Blue Belt Masters World Champion

Purple Belt Masters World Champion

Pan Am Black Belt Silver Medal Open Weight Division

Judo

  Dr. Richard B. Sparks

• BJJ Black Belt with Three Degrees (IBJJF Certified)
  • 2 Time Champion, many time medalist, international masters level BJJ
  • IBJJF Certified BJJ Referee
  • TN BJJ Federation Board of Advisors 2007-2013
  • TN BJJ Federation Chief Referee 2007-2013
• Judo Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt, USJA Certified)
  • Judo National Championship Silver Medalist
  • Multiple times regional champion and medalist
  • Certified Judo Referee
  • Silver Life Member USJA
• Additional Style Ranks include:
  • Blackbelt Shingitai Jujitsu
  • Blackbelt TaeKwonDo
  • Blackbelt Hapkido
  • Blackbelt Goshin Jiujitsu
• Over 20 years martial arts coaching experience
• Co-developer of Ethical Martial Arts Training System (EMAT)
• DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)
• PhD in Radiation Dosimetry Physcis
• MS, and BS in Biomedical Engineering
• MA in Philosophy
• MBA
• Scientist with over 80 peer reviewed articles/abstracts.
• Served as Captain, Nuclear Medicine Science Officer, United States Army Reserve
• Owner CDE Dosimetry Services, Inc.

  Most Notable BJJ Competition Results:

• 2011 Pan American Black Belt Seniors Silver Medalist Open Weight
• 2008 Pan American Brown Belt Seniors Bronze Medalist
• 2007 Pan American Brown Belt Seniors Silver Medalist
• 2007 Campeonato Internacional de Master e Senior (AKA Masters Worlds) Brown Belt Bronze Medalist
• 2005 Campeonato Internacional de Master e Senior (AKA Masters Worlds) Purple Belt Champion
• 2005 Campeonato Internacional de Master e Senior (AKA Masters Worlds) Open Weight Purple Belt Silver Medalist
• 2005 Pan American Purple Belt Seniors Bronze Medalist
• 2004 Tennessee State Champion (Masters Purple Belt Open Weight)
  
• 2004 Campeonato Internacional de Master e Senior (AKA Masters Worlds) Blue Belt Champion
  

   Black Belt Judo Competition Results:

• 2011 National Championship Silver Medal Black Belt Masters (73 kg)
• 2011 Tennessee State Silver Medal Black Belt Masters (<81 kg, fought at 70kg)
• 2010 UT Inviational Gold Medal Black Belt Masters (<81 kg, fought at 70kg)
• 2010 UT Invitational Silver Medal Black Belt Adult (73 kg)
• 2010 North Carolina State Championship Gold Medal Black Belt Adult Div (73 kg)
• 2010 North Carolina State Championship Gold Medal Black Belt Masters Division Lightweight (<81 kg, fought at 70kg)

Judo: Seniors = Adult
BJJ: Seniors = Masters

Full Bio

My Instructors and Lineage

Some Pictures From Competition

Friends and Legends I Have Met (Pictures)

Certifications

My Small Appearance in Grappling Magazine

My Appearance in the Helio Soneca Interview by Tinguinha

 

Judo

Jason Roberts

• BJJ Blue through Black belt received from Rick Sparks
• Judo Yellow - Green belt received from Edmon Begoli
• Judo Brown and Black Belt received from Rick Sparks

Notable Competition Results:

BJJ

• 2011 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist Gi
• 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medalist Gi

Judo

• 2007 UT Invitational Gold Medal

Judo

Wes Franks

• BJJ Blue through Black belt received from Rick Sparks
• Judo Black Belt received from Rick Sparks and Michael Carter
• Ikkyu received from Edmon Begoli
• MS Sports Medicine
• MS Physical Therapy
• Board Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist

 

 

 

Judo

Dr. Michael Carter

• Judo Yondan (4th degree black belt) USJA (since 1998)
• BJJ Black Belt
• 6 Time Southeastern Judo Champion
• 2 Time State Wrestling Silver Medalist
• Trustee Life Member of United States Judo Association
• Judo Coach for 25 years
• Previous Certifications include:
  • Senior Judo Coach
  • Judo Referee
  • Nage-no-kata instructor
• Former Wrestling Coach
• Co-developer of Ethical Martial Arts Training System (EMAT)
• Additional Various JuJitsu Style Ranks include:
  • Shingitai Jujitsu Godan (5th degree black belt) awarded (2000) by JohnSaylor
  • Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Brown Belt from Paul Carter and Kawabe Sensei
• PhD in Education
  • Concentration: Educational Psychology
  • Specialization: Applied Educational Psychology
  • Emphasis: Human Learning and Development
  • Dissertation: Reasoning for Wisdom in Emotional Education
• Instructor (assistant> associate> tenured) of Psychology for 9 Years
• Owner of Carter Consulting (teaching and coaching personal leadership)

 

Notable Competition Results:

• 6 Time Southeastern Judo Champion
• 2 Time State Wrestling Silver Medalist
• Too many local, state, and regional Judo championships to list
• 2008 Helio Soneca BJJ Tournament Champion
  

 

Dr. Gavin Enck

• Black belt received from Rolyer Gracie and Rosendo Diaz
• Collegiate Wrestler
• PhD Philosophy: Medical Ethics

 

Judo

Chris Miller

• BJJ Blue through Black belt received from Rick Sparks
• BJJ Green belt received from Samuel Braga
• Judo Green belt received from Michael Carter

Notable BJJ Competition Results:

• 2012 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal Gi
• 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi
• 2009 Tennessee State Championship Silver Medalist Gi

Wrestling

• Regional Bronze Medalist
• Gold and Bronze Tournament Victories
• 90-20 overall record

 

Judo

John Miller

• BJJ Purple through Black belt received from Rick Sparks
• BJJ Blue belt received from Helio Soneca
• Judo Brown belt received from Rick Sparks

 

Judo Competition Results:

• Tennessee State Championship Silver Medal

 

Students: Hall of Champions

BJJ

Doug Smith BJJ Black Belt given by Rick Sparks and Samuel Braga BJJ Brown Belt given by Samuel Braga BJJ Purple Belt given by Rick Sparks BJJ Blue Belt given by Rickson Gracie Notable Competition Results: BJJ 1996 LA Open Champion

 

 

 

BJJ

Justin Headrick BJJ Purple belt received from Rick Sparks Blue belt received from Rick Sparks   Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2011 Tennessee State Championship Silver Medalist Gi 2010 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist No-Gi Advanced 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal No-Gi Advanced 2009 Smokey Moutain Open No-Gi Champion 2009 Smokey Moutain Open Gi Silver Medalist 2008 Tennessee State BJJ Silver Medalist

 

 

BJJ

Brad McGuire BJJ Purple belt received from Rick Sparks BJJ Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2014 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist Gi

 

BJJ

Kayla Stephens Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2011 Tennessee State Championship Silver Medalist Gi 2010 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal Gi 2009 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist Gi

BJJ

Darla Oringderff Purple belt received from Rick Sparks Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2011 Tennessee State Championship Bronze Medal Gi

BJJ

Emily Mannescmidt Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi

BJJ

Judo

Alex Basiri BJJ Blue Belt received from Rick Sparks Judo Orange Belt Recieved from Rick Sparks   Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Silver Medal Gi 2008 Tennessee State BJJ Champion 2008 Helio Soneca BJJ Tournament Champion

BJJ

Zack Smitley Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal No-Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi 2009 Tennessee State BJJ Champion No-Gi 2009 Tennessee State BJJ Silver Medalist Gi 2009 Smokey Moutain Open BJJ Gi Champion 2008 Helio Soneca BJJ Tournament Silver Medalist MMA Record: 1-1

 

BJJ

Eric Horton Blue belt received from Rick Sparks   Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2009 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist 2009 Kentucky BJJ Open Championship Gold Medalist

 

 

BJJ

Judo

Allan Ho Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Judo Brown Belt received from Mike Takata Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal Gi 2009 EGO Grappling Tournamant Bronze Medalist Judo Competition Results: 2009 - Waynesville Fall Brawl - 2nd place - Advanced 2008 - Ippon Open - 1st - Novice 2007 - Ippon Open - 3rd place 2 x Divisions - Novice 2006 - UT Martial Arts Club Tournament - 3rd place - Novice 2005 - UT Martial Arts Club Tournament - 1st - Novice 2005 - Waynesville Fall Brawl - 1st place - Novice 2005 - Cumberland Judo Classic - 3rd place - Novice

 

BJJ

Judo

Ben Burton BJJ Blue Belt received from Rick Sparks Judo Yellow belt received from Tarek Monier Judo Orange and Green belt received from Rick Sparks and Edmon Begoli Judo Brown Belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2013 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal 2013 Tennessee State BJJ Championship Gold Medal 2013 Battle at the Border Gold Medal, Open Weight, Open Belt 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medalist Gi Judo 2014 Tennessee State Champion 2014 Mayfield's Judo Tournament Gold Medal Masters 2013 Rebel Invitational Gold Medal Masters 2013 UT Invitational Gold Medal Masters 2013 UT Invitational Bronze Medal Adult 2013 Carrol Co. Invitational Gold Medal Masters 2013 Judo Jones Memorial Tournament Gold Medal Masters 2013 PeachTree Judo Tournament Silver Medal Masters 2013TN State Judo Championship Silver Medal Masters 2012 UT Regional Masters Gold Medal 2012 UT Regional Adult Bronze Medal 2012 Yellowhill Judo Masters Advanced Silver Medal 2012 Yellowhill Judo Adult Gold Medal 1996 TN State Judo Championships 4th Place 1995 ETSU Tournament Gold Medal 1995 Waynesville Gold Medal MMA Record: 4-3

 

BJJ

Brad Wilcox Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2010 Tennessee State Championship Silver Medalist Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal No-Gi 2010 NAGA National BJJ Championships Bronze Medalist

BJJ

Darryl Lawson Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable BJJ Competition Results: 2010 Tennessee State Championship Silver Medalist Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi

BJJ

Dan Hoggatt Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Silver Medal No-Gi 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi 2010 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist No-Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal No-Gi 2010 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal Gi 2009 Tennessee State Championship Bronze Medalist Gi 2009 Tennessee State Championship Bronze Medalist No-Gi 2009 Smokey Moutain Open Silver Medalist 2009 Kentucky BJJ Open Championship Bronze Medalist Wrestling 2004 Blount County Champion 2004 All County 2003 Blount County Silver Medalist MMA Record: 1-1

 

BJJ

Richard Eggers Blue belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: BJJ 2011 Tennessee State Championship Gold Medalist Gi 2011 Tennessee State Championship Bronze Medalist No-Gi 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Gold Medal Gi 2011 Smokey Mountain Open Bronze Medal No-Gi

 

 

BJJ

Judo

Bo Willis Judo Black Belt received in Japan Judo Yellow through Brown Belt received from Edmon Begoli Notable Competition Results: Judo 2012 UT Regional Adult Silver Medal 2012 Yellowhill Judo Adult Bronze Medal

 

BJJ

Judo

Alexis Joy Smerdon Judo Yellow belt received from Rick Sparks Notable Competition Results: Judo UT Regional Adult Gold Medal 2014 UT Regional Adult Silver Medal 2014 (+1 Weight Class) UT Class Tournament Champion 2014

 

Picture Coming Soon

BJJ

Judo

Jason Hill Notable Competition Results: Judo UT Regional Adult Silver Medal 2014