensei:

Paul Klara

Sensei Rank:

6 McCurdy

Student:

Michael Hickey – 6d – 2019
Michael Balog – 2d – 2017
Samantha Finley – 2d – 2017

Sensei:

Michael Hickey

Sensei Rank:

6 Klara

Student:

David E. Racine – 4d – 2018
David W. Racine – 3d – 2019
James Boothe – 2d – 2020
Steven Bowman – 2d – 2019
Conner Bowman – 1d – 2015
Jarrett Bowman – 1d – 2016
Scott Coldiron – 1d – 2019
Tyler Hickey – 1d – 2017

Sensei:

Scott Anderson

Sensei Rank:

6 McCurdy

Student:

Gabe Florit – 1d – 2007

Sensei:

Robert Gardner

Sensei Rank:

6 McCurdy

Student:

Edwin Effert – 2d – 1995
Terry Wingler – 2d – 1993
Scott Brown – 1d – 1995
Kevin Cole – 1d – 1989
Hank Hirschman – 1d – 1987
Wiiliam Smith – 1d – 1988

Sensei:

Brian McClernan

Sensei Rank:

5 NSCB

Student:

Darrin Fox – 2d – 2019
Adam Auerback – 1d – 2019
Dominic Calabria – 2d – 2020
Matt Clark – 1d – 2019
Emmanuel Hamwright – 1d – 2017
Dana Aldridge – 3d – 2022

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Budoshin Ju-Jitsu

The Gentle Art of Self-Defense