RSA Black Belt Standard

When RSA opened its doors in 2002, it wasn’t ambition that moved me—it was a calling. Jiu-Jitsu had changed my life, and I believed it could do the same for others. I walked the streets of Kaneohe, handing out fliers with more hope than resources, teaching in a humble gymnastics room. There were no grand plans—only prayer, grit, and the belief that if we stayed true, something lasting would grow. Comfort could wait. We built with faith, local “no shame” hustle, and stubborn patience. Sore backs, thin wallets, and heavy mats laid the foundation.

Our lineage traces directly to Grandmaster Helio Gracie—a man who revolutionized martial arts through leverage, timing, and calm under pressure. His son, Relson Gracie, fiercely guarded that spirit when others diluted it. From Helio to Relson to me, and now to you—this is not just tradition; it’s a living trust. At RSA, you won’t find plastic trophies or mass-produced belts. You’ll find stories written in sweat, bruises, and bonds that don’t break. Here, what you earn isn’t handed to you; it’s lived.

True Jiu-Jitsu is less about defeating others and more about defeating your own ego. It’s a steady march toward humility, resilience, and compassion, reflecting Bushido’s timeless virtues.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
— Luke 16:10

The small tests mattered. They still do.

Over the years, opportunities came—offers from flashier schools and brighter banners. However, loyalty to Relson, and to the roots that built us, anchored our course. Some stayed loyal. Others chose different paths. In every journey, choices reveal the values we hold closest. Heavy lessons, but necessary ones. Loyalty isn’t forged in good times; it’s revealed in storms.

Meanwhile, good, solid, humble bruddahs like Antonio Criado, Chris Laird, Jim Scoggin, Justin Nihei, Kalani Pacyau, Sean Springer, and many others stood tall. They remained, not because it was easy, but because it was right. No applause needed. Just presence, just loyalty.

Fatherhood deepened these lessons further. Raising two keiki taught me that leadership isn't about noise. It's about steadiness, prayerfulness, and quiet acts of faithfulness. Meanwhile, the academy endured the hardest seasons—pandemics, shutdowns, empty mats—and those who understood the mission showed up. Tuition paid. Envelopes quietly placed on the counter. No hashtags. No announcements. Just quiet, enduring aloha.

RSA was never about fast fame or easy belts. We built it the old-fashioned way—through loyalty, sweat, patience, and sacrifice.

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
— C.S. Lewis

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
— Albert Einstein

In addition to technical skills, RSA strives to build the unseen attributes that shape lives: resilience, gratitude, patience, humility, and loyalty. These virtues are not taught by slogans or by chance; they are earned, tested, and proven over time.

Therefore, to wear the Black Belt at RSA carries an obligation—not just to skill, but to character. You are expected to continue training. To teach when called. To protect the spirit of this academy. To place RSA above fleeting temptations and to preserve the trust that was passed down from Helio Gracie, to Relson Gracie, to me, and now to you.

Family—the real kind—is built by those who remain steady when it’s easier to leave.

Belts fade. Strength wanes. Medals rust. Life itself is fleeting, a truth I came to know deeply while holding my mother’s hand in her final moments. What endures is not what we earned, but how we lived, and how we stood by those who stood by us. Meaning is not found in titles, trophies, or pride—but in conduct, in loyalty, and in how we lift others along the way.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
— Winston Churchill

“You don't have to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.”
— Jim Gaffigan

We are all works in progress—crooked lines, bruised ribs, missed turns—still standing, still believing that what we built with loyalty, prayer, sweat, and a little local stubbornness is worth defending. No noise. No ego. Just presence. Just heart.

And in the end, RSA is not only about the individual—it is about the team, the family, the loyalty we forge together. It is a bond tested by time, hardship, and opportunity, and it is one we choose to honor every day we step on the mat.

Ronn Shiraki
Founder, Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Ronn Shiraki Academy