Ryan Rohovich, third from left, with his new black belt around his waist and his old brown belt slung around his shoulders, surrounded by his coaches. (Image Credit: Photo submitted/North Wake Martial Arts)

By Nick Nielsen

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Local MMA fighter Ryan Rohovich earns black belt

Jan 30, 2026 | 11:10 AM

Earning a black belt in any martial art is a prestigious honour.

It takes years of proving that your technique is up to the standard expected of the belt and Prince Albert MMA fighter Ryan Rohovich has done just that.

Earlier this week, his team at North Wake Martial Arts presented him with his first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – a moment that’s been 14 years in the making. 

“I just want to say thank you to my coaches, my wife, all my training partners, and everybody who helped push me and supports me through this journey.” 

For most martial arts, jiu-jitsu included, a practitioner can be presented with the belt at any time. For some it comes after a competition. Rohovich received his during training and had a feeling it was coming.

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“Everybody keeps talking about it, how I should be black belt and I’m ‘all black belt level and this and that’, and I heard Lucien mention it once before, too. He said something to me that made me suspicious of getting the black belt. I’m glad it finally happened.” 

Rohovich didn’t join the sport until he was 26 years old. Not only has he used jiu-jitsu in his MMA career, he said the lessons he has learned through the discipline of the sport helped him get his life under control.

“It definitely was a big turning point. It created discipline and it created a sense of purpose. It made me have goals. Since then I’ve always wanted to accomplish my goals. It created a massive discipline. I learned who I was on the mats. I learned a lot about who I really am.” 

Rohovich has been trained by Lucien Phillips. Phillips and his coach, Jeff Wiley in Calgary, both presented the Prince Albert athlete with his black belt.

There’s a quote displayed on the wall at North Wake gym: ‘Destination Black’.

“When I first started jiu-jitsu, I knew that one day I wanted to be a black belt, and ever since I’ve seen that on the gym wall, I just would look at it every day and just push myself, keep training and keep it up. One day I’ll be a black belt, and now here I am.” 

Last time he competed, Rohovich lost in a bout he accepted on just six days notice, but he’s looking forward to stepping back on the mat- this time with his black belt.

—

nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com