A NUMBER of Hereford Combat Academy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players have achieved belt promotions.
The sport has four belt promotions, from the beginner's white belt through blue, purple, brown and black.
Promotion from white to blue belt takes on average three years of training with a total of eight-10 years to achieve the coveted black belt. It is based on ability to perform the skills of the sport in competition - if students can not win fights, they will not be promoted.
Academy coach Simon Small, who has competed at blue belt level for several years, taking medals in the Pan Americans, Europeans and a bronze medal at the World Masters Championships in Brazil, has been promoted to purple belt.
Assistant Academy coach Emma Baker and her father Pat have been promoted to blue belt while Andy Blanchard and Nick Hughes have been promoted to one-stripe white belt, Neil Preedy and Dan Buckley to two-stripe white belt and Chris Konieczny and Andrew Dudley to three-stripe white belt.
The promotions were made following a seminar at the Combat Academy by Braulio Estima.
A black belt from the Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Estima is a World champion and four-times Pan American champion.
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