James McRae, 3rd Dan | Judochecker

About

Training since first belt19 year(s) and 2 month(s)

Bio

I started training in Judo in July of 2007 with Randy Russell at Mid-Missouri Judo in Columbia, Missouri, USA. I currently hold the rank of sandan through USA Judo under Randy Russell. (I am also a second-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a level 3 instructor in Jeet Kune Do, and a level 1 instructor in Krav Maga under Burton Richardson.) I have rank certificates for my USA Judo sandan (2026), nidan (2018), shodan (2015), and ikkyu (2014) ranks. If I can dig up certificates for my earlier rank promotions, I’ll add them to my profile later. I’m currently a judo and jiu-jitsu instructor at Jaguar Martial Arts in Columbia, Missouri.

Promotion history

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3rd Dan Current belt
November 1, 2025Columbia, Missouri, USA
11 months, 9 days
Promoted by
Randy Russell
2nd Dan
August 20, 2018Columbia, Missouri, USA
7 years, 2 months, 12 days
Promoted by
Randy Russell
Together with
Glenn St. John
1st Dan
August 1, 2015Columbia, Missouri, USA
3 years, 19 days
Promoted by
Randy Russell
Together with
Glenn St. John
1st Kyu
1st Kyu
June 5, 2014Columbia, Missouri, USA
1 year, 1 month, 27 days
Promoted by
Randy Russell
Together with
Glenn St. John
Novice/First training
Novice/First training
July 16, 2007Columbia, Missouri, USA
6 years, 10 months, 20 days
I started training at Mid-Missouri Judo in Columbia, Missouri in July of 2007. I was a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the time and knew many of the basic tachi-waza and ne-waza, so I was promoted directly to yonkyu (green belt) by Randy Russell in the fall of 2007, though I do not have a certificate for that rank. I was later promoted to sankyu (brown belt) by Randy Russell, but do not have a certificate for that rank. I was promoted from sankyu directly to ikkyu, for which I have a rank certificate (posted above). Between sankyu and ikkyu, I had to take a couple of years off due to a serious neck injury and my wife's cancer treatment, but I otherwise trained consistently during this period.

Votes received for current rank