‘Hong Kong Shaun’ Kiatvongcharoen promoted to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt after stellar year in the US
- Hong Kong-raised Shaun Kiatvongcharoen earns black belt after eight years of devotion to the grappling-based combat sport
- The 25-year-old Impact Jiu Jitsu coach demands more testing for performance-enhancing drugs in future BJJ competitions
Hong Kong has a new Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt to celebrate after Shaun Kiatvongcharoen was proudly promoted in Beaverton, Oregon.
The 25-year-old Hong Kong-raised, Impact Jiu Jitsu-trained grappler did not leave much doubt in the mind of his professor, having dominated the Oregon Championship in November last year – earning two gold medals each in the gi and no-gi brown belt and elite categories, respectively.
“It still feels surreal to this day. [Receiving my black belt] was definitely a dream of mine since I started back in 2012,” said Kiatvongcharoen, whose Chinese-Thai father and Japanese mother are still based in Hong Kong.
“I received my black belt in December and I was [put] in a shark tank of other black belts, which is usually Impact’s ritual for a black belt promotion. The excitement and realising that I was going to be promoted made me feel overwhelmed. I’m really honoured and proud to be a black belt under Impact Jiu Jitsu.”
