Master List of 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

​​

Name - School/Affiliation - City, State - Date of promotion to Black Belt

• Steve Maxwell - MaxwellSC - Philadelphia, PA - 11/2000 - No Longer Affiliated

• Scott Devine - Devine Jiu-Jitsu- Brunswick, GA - 3/2003 - No Longer Affiliated

• F M - Relson Gracie - Honolulu - 3/2003

• Jeff Hudson (6th Degree Coral Belt) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 3/2003

• Phil Migliarese (6th Degree) - Balance Studios - Philadelphia, PA - 3rd, 3/2003 - No Longer Affiliated

• Andre Derizans - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI, 3rd, 3/2003 - No Longer Affiliated

• Sam Mahi (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 4/14/2004

• Rick Migliarese (5th Degree) - Balance Studios - Philadelphia, PA - 1st, 2005 - No Longer Affiliated

• Kofi Debrah - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 9/28/2005

• Ronn Shiraki (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI -  6/5/2006

• Kimo Kreis (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy - Kaneohe, HI - 6/5/2006 - No Longer Affiliated

• Phil Cardella (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy Austin - Austin, TX - 6/5/2006 - No Longer Affiliated

• Matt Strack (5th Degree) - Soma Academy - Centerville, OH 6/10/2006 (Black Belt by Pedro Sauer)

• Robin Gieseler (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 8/16/2006 (started 94)

• Mike Onzuka (7th Degree) - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 4/4/2007

• Garth Spendiff - Coastal Combatives Inc - Savannah, Georgia - 8/25/2007 - No Longer Affiliated

• Vince Panzano - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 11/12/2006

• Lionel Perez - North Florida Brazilian jiu-jitsu - Jacksonville, FL - ? - No Longer Affiliated

• Richard Giberson (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy Austin - Austin, TX - 10/8/2007

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

• Toney Waldecker (6th Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy - Sunderland, MD - 4/18/2008

• David Wilson - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/24/2008

• Shawn Chitwood (6th Degree) - Team Chitwood - Columbus, OH - 11/14/2008

• Steve Hordinski (3rd Degree) - Katharo Training Center - Littleton, CO - 1/17/2009 - No Longer Affiliated

• Michael Casey (6th Degree) - Gracie Jiu Jitsu New York - Bronx, NY - 3rd Degree 1/24/2009 (started 1994; opened school 1999)

• Chris Onzuka (6th Degree) - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 2/11/2009

• Shane Agena - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 2/11/2009

• Reyn Morimoto - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI - 2/18/2009

• Todd Tanaka (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team HK Jiu Jitsu - Honolulu, HI - 7/22/2009

• Jay Dennis- Relson Gracie Myrtle Beach South Carolina - 8/9/2009 - No Longer Affiliated

• Rodrigo Salazar - Denver Jiu Jitsu Academy - Denver, CO - 3rd degree 10/24/2009 - No Longer Affiliated

• Heath Wigginton - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, Az - 12/16/2010

• Tony Zara - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/2011

• Matt Rigney - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/2011

• Patrick Madden - Relson Gracie Titusville - Titusville, PA - 6/12/2011

• Mark Kurano - Relson Gracie/Gracie Waikiki - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Jeff Furuta - Relson Gracie/Gracie Uptown - Honolulu, HI - 2nd Degree, 6/22/2011

• Kaleo Auwae (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Josh Lauber (5th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Rhalan Gracie - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Kaleo Hosaka (4th Degree)- Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Gye Nitta - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011

• Jim Hannan - Relson Gracie - Relson Gracie DC - Fairfax county, Va -7/13/2011

• Dan Wallen (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks Academy - Greenville, SC - 7/13/2011

• Tom Feister - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/29/2011

• Stuart Ramos - Team Maryland BJJ, Towson MD, - 12/2/2011

• Paul Kimo Kalaiwaa - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI 2011

• Craig Chitwood - Team Chitwood - Mansfield, OH - 1/20/2012

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

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

• Dave Patton (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks - Sterling, Va - 03/2012

• John-Michael Kaleikini (3rd degree) - Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu, Ormond Beach, FL - 03/26/2012 - No Longer Affiliated

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

• Makena White - Relson Gracie Association Honolulu, HI - 6/6/2012

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

• Christopher R. Laird (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/11/2012

• Christina (Thomas) Del Guidice - Empire Jiu Jitsu - Austin, TX - 6/19/2012 - No Longer Affiliated

• Steven Abood - Tokyo, Japan 8/18/2012 

• Mark Stefanac - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio 2/2/2013

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

• David Tabron - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 5/6/2013

• Tracy Hopkins - Bushido Martial Arts - Columbus, OH - 5/7/2013

• Tony Reel - Relson Gracie Orwell, OH & Relson Gracie Nevada, Las Vegas NV - 5/13/2013

• Kyle Spendiff - Gracie Jiu Jitsu Maryland - Clarksville, MD - 11/1/2013

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

• Robert Moss (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 4/2/2014

• Chris Spicer - Relson Gracie Waco - Waco, TX - May 2014

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

• Jim Thrift (4th Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/18/2014

• Josh Simon (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 10/2/2014 (Black Belt originally awarded by Gracie Barra. First degree awarded by Relson - 3/6/2017)

• Scott Phillips - Danger Academy / Wylie, Tx. 1/15/2015

• Marco Moreno - The Basics Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - Leesburg, Virginia 03/27/2015

• Michael Cassesa - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Gilbert, Arizona 3/28/2015

• Nick Goldizen - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio 3/28/2015

• Rod Amano - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI 8/26/2015 - No Longer Affiliated

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

• George Mathai (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas 9/2/2015

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

• Jason Dodd - Global Mixed Martial Arts Academy - Gainesville, Florida - 2015 - No Longer Affiliated

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

• Ron Aderhold - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/2016

• Doug Kalin - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/2016

• Dave Futa - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 5/17/2016

• Mike Tran (3rd Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/14/2016

• AJ Mendoza - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 11/25/2016 - No Longer Affiliated

• Drew Arthur - Relson Gracie Tyler / Lone Star MMA Academy, Tyler TX - 1/1/2017

• Desmond Thain - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 11/28/2017 - No Longer Affiliated

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

• 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

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

• 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

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

• John O'Brien - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu NY- Bronx, NY - 11/14/2018

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

• 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

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

• Brad Bukovics - Relson Gracie Orwell - Orwell, OH - 3/23/2019

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

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

• Julio Lima - Relson Gracie Curitiba - BRAZIL - 4/27/2019

• Michael Stewart Jr. - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia Maryland - 4/27/2019

• 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

• Chad Kam - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 11/27/2019

• Phil Clark - Phil Clark's Martial Arts Academy/Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Kentucky - Ashland, KY - 12/10/2019

• Shane Saito - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI - 4/17/2021

• 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

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

• 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

• Norbert Schaller - 6/16/2021

•  

• Johnathan Bolton - Relson (Under Sam Mahi) - Honolulu, HI - 6/20/2022

• Glenn Tillman - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 7/12/2022

• Tom Norris - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 7/12/2022

• Cody Lewis - Relson Gracie Orwell (Under Tony Reel & Brad Bukovics) - Orwell, OH - 8/26/2022

• Jaroslav "Yoda" Botka - Good Karma Jiu-Jitsu Academy (under Pat Madden) Meadville, PA - 9/15/2023

• Dr. James Scoggins - Relson RSA - Honolulu, HI - 8/25/2023

• ​

​

• 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

​