Black Belts under Relson

There are many black belts given by Relson across his career. His reputation is for being very hard on promotions, often taking 10-15+ years to attain black belt level. Here are all of the known black belts and their promotion dates, where known: Name - School/Affiliation - City, State - Date of promotion to Black Belt

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• Jeff Hudson - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 3/2003 [12]

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• Andre Derizans - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI, 3rd, 3/2003 (No longer affiliated)

                  Kayle Quinn - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 5/30/2012

                  Makena White - Relson Gracie Association Honolulu, HI - 6/6/12

• Sam Mahi (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie -Honolulu, HI - 4/14/04

                  Paul Kimo Kalaiwaa - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI 2011

                  David Caraulia - Relson Gracie - Waterfront - Honolulu, HI - 02/26/2019

                  Johnathan C. Bolton - Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Hawaii - Honolulu, HI - 6/20/2022​

• Kofi Debrah - Relson Gracie - 9/28/05

• Robin Gieseler - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2006 (started 94) 

• Ronn Shiraki (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI - 6/5/06 

                 Reyn Morimoto - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI - 2/18/09

                 Mark Kurano - Relson Gracie/Gracie Waikiki - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11

                 Gye Nitta - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11 [28]

                 Christopher R. Laird - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/11/2012

                 Brad Scott - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI -6/11/2012

                 Dave Futa - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 5/17/16

                 Mitchell Johnson - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/18/2018

                 Phil Baltunado - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/26/2018

                 Justin Nihei - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/26/2018

                 Carter Lee - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/8/2019

                 Shane Nakagawara - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/8/2019

                 Antonio Criado - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/8/2019

                 Kalani Pacyau - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI -10/8/2019

                 Neil Verbrugge - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/18/2022​

• Mike Onzuka (7th Degree) - o2 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 4/4/07

• Vince Panzano - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - ?

• Richard Giberson (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy Austin - Austin, TX - 10/8/07

• Nathan Zigler - (6th Degree) - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 1/26/2008

                Heath Wigginton - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, Az - 12/16/10

                Eric Smith- Relson Gracie- Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ 2/2/2016

                Blayne Barlow - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 03/20/2018

                Conor Waffle - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 03/20/2018

                Dan Radoff - (1st Degree)Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 03/20/2018

                Michael Morales - Relson Gracie- Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ - 03/20/2018

                Josh Harrold - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019

                Jack Notebaert - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019

                Seta Reupenny - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019 (Gracie Arizona's 1st and Relson's 2nd                                  Female Black Belt)

               Juan Berumen - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019

                Doug Moore  -Relson Gracie-Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ 1/28/2012

                Adrian Berumen - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019

• Toney Waldecker (6th Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy - Sunderland, MD - 4/18/08 [21][22]

                        Stuart Ramos - Team Maryland BJJ, Towson MD, - 12/2/11 [31]

                        Isaac Ike Haertel - Kogen Dojo-Relson Gracie - Severna Park, MD - 02/27/2018

                        John Gilbert - Relson Gracie - Columbia, MD - 11/9/2018

                        Michael Stewart jr.- Rising Tide Academy - Columbia Maryland - 4/27/19

                        Jordan Stewart - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, Maryland - 06/12/2021

                        Naqi Sayed - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, Maryland - 06/12/2021

                        Stephen Miller - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, Maryland - 06/12/2021

                        Dwayne Bowie - Kogen Dojo - Severna Park, Maryland - 06/12/2021

• David Wilson - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/24/08

• Shawn Chitwood - Team Chitwood - Columbus, OH - 11/14/08

• Michael Casey - Gracie Jiu Jitsu New York - Bronx, NY - 3rd Degree 1/24/09 (started 1994; opened school 1999)     

                      John O'Brien - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu NY- Bronx, NY - 11/14/2018. First student of www.gracieny.com​

• Chris Onzuka (6th Degree) - o2 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 2/11/09

                Kaleo Auwae (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11

                               Chad Kam - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 11/27/19

                Kaleo Hosaka (3rd Degree)- Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy -Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11

                Robert Moss (2nd Degree)- Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 4/2/2014

                Christopher Slavens - Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI 12/27/2017

                Travis Kashiwa (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI 12/27/2017

                Andrew Kawada - Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI 12/27/2017

                Grant Arakawa (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie o2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI 12/27/2017

• Shane Agena - o2 Martial Arts Academy/Uptown Jiu-Jitsu - Aiea, HI - 2/11/09

• Todd Tanaka (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team HK Jiu Jitsu - Honolulu, HI - 7/22/09

                  Brad Nakamura - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI -  

                  Kevin Tang - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI - 12/9/2017

                  Zachary Pang - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI 12/27/2017

                  Shane Saito - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI - ​

• Tony Zara - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/11

• Matt Rigney - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/11

• Jeff Furuta - Relson Gracie/Gracie Uptown - Honolulu, HI - 2nd Degree, 6/22/11 [26]

• Josh Lauber (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11 [28] 

                       George Mathai (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas 9/2/15

                       Steve Salas - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 06/03/2021

                       Mark Sanchez - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 06/03/2021

                       Victor Ramos - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 06/03/2021

                       Michael Campos - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 06/03/2021

                       Michael Delgado - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 06/03/2021

• Rhalan Gracie - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/11

• Jim Hannan - Relson Gracie - Relson Gracie DC - Fairfax county, Va -7/13/11

• Dan Wallen (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks Academy - Greenville, SC - 7/13/11

• Tom Feister - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/29/11

• Craig Chitwood- Team Chitwood - Mansfield, OH - 1/20/12

• Shane Briggs - Legion Martial Arts - Little River, SC - January 21, 2012

• Dave Patton (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks - Sterling, Va - 03/12

• Steven Abood - Tokyo, Japan 8/18/12

• Mark Stefanac - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio 2/2/13

• Neil Chitwood - Team Chitwood - Lexington, OH 4/6/2013

• David Tabron - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 5/6/13

• Tracy Hopkins - Bushido Martial Arts - Columbus, OH - 5/7/13

• Kyle Spendiff - Gracie Jiu Jitsu Maryland - Clarksville, MD - 11/1/13

• Jerry Brewer- Gracie Charleston-Charleston, SC-12/03/2013

• Greg Bartman - Bartman MMA and Self-Defense - Silver Spring, MD - 5/13/2014

                           Tori Garten - Bartman MMA and Self-Defense - Silver Spring, MD 3/27/2019

• Jim Thrift (3rd Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/18/2014

                           Mike Tran (1st Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/14/2016                        

                           Seth Caron - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 3/28/2019

• Josh Simon (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 10/2/14 (Black Belt originally awarded by Gracie Barra. First degree awarded by Relson - 3/6/17)

• Scott Phillips - Danger Academy / Wylie, Tx. 1/15/15

• Marco Moreno - The Basics Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - Leesburg, Virginia 03/27/15

• Michael Cassesa - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio 3/28/15

• Nick Goldizen - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio 3/28/15

• Gabriel Obiedo (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie Austin - Austin, Texas 09/02/2015

• Paul Joyner - Relson Gracie 601 - Meridian, Ms 11/11/2015

• Jason Dodd - Global Mixed Martial Arts Academy - Gainesville, Fl - 2015

• Ron Aderhold - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/16

• Doug Kalin - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/16

• Drew Arthur - Relson Gracie Tyler / Lone Star MMA Academy, (GracieTyler.com)Tyler TX - 1/1/2017

• Patrick Gaul Jr. (1st Degree) - Team No Quarter - Greenville, SC - 02/22/2018

• Eric Olson - Gracie Combat - Ashburn, VA - 02/22/2018

• James Watkins - Relson Gracie - Relson Gracie - 03/24/2018

• Julio Lima - Relson Gracie Curitiba - BRAZIL - 4/27/19

• Phil Clark - Phil Clark's Martial Arts Academy/Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Kentucky - Ashland, KY - 12/10/19

• Ivelin Ivanov - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Austin - Austin, TX - 06/03/2021

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• Names highlighted in RED = All promotions White Belt - Black Belt under Relson

• Names in BLACK = Tested and Awarded Black Belt by Relson

• Names in BLUE = Awarded Black Belt under their Instructor

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