Breaking News! Sensei Joey Receives BJJ Black Belt!
A milestone was reached yesterday in the career of SoCal mma and Kettlejitsu founder Joey Alvarado! Professor Joey was promoted to Black belt by BJJ legend Roger Machado! Here is a personal note from Sensei Joey himself!
“I started training in BJJ back in 94. I was living in South Carolina and I would drive up to Virginia to get privates with Frank Cucci who was a blue belt under Pedro Sauer at the time. I was in awe of him. A year or so later, Romero Jacare Cavalcanti opened Master Bjj in Atlanta. I had the pleasure of doing some training with him as well. Amazing! I moved to L.A. and was poor. So I just trained to box under the tutelage of my father. I started with Rigan Machado and Roger Machado a couple of years later. Then I caught the mma bug and embarked on a 7 year career. I had to stop training with gi, so I wasnt eligible for promotion. throughout those years, i had many people tell me that I should be a black belt and ask me when I was going to get it. I always said, i dont know and I dont care. When my master gives it to me, then it is so. I could have easily switched gyms to get promoted but I refrained because im just loyal like that. I stuck it out and endured what I had to. 16 tournaments as a brown belt, including10 gold medals, 3 silver, 2 bronze medals later it happened. I would like to thank everyone who helped me through this 20 year journery. To my grandmaster Shelton R. Moreland you instilled something in me that I carry to this day. Training with you gave me the discipline to train in other arts and sports. Gamsamnida! I love you. To my team SoCal Mma I could not have done it with out you. To my special friends who have been my training partners for over ten years Albert Rios and Giovanni Vasquez, thank you and i love you both! Rigan Machado Thank you for the inspiration. To my master Roger, obrigando and im honored to represent you! Special shout out to my good friend Alberto Crane and his team for opening his gym for me to train. You guys are a big part of this and im very appreciative of you pushing me and the techniques I have learned from you! Oss! thank you Michael Perez and Rocky Morales two of SoCals finest for showing up to my special day. ! Oss!”