07/20/2026
This Saturday, I had the honour and privilege of promoting Jill MacIsaac, Joe MacDonald, and Dr. George Carruthers to their next belt ranks. Jill and Joe, who have been with me since our early Cornwall days, achieved the coveted rank of Black Belt, while George earned his Purple Belt. Each promotion represents years of commitment, perseverance, and hard work.
A black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is never given—it is earned. It is not simply an award for time served or techniques learned. It represents years of dedication to your academy, your lineage, and yourself. It requires perseverance, discipline, humility, and countless hours of hard work on the mats. It is earned through blood, sweat, setbacks, and victories, along with an unwavering commitment to continual improvement. Very few people begin the journey to black belt, and even fewer have the determination to see it through. Promoting Jill and Joe to Black Belt has been one of the proudest moments of my career as an instructor.
🥋 Jill MacIsaac – Black Belt
Jill has earned her black belt through years of unwavering dedication, perseverance, and countless hours of hard work on the mats. Her black belt has been earned through blood, sweat, and grit. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional technical ability, resilience, humility, and a genuine love for learning and teaching.
Jill is a true trailblazer for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Prince Edward Island. Her unwavering commitment to training and her consistent presence on the mats have encouraged many other women to begin their own martial arts journey and discover the confidence and empowerment that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu can provide.
Jill is the first woman I have promoted to black belt, and she is also the first female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in Prince Edward Island. She has made history for our academy and for the province, and I could not be more proud of everything she has accomplished.
Congratulations, Jill. It has been an honour to be part of your journey, and I look forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.
🥋 Joe MacDonald – Black Belt
Joe's journey has been defined by consistency, determination, and an incredible work ethic. Through years of training, he has developed into a highly technical and respected practitioner, always leading by example both on and off the mats. At nearly 60 years of age, Joe's achievement is a powerful reminder that dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to keep learning have no age limit.
Joe has never looked for shortcuts. He has earned every step of this journey through years of commitment, resilience, and quiet determination. His promotion reflects not only his technical skill, but also the character, humility, and perseverance that define a true Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
It has been a privilege to share the mats with Joe over the years, and I am incredibly proud to welcome him into the ranks of black belt.
🥋 Dr. George Carruthers – Purple Belt
Congratulations to Dr. George Carruthers on earning his Purple Belt.
Purple Belt is the first advanced belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and marks the transition from learning the fundamentals to developing a deeper understanding of the art. It represents years of dedication, technical growth, and consistent hard work on the mats.
George has earned this promotion through years of commitment, consistent training, and a genuine desire to improve. Reaching the first advanced belt is a significant milestone in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and his Purple Belt is thoroughly deserved. I look forward to watching his journey continue.
Congratulations, George!
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teaches us that rank is not measured simply by knowledge or talent, but by years of commitment, discipline, resilience, and the willingness to keep showing up when training is difficult. Every belt represents a journey of personal growth, and every promotion is earned through dedication to the art and to one another.
Congratulations again, Jill, Joe, and George. Your academy family is incredibly proud of you all.
