For both Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu students, we are always evaluating the progress of our students yearound, but twice a year we do formal promotions where students can move up in rank of their belt level in Jiu Jitsu or their pradjiat (arm band) in Muay Thai. A student can move up in rank by a stripe on either their pradjiat or belt at any time throughout the year, but moving up to the next level of rank is reserved for one of either spring or winter promotions at the end of the year.
This year we have seen a tremendous increase in the progression of all the students at Hellfish Mixed Martial Arts in both the Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu programs. In Muay Thai we have not only seen improvements in technical ability, but students have lost weight, and achieved a level of physical fitness they never thought they could before while at the same time learning the invaluable skill of self defense. We even had a couple of students get into the ring to test their skills at the WKA Muay Thai National Championship.
In Jiu Jitsu we have seen the students skills growing by leaps and bounds. Many students have competed successfully this year in various tournaments. Almost all of the Jiu Jitsu students moved up the ranks by a stripe and several students moved up a belt level including 7 Blue Belts, 2 Purple Belts, and 2 Brown belts.
While it feels good to be recognized for all of your hard work in class by getting promoted, the goal of training is not and should never be focused on getting stripes, armbands, or belts, but on the acquisition of new skills and improvement of existing skills in the never ending pursuit of mastery of the martial arts.
