George Sanchez: A White Belt With Big Dreams
“Okay, I'm not gonna do the same thing. It's just for him," George Sanchez thought to himself as he walked in the doors of the Jiu Jitsu gym nestled between High Nooner and Mechanic’s Pride.
Sanchez was on a mission: find a sport his son, George Jr., could enjoy.
Karate didn’t work, Junior was too wild for that.
Boxing was next, but due to Sanchez’s “addictive personality to combat sports,” he ended up going all in for boxing.
It only took a couple classes of watching Junior try Jiu Jitsu before Sanchez changed his mind.
”All right, it’s for both of us now,” he said.
COMPETITION ADDICTION
Fast forward to 2026.
Sanchez, still a white belt, has competed in 14 competitions since he began competing last year. Currently, he has four other competitions he has already registered for and his competition schedule for next year already planned out.
Competing wasn’t always Sanchez’s plan, however.
“Actually, one of the students over here, Anthony (Arazas), he convinced me,” Sanchez said. “He was telling me for, at least two months like, ‘You should compete.’”
Sanchez just smiled and shook his head.
“Nah, I don't wanna,” he said. "I got a(n) addictive personality to sports. No, that's okay, I'll just train."
Finally, Arazas wore him down.
Sanchez finally caved and signed up for the 2025 AGF Spokane Championships.
It seemed fitting the only other person in Sanchez’s division was Arazas. Arazas defeated Sanchez four out of the five times they competed against each other.
“It was good though,” Sanchez said.
With that one tournament under his belt, Sanchez was hooked.
The following month, he registered for Roll-A-Lot 10: Spokane, where he won his first gold medal in the gi division.
One year later, at the 2026 AGF Coeur d’Alene Championships, Junior decided to follow his father’s example and he stepped out on the mat to compete.
Though Junior did not win either of his matches, he fought hard and tried his best.
Refusing to let a loss define him, Junior has competed in three other tournaments alongside his father.
Currently, Sanchez has 36 wins: 21 by submission, 12 by points, and three by walkover.
FUTURE COMPETITION ENDEAVORS
One look at Sanchez’s Smoothcomp profile will always show registrations for several upcoming tournaments.
“If I can drive there, I’ll go there,” Sanchez said.
The white belt already has his competition schedule lined up for next year—regardless if he is promoted to blue belt at the winter belt promotions.
“If I'm (a) blue belt…(the IBJJF has) something called the Grand Slam,” Sanchez said, adding that he wants to achieve that title.
The IBJJF Grand Slam is achieved by winning four tournaments: the European Championships, the Pan-American Championships, the Brazilian National Championships, and the World Championships.
The Grand Slam has only ever been won by 15 people—two of them blue belts.
If Sanchez is still a white belt into next year, his tournament schedule remains the same with the exception of IBJJF Worlds.
“Jiu Jitsu Con would take the place for the IBJJF Worlds in Vegas,” Sanchez said, as white belts cannot compete at Worlds. “It’s like an unofficial Grand Slam.”
Regardless of what happens, Sanchez looks forward to growing and gaining more competition experience.
”I just wanna keep competing as long as I can, as long as my body lets me,” Sanchez said. “And then I guess when my body's like, "No more," then I'll just train without worrying about competition.”
This article was first published in the RGSV Magazine and has been abridged for web. If you are interested in becoming like George and competing all over the nation, we have support for you! Click here to schedule your trial class with us!
