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PANCRASE Mixed Martial Arts 

 

Belt Ranks

Black Belt Degrees

"Modern Martial Arts With Traditional Values"

 

Recent Promotions

 

 

 

Pancrase Mixed Martial Arts belt rank and degree recipients have demonstrated a high proficiency in many of the world's most effective fighting arts  (Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, No-Gi Submission Grappling, Boxing, Thai Kickboxing). 

 

Each recipient has been tested and demonstrated the ability to combine these techniques into an effective fighting system for self-defense or competition.

 

 

* Belt rank testing and certifications are conducted by Pancrase Black Belts.

 

* The PANCRASE PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE advises and helps determine rank promotion criteria.  Members provides oversight to ensure high standards and ethics.

 

* The PANCRASE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE administers the issuance of belt ranks, black belt degrees, instructor, coach, trainer, and fight officials' certifications and licensing.  Commissioners provide oversight at sanctioned events to insure fighter safety, compliance with regulations and sportsmanship.

 

 


 

 

 Adult Belt Ranks

 

 White Belt:

Beginner level, then advancing 1st through 4th stripe

 

 Blue Belt:

Intermediate level, then advancing 1st through 4th stripe

 

 Purple Belt:

Advanced-Intermediate level, then 1st through 4th stripe

 

 Brown Belt:

Advanced level,  then 1st through 4th stripe. Recipients must be 18 years or older

 

 

 

 Black Belt Degrees 

 

 Black Belt:

1st degree - Expert Level. Black Belts recipients must be 18 years or older.

 

 Black Belt:

2nd degree - Instructor of Mixed Martial Arts.

 

 Black Belt:

3rd, 4th degree - Professor of Mixed Martial Arts

5th, 6th degree - Senior Professor of Mixed Martial Arts

 

 Coral Belt:

7th, 8th degree - Master of Mixed Martial Arts (recipients may wear Black Belt or Coral -  Black/Red Belt)

 

 Red Belt:

9th, 10th degree - Grand Master of Mixed Martial Arts

   

 

Belt images by J.D. Collins

 

 

 

 Average Time To Achieve Belt Rank With Consistent Training 

 

Pancrase Martial Artists who display exceptional abilities or distinguish themselves through competition, additional training or other accomplishments may be promoted at an accelerated rate.

 

 

White Belt:

1 year to achieve 4th stripe ranking

 

Blue Belt:

1 to 2 years

 

Purple Belt:

3 to 5 years 

 

Brown Belt:

6 to 8 years 

 

Black Belt l: 

8 to 10 years to achieve first degree

 

 

 

 Active Black Belts Are Considered For Promotion As Follows 

 

Black Belt l - 5:

1st to 5th degree - eligible for promotion every three (3) years.

 

Black Belt 5 - 7:

5th to 7th degree - eligible for promotion every five (5) years. 

 

Black Belt 7 - 9:

7th to 9th degree - eligible for promotion every seven (7) years.

 

Red Belt 9 - 10:

9th to 10th degree  - eligible for promotion after ten (10) years.

 

 

 

 Certifications are awarded in four categories 

 

Fighter:     

Recipient has competed in Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo or Submission Grappling type competitions.

 

Self-Defense:

Police and military applications, personal protection, recreational.

 

Technical:

Instructor, Coach, Trainer, Cornerman, Referee, Judge.

 

Honorary:

Recipient has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of Pancrase Martial Arts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PANCRASE MMA

CERTIFIED BELT RANK &  DEGREE RECIPIENTS

 

 


BLACK BELT DEGREE RECIPIENTS


 

 

8th Degree Coral Belt Recipients

Master of Mixed Martial Arts

Awarded December 1, 2004

Master Ricardo Murgel (BR/USA)

Pancrase Deputy Commissioner, Fighter

Master Ricardo Murgel

9th Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Grand Master

 

 

 

 

 

7th Degree Coral Belt Recipients

Master of Mixed Martial Arts

Awarded June 1, 2011

Master Sheldon Marr (USA)

Instructor, Referee, Fighter, Olympian

Master Sheldon Marr

Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th Degree Black Belt Recipients

Senior Professor of Mixed Martial Arts

  Awarded January 01, 2023

Awarded June 01, 2018

Awarded November 01, 2014
 

Professor James Wright (USA)

Instructor, Fighter

Black Belt BJJ

Pancrase Black Belt James Wright

4th deg. awarded 06-22-2021

3rd deg. awarded 06-22-2018

2nd deg. awarded 11-01-2014

Black belt awarded 06-01-2011

Brown belt awarded 01-09-2010

Purple belt awarded 10-27-2007

Blue belt awarded 02-03-2005

Jerry Roeder (Maj. USMC Ret.) (USA)

Worlds 1st Marine MMA Fighter Instructor

Professor Jerry Roeder

4th deg. awarded 11-01-2014

3rd deg. awarded 10-25-2011

2nd deg. awarded 10-19-2008

1st deg. awarded 01-02-2000

 

Professor Billy Hendricks (USA)

Instructor, Referee, Judge, Fighter

 

4th deg. awarded 10-25.2011

3rd deg. awarded 08-01-2007

2nd deg. awarded 03-13-2001

1st deg. awarded 11-02-1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th Degree Black Belt Recipients

Professor of Mixed Martial Arts

   

Awarded October 01, 2019

Awarded October 01, 2019
   

Professor James Hill (USA)

 Instructor, Referee, Judge, Fighter

5th Black Belt BJJ

Professor Ron Hill (USA)

Instructor, Referee, Judge, Fighter

5th Black Belt BJJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Degree Black Belt Recipients

Professor of Mixed Martial Arts

Awarded June 2024

Awarded  September 01, 2018

Nate Feldman (USA)

Fighter

Red Tab Coach 11-09-2014

2nd deg. awarded 06-01-2021

Black belt awarded 06-01-2018

Brown belt awarded 06-30-2017

Purple belt awarded 11-09-2014

Blue belt awarded 09-30-2012

Enrique Watson (USA)

Instructor, Fighter

Black Belt BJJ

 

2nd deg. awarded 01-30-2016

Black Belt  awarded  6-30-2012 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Degree Black Belt Recipients

Instructor of Mixed Martial Arts

Awarded June 01, 2021 Awarded  June 22, 2018

Awarded April 01, 2013

Awarded March 13, 2001

 

Jeff Morris (USA)

Fighter

Black belt awarded 10-17-2015

Brown belt awarded 07-20-2013

Purple belt awarded 06-27-2011

Blue belt awarded 04-04-2011

Luigi Fioravanti (USA)

"The  Italian Tank"

UFC Fighter, Instructor

Black Belt BJJ

Nathan Marquardt (USA)

"Nate The Great"

7X King of Pancrase, UFC Fighter, Instructor 

2nd Black Belt BJJ

Pancrase Black Belt ll Nate Marquardt

Black belt 1st deg. awarded 11-02-98

 

 

 

 

 

1st Degree Black Belt Recipients

Expert - Mixed Martial Arts

Awarded March 22,25 Awarded March 22, 2025 Awarded March 31, 2023 Awarded January 24, 2021
Allen Bose

Aaron Klein (USA)

Fighter

Brown belt awarded 04-01-2023

Purple belt awarded 01-24-2021

Micah "The Gremlin" Stockton

Fighter

 

Bryson “Alexander” Morgan

Fighter

 

 


Awarded January 24, 2021 Awarded January 24, 2021 Awarded December 12, 2018

Awarded August 01, 2018

Bradley Desir

Fighter

 

 

Derrick Lambert

Fighter

Purple Belt awarded 09-06-2015

Ryan Sutton (USA)

Fighter

 

Brown belt awarded 03-23-2014

Chase Owens (USA)
Fighter

Black Belt BJJ

Brown belt awarded 11-01-2014

Purple belt awarded 10-26-2011

Blue belt awarded 10-12-2009

 

 

 

 

Awarded March 30, 2017

Awarded December 22, 2012

Awarded August 1, 2004

Brian Mendez (USA)

Fighter

Black Belt BJJ

sgt_mendez.jpg (13240 bytes)

Brown belt awarded 11-22-2008

Jeffrey Malott (USA)

Technical / Referee / Judge

Tyrone Lynch  (JPN)

Honorary

ty.jpg (9686 bytes)

 

 

 

 

Awarded January 1, 2001

Awarded January 2, 2000

Awarded January 2, 2000

Awarded January 2, 2000

Alister McNiven (USA)

Honorary Coach

Craig Johnson (USA)

Fighter, Coach

craigj.jpg (36584 bytes)

Larry Parker (USA)

Fighter

parker.jpg (39950 bytes)

Ron Waterman (USA)

Fighter

h20man.jpg (29882 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BROWN BELT RECIPIENTS

    Award March 22, 2025 Awarded January 24, 2021
 

 

 

  Zachary Briggs
Fighter

Brett Summers

Self Defense

 

 

 

 

Awarded July 29, 2016 Awarded July 01, 2015 Awarded November 12, 2013

Awarded August 16, 2010

John Suniga (USA)

Fighter

Purple belt awarded 03-30-2014

Blue belt awarded 04-01-2012

Chaz Valentine (USA)

Fighter

 

SFC Jeffery W. Duncan Jr. (USA)

Fighter

Jarrod Card (USA)

Fighter

 

Purple belt awarded 06-30-2009

Blue belt awarded 01-19-2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PURPLE BELT DEGREE RECIPIENTS

     

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awarded January 24, 2021

Awarded June 22, 2018 Awarded July 22, 2016 Awarded September 27, 2014

Gustavo Duarte (USA)

Self Defense

 

 

Joel Collins (USA)

Self Defense

 

James Bridger (USA) Fighter

Blue belt awarded 06-30-2012

Benjamin Guillot (USA)

Fighter

Red Tab Coach 11-09-2014

Blue belt awarded  04-01-2012

 

 

 

Awarded August 05, 2014 Awarded March 20, 2014 Awarded November 12, 2013 Awarded September 12, 2012

James Jordan (USA)

Fighter

Blue belt awarded 03-20-2014

Jeff Huston (USA)

Fighter

Blue belt awarded 04-01-2012

SFC Jesse M. Thorton Sr. (USA)

Fighter

John Powers (USA)

Fighter

Blue belt awarded 11-03-2008

 


Awarded April 1, 2012 Awarded April 1, 2012 Awarded March 3, 2012 Awarded January 9, 2012

Thomas Kuback (USA)

Fighter

Ed Raimo (USA)

Fighter

Nate Cary (USA)

Fighter

nate cary pancrase mma purple belt

Blue belt awarded  01-29-2009

James Boyette (USA)

Fighter

Blue belt awarded 08-16-2010

 

 

 

Awarded January 9, 2010

Awarded October 15, 2008

Awarded October 12, 2007

Awarded November 29, 2004

James Bigford (USA)

Fighter

james_bigford_purp.jpg (14113 bytes)

Blue belt awarded 04-22-2008

Hanme Clark (USA)

Fighter

clark_purp_002.jpg (14438 bytes) 

Blue belt awarded 03-12-2007

Kris Tuller (USA)

Fighter, Coach

kris_tuller_purple_belt_2.jpg (15095 bytes)

Blue belt awarded 10-10-2005

Kenneth Romero (USA)

Fighter, Referee

romero_purp2.jpg (62655 bytes)

Blue belt 03-23-2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLUE BELT RECIPIENTS

      Awarded March 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas Racioppi  (USA)

 

 

 

 

Awarded January 24, 2021

Awarded January 24, 2021

Awarded June 22, 2018

Awarded May 17, 2017

Carlos Malagon (USA)

 

Thomas Grady (USA)

 

Gustavo Duarte (USA)

Fighter

Joaquin Bonel Mariscal  (USA)

 

 

 

 

Awarded October 18, 2015

Awarded September 26, 2015

Awarded September 26, 2015

Awarded September 10, 2015

Kyle Davis (USA)

Fighter

Nohelia Guillot (USA)

Fighter

Willian Ramos (USA)

Fighter

Andren Bellamy (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded September 6, 2015

Awarded April 23, 2015

Awarded May 26, 2015

Awarded May 26, 2015

Shane Hazelwood (USA)

Fighter

Richard Caruso (USA)

Fighter

 Patrick Leonard (USA)

Fighter

Jessi Kennedy (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded May 26, 2015

Awarded May 18, 2015

Awarded May 18, 2015

Awarded May 18, 2015

Jared McCraw (USA)

Fighter

Kyle Odom (USA)

Fighter

Aaron Klein (USA)

Fighter

Shawn Snyder (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded May 18, 2015

Awarded May 18, 2015

Awarded March 28, 2015

Awarded March 28, 2015

Frankie Heinen (USA)

Fighter

Jamie Tharnish (USA)

Fighter

Francisco Martinez Jr. (USA)

Fighter

Erich Schneider (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded March 28, 2015

Awarded March 23, 2014

Awarded February 8, 2014

Awarded June 15, 2013

Jose Perez (USA)

Fighter

Stacy Bacon (USA)

Fighter

Sean Thomas (USA)

Fighter

Colten Carmack (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

 

Awarded December 17, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

 

Tobin Zdarko (USA)

Self Defense

 

Frank Phisowski (USA)

Fighter

Jeptha Jay Johnson (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Brandon Malready (USA)

Fighter

 

Joel Collins (USA)

Self Defense

Tony Lynch (USA)

Fighter

Orlando Torres (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded April 1, 2012

Awarded March 2, 2012

Jordan Dominque (USA)

Self Defense

Jorge Bejarano (USA)

Fighter

Aaron Scott (USA)

Fighter

Brandon Meals (USA)

Fighter

brandon meals pancrase mma blue belt

 

 

 

Awarded January 9, 2012

Awarded January 9, 2012

Awarded December 27, 2011

Awarded September 11, 2011

Nick Bilak (USA)

Fighter

Robert Townsley (USA)

Fighter

Matthew Speers (USA)

Fighter

matt speers pancrase mma blue belt

Jeremy Thomas (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded June 27, 2011

Awarded April 4, 2011

Awarded December 29, 2010

Awarded August 16, 2010

Ryan Galvan (USA)

Fighter

Kevin Marshburn (USA)

Fighter

Scott Adamcheski (USA)

Self Defense

Marcel Fucci (USA)

Fighter

 

 

Awarded August 16, 2010

Awarded March 13, 2010

Awarded November 29, 2009

Awarded October 12, 2009

Wilmer Berrio (USA)

Fighter

Jeremy Vlad (USA)

Self Defense

Bo Yurko (USA)

Fighter

Micha Stockton (USA)

Fighter

 

 

 

Awarded October 12, 2009

Awarded August 19, 2009

Awarded June 30, 2008

Awarded May 20, 2008

Chase Owens (USA)
Fighter

 

Amos Collins (USA)

Fighter

Gina Clark (USA)

Self Defense

gina_blu_6_08.jpg (16060 bytes)

John Dunn (USA)

Self Defense

dunnbluebelt1.jpg (15049 bytes)

 

 

 

Awarded April 22, 2008

Awarded April 22, 2008

Awarded July 2, 2007

Awarded March 12, 2007

Anthony Ferro (USA) 

Fighter

anthony_ferro.jpg (16152 bytes)

Nick Picard (USA)

Fighter

Matt Gutierrez (USA)

Fighter

matt_gutierrez_blu.jpg (11918 bytes)

Andy Ellquist (USA)

Fighter

andy_ellquist_blu.jpg (12639 bytes)

 

 

 

Awarded March 12, 2007

Awarded March 12, 2007

Awarded November 1, 2005

Awarded November 1, 2005

Aran Gurrera (USA) 

Fighter

guerra_blu.jpg (18837 bytes)

Joe Sigler (USA)

Fighter

sigler_blu.jpg (16077 bytes)

Brandon Cooley (USA)

Fighter
pannC3.jpg (49332 bytes)

Camillo Mogollo (USA)

Self Defense

 

 

 

Awarded October 10, 2005

Awarded October 10, 2005

Awarded October 10, 2005

Awarded February 3, 2005

J.R. Duart (USA)

Self Defense

duart_blu.jpg (45459 bytes)

Merced Perez-Hall (USA)

Fighter

hall_blu05.jpg (15112 bytes)

Saath  Vohanh (VN/USA)

Fighter

Luis Leal Contreras (USA)

Self Defense

luis.jpg (21990 bytes)

 

 

 

Awarded July 1, 2003

Awarded July 1, 2003

Awarded July 1, 2003

Awarded July 1, 2003

Igor Cosic (USA) 

Fighter

igor_cosic_blue.jpg

Sandra Gajski (USA)  

Fighter

sandra.jpg (40942 bytes)

Brock Jensen (USA)

Fighter

brock2.jpg (34114 bytes)

Tom Sarah (USA)

Fighter

tom_sarah.jpg (25112 bytes)

 

 

 

Awarded January 1, 2003

Awarded January 1, 2003

Awarded January 1, 2003

Awarded January 1, 2003

Mike Hetrick (USA) 

Fighter

hetrick2upbdy.jpg (30743 bytes)

Marc Menkveld (USA)  

Fighter

Mark_M.jpg (24433 bytes)

Eduard Smetanin (RU)

Self Defense

Ed_S..jpg (25025 bytes)

Xan Routh (USA)  

Fighter