Renowned Brazilian mixed martial artist and 7th degree coral belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Renzo Gracie visited Melissa Bardfield and her Renzo Gracie St. Maarten (SXM BJJ) training center.
COLE BAY—Two Friendly Island Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes received their black belts from Renzo Gracie St. Maarten (SXM BJJ.) Earning black belts were Akeem Lewis (known by his Muay Thai students as Sensei Akeem) and Jami Eloi.
Jami has the prestige of being the first St. Maarten-born black belt. On had to honour the achievement was Master, Renzo Gracie. Renzo Gracie is a renowned Brazilian mixed martial artist and 7th degree coral belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and coach. A third generation member of the Gracie family, he is the grandson of Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Carlos Gracie, grandnephew of Helio Gracie and the son of Robson Gracie. Founder of SXM BJJ, black belt Melissa Bardfield received her third degree from the master. Degrees in black belts are granted based in years as a Blackbelt and can only be awarded by a master. Melissa received her Blackbelt in 2015 from Master Renzo in New York City and has been teaching Jiu Jitsu in St Maarten for 14 years. Both Mr Lewis and Mr Eloi have received all their belts in St Maarten from Bardfield. Louis Grea was awarded his purple belt. Dimitri Jean Burrell, Luke Steyn, Nakysha Jederon and Aiden Wilkie were awarded blue belts. Coach Johan Muñoz Rodriguez earned his 4th stripe on his brown belt and 67 children’s belts were awarded from grey to green belt. SXM BJJ is founded with the core values of promoting resilience, confidence, evolution, integrity, patience, and stewardship. The definition of stewardship for founder Melissa Bardfield is for her students to surpass her and continue to elevate the level. In this regard, the program is a great success and the future is bright for martial arts on our island. For more information, please visit www.sxmbjj.com.
