Martial artists advance

SPARTA – The hard work of 18 local martial artists was rewarded recently when Miller Brothers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) & Fitness in Sparta held a promotion seminar. The gym’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) students gathered together for the two-hour-long event on a June 21 and cheered for the students whose efforts in recent months had earned them new stripes or, in the case of two students, new belt ranks.
The night began with an hour of drilling and instruction from Miller Brothers MMA’s head BJJ Professor Sean “Shorty Rock” Santella, who was assisted by guest instruction from Sparta’s own UFC stars Dan and Jim Miller. The students then got time to enjoy some full-speed grappling with teammates before the promotions began. The new ranks earned by the 18 students receiving promotions represent months of practice on the mats, and everyone in attendance ensured that each student was greeted with a hearty round of applause when the student was called forward to receive a new rank.
The night was capped off by a special treat to commemorate coach Moe Johnson, who helps to teach the children in the gym’s Little Spartans youth martial arts program. Johnson received his brown belt, the rank immediately below black belt, and as is traditional for higher belt promotions took part in a “gauntlet” grappling one round each with every purple belt, brown belt and black belt in attendance. Johnson grappled with three fellow students followed by five members of the Miller Brothers MMA coaching staff, grappling for nearly 30-minutes. By the end Johnson was very tired, but very happy to have earned his brown belt in style.
The promoted students now look forward to an upcoming BJJ tournament the team will be participating in this August in Wildwood, NJ, where they can put their new-and-improved skills to the test against students from other gyms.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling martial art, similar to wrestling with the addition of submission moves, and the removal of victory by pinning. Due to its use of controls and escapes on the ground, BJJ is also an effective form of self-defense.
The promoted students were: Jacob Janosko and Kyle O'Sullivan, White Belt First Stripe; John Morgan, Josh Wagner, Jon Finocchiaro, Mike Kozlowsky, and Zach Briggs, White Belt Second Stripe; Christie Frazier and Tom Kelly, White Belt Third Stripe; Mike Amada, White Belt Fourth Stripe; Alex Thebold, promoted to Yellow Belt; Brooke Fahey, Orange Belt First Stripe; Tyler Bayer and Ken Powell, Blue Belt First Stripe; Frank Wallace, Blue Belt Third Stripe; Moe Johnson, promoted to Brown Belt; Abdel Escalante, Brown Belt First Stripe; Mike Pagano, Brown Belt Second Stripe
Located in Sparta, NJ, Miller Brothers MMA & Fitness is a martial arts and fitness gym. With classes for all ages and skill levels, in a variety of arts including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai Kick Boxing and Boxing, as well as a Cardio Kick Boxing and Ultimate Fitness Program, Miller Brothers MMA & Fitness has something for everyone. To learn more about Miller Brothers MMA & Fitness, visit millerbrothersmma.com, or call 862-268-0660 to schedule a free trial lesson.