On Friday, October 9, Alliance BJJ Houston gathered for a special occasion: a black belt promotion ceremony celebrating years of dedication, perseverance, and personal growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Receiving a black belt is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
Earning a black belt is one of the most significant milestones in a practitioner’s journey. It represents far more than technical ability or time spent on the mats. It reflects the countless hours of training, the challenges overcome, the lessons learned through failure, and the commitment required to continue growing both on and off the mats.
Professor Danny Duckworth led the seminar and had the honor of promoting not just the academy’s newest black belts but members he had taught when he was the instructor of the 8 a.m. class at Alliance BJJ Houston.
A Seminar with Professor Danny Duckworth
The event began with a seminar led by Professor Danny Duckworth, giving attendees the opportunity to learn, refine their technique, and spend time training together before the promotions began.
Professor Danny guided the class through several techniques and positions, including closed guard with a modified Brabo grip, worm guard, closed guard variations, and arm traps.
The practitioners being promoted laid out on the mats as their teammates took turns rolling with them. The session lasted around 20 minutes, allowing everyone an opportunity to share a round with the soon-to-be-promoted students and celebrate their accomplishments in the way Jiu-Jitsu practitioners know best: through training.
Among the memorable moments was an especially adorable appearance by Kailee Crossey’s four-year-old daughter, who jumped onto the mats to roll with her soon-to-be-black-belt mom. Wearing a pink gi, she joined in the celebration and shared a sweet moment with Kailee.
Celebrating Progress: Blue, Purple, and Brown Belt Promotions
Following the seminar and rolling session, the promotion ceremony began. Professor Danny Duckworth started by recognizing former students from his time teaching the 8 a.m. class at Alliance BJJ Houston.
Matthew Stano — Blue Belt
The first promotion of the ceremony was Matthew Stano, who earned his blue belt. The transition from white belt to blue belt marks an important stage in a practitioner’s development. It reflects a growing understanding of fundamental techniques, improved positional awareness, and the ability to begin connecting individual movements into a more cohesive game.
Philip Ngo — Purple Belt
Next, Philip Ngo was promoted to purple belt. The purple belt represents a significant stage of development in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By this point, practitioners have spent considerable time refining their fundamentals, discovering their individual styles, and learning to approach techniques with greater creativity and understanding.
Moving to the purple belt is not simply about accumulating more techniques. It also reflects the ability to connect concepts, recognize opportunities, and develop a more complete approach to grappling.
Josh Matlock — Brown Belt
The next promotion recognized Josh Matlock, who advanced from purple belt to brown belt. Josh has been a member of Alliance BJJ Houston since 2016, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to his training. Throughout the years, he has continued to make time for Jiu-Jitsu while balancing the demanding responsibilities of his career as a firefighter.
His work has taken him beyond Texas, including deployments to assist with wildfires in other states. In 2025, he was among those whose professional responsibilities connected them to the major wildfire response efforts in California. Even with a career that requires considerable time, energy, and sacrifice, Josh has continued to pursue his development on the mats whenever possible.
His promotion is a testament to the importance of consistency, even when life does not make training easy. Not every practitioner has the luxury of attending class every day, and progress does not always follow a predictable timeline. What matters is the willingness to return, continue learning, and make the most of every opportunity to train.
“If you’re looking for a second family, this is the place.”
Josh Matlock
The Journey to Black Belt: More Than a Rank
Many people begin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with one goal in mind: earning a black belt. A black belt is not simply something awarded for attending class for a certain number of years. It is built through consistent effort, perseverance, technical development, and a genuine understanding of the art. Time on the mats matters, but time alone does not make a black belt.
Earning a black belt means moving beyond simply memorizing techniques or repeating movements during drills. It means understanding the mechanics behind each technique, recognizing why certain movements work, and learning how to adapt when an opponent presents a different challenge. It requires being mentally present during training, listening to instructors, learning from training partners, and continually examining one’s own weaknesses.
The journey demands patience, discipline, humility, and the willingness to keep showing up week after week, even when progress feels slow or it seems as though you are starting over.
There will be difficult rounds, frustrating plateaus, and moments when the techniques that once seemed familiar no longer work as expected. There will be losses that reveal weaknesses and challenges that force practitioners to rethink what they thought they knew. Those moments are not signs of failure. They are part of the process.
A black belt represents the culmination of these lessons, but it also carries a responsibility. The rank is not merely a declaration of technical achievement; it is an opportunity to lead by example, support others, and represent the art with respect and integrity.
From Brown Belt to Black Belt: Kailee Crossey
The first black belt promotion of the ceremony was Kailee Crossey. As Professor Danny Duckworth tied Kailee’s new black belt around her waist, he reflected on his time teaching her and shared a story about an opportunity she had received a year earlier.
Kailee had been given the chance to receive her black belt from a former professor in Colorado, where she had originally learned the art. Before making her decision, she approached Professor Danny for advice, wanting to know whether she was ready to take that next step.
His response was simple but meaningful: “If you’re asking the question, then you know the answer.” A year later, Kailee stood on the mats at Alliance BJJ Houston and finally received the promotion that represented growth and dedication.
Her achievement was especially significant because of the role she has taken on within the academy. Kailee has stepped up as an instructor. She now teaches the Tiny Eagles program for children ages three to five, as well as the 11 a.m. classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. She also co-instructs the 8 a.m. classes with Professor Martin Ochoa on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Following her promotion, Kailee addressed the audience and shared stories about her beginnings in martial arts. For readers interested in learning more about her background and her transition from Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, be sure to check out the previous blog post.
Her speech also became an emotional moment as she reflected on the medical scares she experienced during her fighting career. She spoke about suffering a heart attack and how, even immediately afterward, she was already thinking about her next fight.
Her story offered a powerful glimpse into the determination that has shaped her life in martial arts. It also served as a reminder that the journey to black belt is rarely a straight line. It is shaped by personal challenges, difficult decisions, unexpected setbacks, and the determination to keep moving forward.
Kailee’s promotion celebrated not only her technical accomplishments but also her continued commitment to teaching, learning, and contributing to the Alliance BJJ Houston community.
From Coach to Professor: Jeremy Woodin
The second black belt promotion of the ceremony was Jeremy Woodin. Professor John Garza shared a few memories of his first impressions of Jeremy from when John was teaching the 6 a.m. class. One detail stood out in particular: Jeremy’s energy and enthusiasm, even at such an early hour.
While most people were still waking up, Jeremy arrived ready to train, bringing an excitement that Professor John remembered vividly. His enthusiasm made an impression.
Today, Jeremy has taken on the responsibility of teaching the 6 a.m. classes on Mondays and Fridays. His promotion from coach to professor represents an important continuation of that journey, recognizing not only his development as a practitioner but also his role in helping others improve.
After receiving his black belt, Professor Jeremy Woodin gave a speech reflecting on his first impressions of Alliance BJJ Houston and the people he met when he began training. His reflections highlighted the importance of the community that welcomes new students, builds lasting relationships, and helps practitioners remain committed through the challenges of training.
For many people, the academy becomes more than a place to exercise or learn a martial art. It becomes a community of people who share difficult experiences, celebrate each other’s progress, and encourage one another to keep going.
Yuta Tamura: A Competitor’s Perspective
The final person promoted that evening was Yuta Tamura, who began his journey at Alliance as a white belt in 2018. As Professor Danny Duckworth tied the black belt around Yuta’s waist, he shared his memories of Yuta’s journey, speaking with pride.
Afterward, Yuta invited everyone to sit down as he began his own speech. He started by reflecting on how he first got into the sport and the realization that being athletic does not automatically translate to being good at Jiu-Jitsu. Drawing from his background in breakdancing, he described the challenges of finding his own style and figuring out his game until everything finally clicked.
He encouraged everyone to find a training partner who could help them develop and refine their game, as Zach Angeles had done for him. Yuta affectionately referred to Zach as his “Jiu-Jitsu boyfriend,” encouraging everyone to find their own “Jiu-Jitsu boyfriend” or “Jiu-Jitsu girlfriend”—someone they could work with, share ideas with, and develop a similar style alongside.
From there, Yuta shifted to sharing his perspective as a competitor. He spoke candidly about the guilt and stress that came with feeling responsible for winning. Every victory eventually became an expectation, and what once felt like an accomplishment began to feel like an obligation.
After the birth of his daughter, Yuta reflected on the possibility of having just one more fight. This time, however, his mindset was different. He went into the competition without expecting to win and, for the first time, released himself from the pressure and expectations he had carried for so long. By letting go of that weight, he was able to perform freely. In doing so, Yuta became a world champion.
Yuta teaches Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. His class provides an opportunity for students to continue developing their technical understanding, explore their individual games, and learn from someone who has experienced the dedication and challenges required to reach the highest levels of competition.
For students looking to sharpen their skills, develop a more complete game, and gain insight from a world champion, Yuta’s Wednesday evening class is an opportunity to learn directly from him.
A Celebration Beyond the Mats
No celebration would be complete without good food, and attendees were treated to an impressive selection of snacks, meals, and desserts generously provided by Nancy Truong Tamura and Cristina Salva.
Nancy provided an açaí stand that gave guests the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing treat throughout the event. There was also a beautifully arranged platter featuring a variety of fruits and cheeses, alongside tacos, egg rolls, and crab rangoon.
Cristina added a personal touch to the celebration with delicious sugar cookies decorated with charming designs that complemented the atmosphere of the ceremony. Guests could also enjoy cupcakes in a variety of flavors, including vanilla and banana chai.
These thoughtful contributions were a reminder that the strength of an academy is not measured solely by the skills developed on the mats. It is also reflected in the people who contribute their time, effort, and generosity to make special occasions meaningful for everyone involved.
Special Thanks
Alliance BJJ Houston extends its sincere appreciation to Professor Martin Ochoa, Tommy Dougherty, and Yuta Tamura for assisting with the belt testing of Matthew Stano, Philip Ngo, and Josh Matlock.
A heartfelt thank-you to Nancy Truong Tamura and Cristina Salva for providing the food, desserts, and drinks, as well as beautifully decorating the gym. Thanks also go to Melanie Dougherty for photographing the special moments of the event, and to Marco Resendez for ordering the belts and certificates to symbolize each practitioner’s transition to the next level of experience.
Congratulations to everyone who got promoted: Matthew Stano, Philip Ngo, Josh Matlock, Jeremy Woodin, Kailee Crossey, and Yuta Tamura!
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated this special occasion. Your support, time, and presence helped make this event truly memorable! Thank you all for being part of this achievement!