Serra BJJ welcomed close friend, 3rd-degree BJJ black belt and UFC, Pride and Pancrase veteran Ricardo Almeida to the Huntington academy on Saturday, May 14, for a three-hour seminar that packed the mats. It was an honor and pleasure to learn from Ricardo, who showcased slick techniques that prove why he’s one of the best BJJ fighters in the world.

With energy and spirits high from the seminar, Matt and Nicky took advantage of the momentum and announced some huge promotions.

Congratulations to all of Serra BJJ’s new belts:

• John “Convict J” Larosa and Michelle “Maldo” Maldonado, who were awarded their blue belts
• Steve “Stevie Stones” Elizarde, who climbed the ranks to purple
• Billy “Billy Tats” Bottone and Vincent “Polar Bear” D’Agostino, who were given their brown belts

Last but not least, earning the prestigious rank of “official Jedi” are Serra Jiu Jitsu’s newest BLACK BELTS:

Franky “Bam Bam” Oyague, who began training at Serra BJJ when he was 13 years old, and immediately earned the nickname Bam Bam because of his grown-up stature.

Ron Witkowski, a dedicated student whose role as an admired and respected instructor is an asset to the academy.

Rich “Bolo” Lau, who has been with Serra academy since the Barn days, and continues to train passionately over a decade later.

A heartfelt thank you to Ricardo for hosting the seminar, and sharing in the Serra BJJ promotions. And to all of our loyal Huntington and East Meadow students: thank you for once again supporting the spirit that defines Serra BJJ. It’s always uplifting and inspiring to see both schools join together in celebration of the Serra BJJ family and its students’ accomplishments.