LAS VEGAS, NV — Local Sonny Kerschner recently returned from the prestigious World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Las Vegas with a gold medal and a major personal milestone: his promotion to brown belt. His victory marks the culmination of years of training and dedication in the sport.
The event, which draws some of the top competitors from countries like Japan, Great Britain, and France, brought together over 4,000 athletes from around the world. For Sonny, the journey was both physically and mentally demanding as he dropped a weight class to compete at 175.6 pounds, a decision that required months of disciplined dieting and preparation.
“I started training three months out, working to drop the weight and fine-tune my game,” Sonny said. “The whole competition was nerve-wracking, but it was worth it.”
Sonny told Sciotopost that when he received a silver last year he came home and immediately started training for next year, “I was focused on wanting to fine-tune my skills and work to better myself. Everyone at Roundtown Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy supported me and helped me in this endeavor.”
The training and coaching came from his professor, Donnie Worthington, Roundtown Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and a strong local team that has supported his journey. Donnie, alongside his wife and Stephen Boss, traveled to Las Vegas to support Sonny through the competition.
After securing his gold medal 2024 World Champion win in his match against a skilled opponent from California, Sonny received another surprise: his promotion to brown belt. Worthington presented him with the new rank, a significant step in his eight-year journey of training six days a week.
“This was the best trip I’ve ever had. To win gold and to earn my brown belt from my professor—after years of dedication—was incredible,” Sonny said.
One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Vitor Oliveira, a coral belt and one of the highest-ranking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world. Sonny recalled how Vitor congratulated him on his promotion and victory. “It was surreal to have one of the greatest in the sport there to celebrate with me,” he added there are only six coral belts in the world.”
Sonny credits his success to the strong support system provided by his local training community at Roundtown BJJ, where he trains with a variety of coaches and wrestlers. His key mentors include Donnie Worthington, Phil Gentry (a former Cincinnati Reds player turned black belt), and Carrie Gentry, his wife and experienced four-striped brown belt.
“Our gym has a mix of wrestling experience and BJJ expertise,” Sonny explained. “Many of our training partners come from local wrestling backgrounds, and they push me to stay sharp.”
The gym serves as more than just a training facility. It offers a variety of classes for adults and kids, including boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There’s also a full weight room, turf training space, and recovery tools like cold plunge saunas.
Sonny believes that the sport is not just about competition but discipline, fitness, and family. “BJJ is a family-oriented sport. Kids can learn, parents can train, and the whole family can participate together. It’s a great way to stay active and build relationships that’s what we are focused at here locally.”
Interested in Joining?
Those looking to get involved in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or other fitness opportunities can check out Roundtown BJJ on Facebook or visit their website. Sonny emphasizes that the gym offers a welcoming, supportive, and non-intimidating environment for all skill levels and ages.
“If you’re interested in weight loss, self-defense, or just learning a new skill, we can help,” Sonny said. “It’s a great way to transform your life and connect with a community.”
With this recent accomplishment, Sonny continues to inspire local athletes and families to explore the benefits of discipline, perseverance, and Jiu-Jitsu.
