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Zack 🇺🇸

Zachary M Towne
2nd Dan Verified by the community150 / 1,000 points
Parabellum Martial Arts and StrengthWaynesville, United States of AmericaBeltchecker Blue belt12 years on the mats
48 profile views · Last seen 2 day(s) ago

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About

  • Training since first belt12 year(s) and 7 month(s)
Lineage
  1. Jigoro Kano
  2. Emilio "Reno" Claudio
  3. Tony Netaro
Bio
I’m a Nidan (2nd-degree black belt) with nearly 13 years of Judo experience. I wrestled from the age of 12 and have nearly 10 years of BJJ experience. From 2015–2019, I spent 3.5 years on the West Point Judo Team, competing approximately monthly throughout my time there. I currently serve as the head coach at Parabellum Martial Arts and Strength in Waynesville, Missouri, where we primarily train military families and Veterans from the Fort Leonard Wood community. I train and coach approximately five times a week between Judo and BJJ. Outside of martial arts, I am a Captain in the U.S. Army with nearly 8 years of service. One of my goals in joining Beltchecker is to help establish and document my Judo rank and lineage. When I left West Point, several members of my cohort, myself included, did not have our promotion paperwork completed by our coach, and I never received a physical certificate. I did not realize the extent of the issue at the time, as COVID soon interrupted my training and competition. Since returning to consistent training after COVID, I have continued to train and coach regularly, but I have had difficulty getting my previous rank and years of training formally validated through USA Judo. My original Sensei, Emilio "Reno" Claudio, and the current West Point Judo coach, Sensei Sauveur Soriano, have both validated my history and signed my application. However, I have still had difficulty getting my previous years of training and rank properly documented and backdated. Maintaining continuity of training, records, and lineage can be particularly difficult as an active-duty service member who moves frequently. I am hoping Beltchecker can help me document my history, connect with others who may be able to verify it, and ultimately get caught up on the administrative side of something I have continued to practice for many years. I’m happy to discuss my history, provide documentation as best I can, or speak with anyone who may be able to help. I would greatly appreciate any guidance, understanding, and support in legitimizing and documenting my Judo credentials.

Achievements

4 of 18 unlocked
Name verified by credit card
Coach with confirmed students
Current rank verified by promoting instructor
Verifications received2 / 10
102550
Years trained12 / 15
5101520
Gold medals0 / 5
51025
Competition matches0 / 10
1050100
Forum posts0 / 500
5001,000

Students

Frank Rodriguez
Frank
Jon-Marc Thibodeau
Jon-Marc

Belt promotions

Frank Rodriguez
Frank

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Promotion history

  1. 2nd Dan Current belt

    September 8, 2023Fort Leonard Wood, MO

    3 years, 1 month, 2 days
    Promoted by
    Sensei Emilio "Reno" Claudio
    Sensei Reno reached out to me a couple months after I told him I began coaching at Parabellum Martial Arts and Strength. He was extremely excited to tell me that he and his new co-coach Sensei Soriano would like to promote me to 2nd Degree (Nidan). He informed me that this would be in both the Kodokan and the Hoteikan systems. Sensei Reno founded the Hoteikan system in 1974 and it is an incredible honor to be apart of it through him!
  2. 1st Dan

    May 4, 2018West Point, NY

    5 years, 4 months, 4 days
    Promoted by
    Sensei Emilio "Reno" Claudio
    After a few years of hard work, 2-2.5 hour practices, 5 practices a week, 1-2 tournaments a month, and countless hours spent in one-on-one sessions with Sensei Reno I was awarded my 1st Dan along with my teammates and best friends Matthew Kopra and Aidan Baxter. An extremely proud moment and I owe it all to my training partners and Sensei's.
  3. 1st Kyu

    1st Kyu

    May 5, 2017West Point, NY

    11 months, 29 days
    Promoted by
    Sensei Emilio "Reno" Claudio
    I was promoted to brown belt the next year with some of the best friends and training partners I could have asked for. Competing at the collegiate nationals that year as a brown belt was an incredible experience.
  4. 3rd Kyu

    3rd Kyu

    May 6, 2016West Point, NY

    11 months, 29 days
    Promoted by
    Sensei Emilio "Reno" Claudio
    I did not make the team the first semester. But I would come after class and after my own intramural practice and train with Sensei Claudio Reno and Sensei Tony Netaro almost every day. Determined to show them I wanted it more than anyone else, I was awarded a slot on the team starting the second semester. I received my Green belt after placing in my first few tournaments that season. I am incredibly proud of being and honored to call myself their student.
  5. Novice/First training

    Novice/First training

    March 1, 2014Saginaw, MI

    2 years, 2 months, 5 days
    Started my Judo journey toward the end of Highschool by attending a couple of practices with one of my father's friends who was a black belt.

Votes received for current rank

Sebastian Ellinghaus
+100 pts
"I don’t know You, but as a vet buddy and with some trustworthy circumstancial evidences I will give You my 100 pts.: legit, bro!🤙🏻"
Verified4 day(s) ago
Frank Rodriguez
+50 pts
"Sensei Zack is my coach and 💯 legit from West Point. He is also my BJJ blue belt. "
Verified2 day(s) ago
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