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Black Belt Roster

[updated April, 2023]

bjjyblack4in2011

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.

Left to right: Glenda Perl [to 2nd], Steven Castorena [to 5th], Byron Davis [to 4th], and Michael Langewisch [to 4th] receive their black belt promotional certificates in 1917.


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:
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 – 3d – 2021
           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
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


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