Bushido Judo & Ju-Jitsu Academy Burlington Promotions 9/7/24

I'll be honest, I almost teared up a bit. Today I had the honor of promotiong some of my Judo students in Burlington. Next year in March I will have been training in Judo for 40 years. I've trained many many people over they years. Many leave, a few hang around and sometimes some come back. For me... There is no greater honor than being someone's Sensei.... a part of their life's journey, seeing them grow up in judo, getting invited to school functions, graduations, weddings, and unfortuantely... sometimes even funerals.

Some say, "Home is where the heart is". I say, "The dojo is where the spirit it". The Burlington training sessions may be small but the spirit can be felt by any who attend, on and off the mat.

Brynden has been with Bushido for only a little while. His dad use to train here when he was a kid. A former "couch potatoe", Brandon has dedicated to becoming more active in his Judo training. He earned his first Yellow stripe.

Charlie's level of interest in learing martial arts. As a teenager, he competes against people of all ages in Judo, BJJ and Sambo. Charlies respect and honor belies his age and it hard to find a more humble and respectful Judoka. He earned his 3rd Degree Brown Belt.

Tyler was with Bushido as a teenager. He went into the military and has rejoined us recently as an adult, but as I told him before, it's like he never left. Tyler respects and remembers the "days of old", when a dojo was a dojo and not looked at as "just a gym". HIs respect for his sensei, dojo and fellow Judoka is above par. I'm proud of the Young man he has grown into and I'm glad he is back with Bushido.

I have more promotions coming up and this isn't meant to take away from the hard work of any other students of Bushido, but for now... these three.... this is their moment - Sensei Darian Stokes.