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Trench Tech promotes 2 brothers to higher belts
Brothers Stanley Iakopo Jr., left, and Conan Briggeman, right, pose with Trench Tech Gym Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Cuki Alvarez after their simple promotion ceremony at the Mihaville gym last Tuesday night. (Contributed photo)
Trench Tech Gym promoted brothers Stanley Iakopo Jr. and Conan Briggeman to gray/white belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu during simple rites at the Mihaville gym last Tuesday night.
BJJ black belt Cuki Alvarez congratulated 10-year-old Iakopo and 8-year-old Briggeman for attaining the gray/white belt rank and said they achieved the feat because of their hard work and dedication to the martial art.
“Grey white is the next rank for children under 15. They accomplished this feat with three years of consistent training in BJJ and improved substantially in their skillset in our children’s program. After gray/white is gray/black, yellow, orange, and then green. Green belt is the highest rank for kids and teenagers under 16,” he said.
Iakopo said it was “great and an honor” to have been promoted to gray/white belt. He said his ultimate goal is to achieve the rank of black belt in BJJ.
Briggeman, for his part, said he’s happy to have reached the rank of gray/white belt after he and his brother started training at Trench Tech.
He said like his older brother, he also wants to attain the rank of blackbelt in BJJ.
Both brothers admitted to being inspired by their father, CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs executive officer Stanley Iakopo Sr., in pursuing the mixed martial art of BJJ. Both train at Alvarez’s facility three times a week.
Iakopo Sr. said he and his wife, Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Priscilla Iakopo, are very proud and very satisfied of their sons’ progression and training from Trench Tech.
“For us parents its always important who is training them. We trust professor Cuki and the BJJ training he is conducting. They learn so much on discipline and understanding of the martial art,” he said.
He added that what Trench Tech teaches is self-defense for real-life situations not only to stand up to bullies but also to protect others.
Trench Tech offers BJJ kids classes ages 5-12 every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:35pm to 6:20pm and adult BJJ classes every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8pm. It also offers Kids MMA every Saturday from 9:30am to 10:30am Call 670-783-4MMA for more details on how to enroll today.
