The last time that Sensei Jason Cortez competed for a world title, he made it all the way to the finals before a team from Guatemala had him disqualified for wearing his wedding band.
So when he got the chance to once again attend the NBL SuperGrands in Sacramento last weekend, he jumped at the chance and this time came home with something other than his wedding ring.
Cortez beat out competitors from all over the world to take first and earn the distinction of the 2008 World Champion in Kenpo/Jajukenbo Forms. Cortez the owner and operator of the Manteca-based Cortez Dojo, which specializes in Mitose’s Kosho Ryu Kempo and is an affiliate Gracie jiu-jitsu school.
On top of a specially-embroidered black belt that he plans to have mounted, Cortez also won a gold and diamond NBL ring symbolizing his accomplishment.
“To be able to come back after what happened the last time and become a world champion was a great feeling,” said Cortez — noting that he had traveled all the way to Buffalo, N.Y. before making the long trek home without anything but the luggage that he brought with him. “It’s a great accomplishment, and it’s something that I plan on sharing with the students right here at our dojo.”
It was the first time since 2005 that Cortez had entered the NBL SuperGrands because of numerous scheduling conflicts, including the relocation of the studio from its former downtown location to its new home near Orchard Supply Hardware.
In 2007, Cortez was in negotiations with MTV about possibly being a coach on the hit series MADE, where he would help two girls achieve their goal of becoming martial artists, but logistics eventually sidelined the project as he continued working on improving the skills of his students as well as his own.
While he now has something new to place on the wall inside of his dojo, Cortez plans on using the knowledge and the experience gained to show those who study under him that with hard work anything is possible.
“I’m 39 years old, and some of the guys that I was going up against were in their mid-20’s — that shows that if you prepare you can always achieve what you set out to achieve,” he said. “That’s something that I want my students to being able to see and understand.”
Cortez sparring instructor Sensei Matthew Okada also scored big at the NBL SuperGrands, winning the Men’s Middle Weight Continuous Sparring 2008 World Title. He was awarded an embroidered belt and a championship watch.
Cortez Martial Arts is located at 127 W. Louise Avenue near Orchard Supply Hardware. For more information, call 823-2662, or visit them on the web at www.cortezmartialarts.com.
So when he got the chance to once again attend the NBL SuperGrands in Sacramento last weekend, he jumped at the chance and this time came home with something other than his wedding ring.
Cortez beat out competitors from all over the world to take first and earn the distinction of the 2008 World Champion in Kenpo/Jajukenbo Forms. Cortez the owner and operator of the Manteca-based Cortez Dojo, which specializes in Mitose’s Kosho Ryu Kempo and is an affiliate Gracie jiu-jitsu school.
On top of a specially-embroidered black belt that he plans to have mounted, Cortez also won a gold and diamond NBL ring symbolizing his accomplishment.
“To be able to come back after what happened the last time and become a world champion was a great feeling,” said Cortez — noting that he had traveled all the way to Buffalo, N.Y. before making the long trek home without anything but the luggage that he brought with him. “It’s a great accomplishment, and it’s something that I plan on sharing with the students right here at our dojo.”
It was the first time since 2005 that Cortez had entered the NBL SuperGrands because of numerous scheduling conflicts, including the relocation of the studio from its former downtown location to its new home near Orchard Supply Hardware.
In 2007, Cortez was in negotiations with MTV about possibly being a coach on the hit series MADE, where he would help two girls achieve their goal of becoming martial artists, but logistics eventually sidelined the project as he continued working on improving the skills of his students as well as his own.
While he now has something new to place on the wall inside of his dojo, Cortez plans on using the knowledge and the experience gained to show those who study under him that with hard work anything is possible.
“I’m 39 years old, and some of the guys that I was going up against were in their mid-20’s — that shows that if you prepare you can always achieve what you set out to achieve,” he said. “That’s something that I want my students to being able to see and understand.”
Cortez sparring instructor Sensei Matthew Okada also scored big at the NBL SuperGrands, winning the Men’s Middle Weight Continuous Sparring 2008 World Title. He was awarded an embroidered belt and a championship watch.
Cortez Martial Arts is located at 127 W. Louise Avenue near Orchard Supply Hardware. For more information, call 823-2662, or visit them on the web at www.cortezmartialarts.com.
