Alison Furderer

Belt promotion for this guy! So proud of you, Judah. 🥋🩶🖤

Almost 5 years of jiu jitsu. From a little white belt at 5 years old ( a few weeks shy of your 6th birthday) training on Kaua’i @esakijiujitsu to earning your gray-black belt today @thejiujitsuinstitute with professor @gil_alcocer here in North Carolina.

What a journey it’s been. The ups, the downs, the challenges, the competitions, the wins, the losses, the injuries, the travel, and everything in between. So many years of driving you to practice, sitting on the sidelines, traveling for competitions, cheering you on, and watching you grow. And I wouldn’t trade a single part of it.

Jiu jitsu has brought so much fire into you, Judah. Watching you find something that helps you shine, learn to regulate yourself, build discipline and self-respect, discover your physical and mental strength, and grow more confident in who you are has been one of the greatest gifts. You’re learning to trust your body, find your own strength, and feel secure in yourself while carrying forward the teachings of an ancient art.

I’m so proud of the work you’ve put in, the resilience you’ve built, and the person you’re becoming. This journey has never just been about belts. It’s about everything you’re learning along the way, on and off the mats.

Gray-black! A huge milestone and another step in your journey. My hope is that you keep this fire alive and carry it all the way to black belt one day.

Five years in, and I’m still just as proud to be sitting on the sidelines watching you grow. So grateful I get to be your mom. Keep going, Judah. You have so much to be proud of. 🩶🖤