The Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Equity, and Rights (MASTERs) initiative has established itself as a premier force in competitive judo. Back-to-back Best Academy wins at the 2024 and 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships underscore its community-driven philosophy. s. The nonprofit’s program, High Noon Judo, secured its second national title in Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting a commitment not only to competitive success but to a broader vision of athlete mentorship, developmental equity, and high-performance training.
High Noon Judo, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is operated in partnership with High Noon BJJ & Fitness LLC and represents the applied arm of MASTERs’ mission to foster personal growth and social transformation through martial arts. It was founded as a partnership between High Noon owner Tim Dawson, Dr. Christopher Round, Jordan Stone, and Heidi Holz. Despite being only three years old, the program achieved national recognition by outscoring the next closest team by more than 9,000 points. Fourteen athletes brought home 31 medals, winning in 26 divisions and contributing to a decisive 15,250-point team total.
This achievement is the result of an integrated coaching model led by Dr. Christopher Round, a 4th-degree judo black belt, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, and experienced project manager in both public and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Round has trained under globally recognized martial arts instructors, including Jimmy Pedro, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, and Ryan Hall. His academic background and administrative acumen have allowed MASTERs to adopt strategic methodologies more often found in professional sports organizations than in grassroots martial arts communities.
“What he has built is extraordinary. He has assembled a team of professionals who are true exemplars in their respective areas. His nonprofit organization supports his competitive dojo initiatives with a level of strategic and operational excellence that is rarely seen in Judo.” Said MASTERs High Performance Director and 2004 Olympian Dr. Rhadi Ferguson.
Athletes credit their success to MASTERs’ distinctive training ecosystem, which incorporates tactical planning, individualized athlete support, data science, and a values-based philosophy centered on Jita-Kyoei—a foundational judo principle meaning mutual benefit and well-being. This approach was evident in the level of preparation executed for the championships, where scouting reports, medical support, and professional media coverage were prearranged to ensure peak athlete performance.
Among the top performers were Chloe Williams, Emma Bragg, and Nakapan Phungephorn. Each not only competed in multiple divisions but also achieved results that, as individuals, could have placed their own efforts among the top national teams. Bragg, who earned High Noon’s first black belt division title, took home three golds and one silver. Petri and Phungephorn each completed over a dozen matches, capturing multiple medals and highlighting the program’s endurance-oriented training philosophy.
The 2025 National competition also underscored MASTERs’ emphasis on dual-role leadership. Athlete-coaches such as Heidi Holz, Alex Painter, and Liam Donovan provided mentorship and coaching while also medaling in their respective divisions. The ability to balance performance and mentorship roles illustrates MASTERs’ capacity to build leadership pipelines within martial arts, reinforcing its nonprofit mission well beyond the tournament mat.
Dr. Round emphasized this point in his post-tournament remarks, stating, “Our success lies in how we prepare—not just technically, but holistically. We support our hobbyists as seriously as we do our elites, and the points they contributed show how that investment pays off. MASTERs is about building people, not just programs.”
The nonprofit’s fellows program also proved pivotal. Fellows such as Emma Bragg, Chloe Williams, E.J. Lynch, and Timothy-Michael Spriggs demonstrated grit and skill across various competitive brackets. Spriggs, a high-level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor and Olympic hopeful, secured medals in multiple divisions, demonstrating both adaptability and the value of cross-disciplinary experience. His participation exemplifies MASTERs’ belief in bridging athletic communities to strengthen American judo more broadly.
Fellow Chloe Williams commented on the importance of institutional backing: “MASTERs provides funding but also high-level training and opportunities. When you’re working toward a possible Olympic spot, this kind of support is vital. It’s so much harder to do it alone.”
The MASTERs initiative is more than a training organization—it is a leadership incubator and a platform for long-term community investment through martial arts. Its success at the USA Judo Senior National Championships is not only a testament to technical excellence but also to a scalable model for athlete-centered programming. With the combination of high-performance results and a mission-driven structure, MASTERs and its High Noon Judo program continue to redefine what is possible in community martial arts.
To learn more about MASTERs and High Noon Judo, visit their official channels: Instagram (MASTERs), Instagram (High Noon Judo), Facebook, and Google Reviews.
