Hey everyone! I’ve got some exciting news to share from Haven Jiu Jitsu. This past Saturday, January 6th, was a super special day for us. We held our very first black belt promotions, and it was amazing!
Meet Our New Black Belts!
Four of our top-notch members – Dan Dantuano, Brett Hass, Marty Baranski, and Dickie White – earned their black belts. That’s a huge deal in Jiu Jitsu, and we’re super proud of them. They’ve worked really hard and it’s awesome to see them reach this level.
Learning from the Best
Each of these new black belts shared their skills with us. They each did a short, 20-minute seminar on different Jiu Jitsu techniques. It was cool to see their unique styles and learn something new from each of them.
A Special Moment
The big moment was when Ben Tallini, our amazing instructor, stepped up and awarded the black belts. It was a proud and emotional moment for everyone. Seeing these guys receive their belts after all their hard work was really something special.
A Full House
We had a fantastic turnout for the event. Students from all kinds of different schools came to join in. It was great to see so many people from the Jiu Jitsu community come together to support our members.
More Than Just Promotions
We also did something really great for the community. Alongside the promotions, we ran a fundraiser for The Haven Initiative. It’s our non-profit that helps at-risk youths. And guess what? We raised nearly $1400! That’s almost three times our goal of $500. I’m blown away by everyone’s generosity.
A Day to Remember
This was more than just a ceremony. It was a day filled with learning, celebration, and community spirit. A huge congrats to Dan, Brett, Marty, and Dickie – our new black belts. And a big thank you to everyone who came out and supported the event and the fundraiser. You all made it a day to remember!
Keep rolling, everyone! 
