Surprise Black Belt promotion, seminar held at Rolling Waters Jiu Jitsu
Jesse Vargas photo
Egan Inoue promotes Coach Owen Garcia with two stripes onto his black belt.
Jesse Vargas photo
Coach Owen and Egan Inoue pose for a photo after the surprise promotion and seminar.
Jesse Vargas photo
The Rolling Waters Jiu Jitsu team poses for a photo with Egan Inoue.
Jesse Vargas photo
Egan demonstrates on Connor Ferril details of the S-M Mount.
Jesse Vargas photo
Jesse Vargas photo
Jesse Vargas photo
Jesse Vargas photo
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Story and photos by Jesse Vargas for the Valley Journal
On Saturday, May 17, students at Rolling Waters Jiu Jitsu in Polson organized a surprise event to honor their coach, Owen Garcia, with a visit from a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend — Professor Egan Inoue.
The event, kept secret from Coach Owen for weeks, was a collective effort by the students to show appreciation for his leadership and the community he has built at the gym. What began as a seemingly ordinary open mat quickly turned into a powerful and emotional moment as Inoue entered the building, catching Coach Owen completely off guard.
Inoue, a two-time IBJJF Black Belt World Champion and one of the first American black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, traveled from Hawaii to Polson specifically to promote Coach Owen to second-degree black belt — a major milestone that marks years of dedication, teaching, and service to the martial art and the Polson community.
The surprise unfolded with precise coordination. Students picked up Inoue from the Missoula airport and brought him to the gym without alerting Coach Owen. At the gym, students warmed up on the mats while one student rolled with Owen to keep him occupied. Inoue entered quietly and approached the mats, where Coach Owen immediately recognized him and reacted with visible emotion and shock. Surrounded by his students, Owen was formally awarded his two stripes as a black belt.
Following the promotion, Inoue led a two-hour seminar in the gi (common martial arts uniform), offering high-level instruction to students of all ranks. The atmosphere was a blend of excitement, inspiration and gratitude.
To conclude the celebration, the community gathered for a barbecue behind the gym’s adjacent Flex building — a time for students and families to connect and reflect on the day.
This event was not only a celebration of Coach Owen’s achievements, but also a testament to the strength of the local jiu jitsu community. Under his guidance, Rolling Waters has become more than a gym — it’s a place of personal growth, family connection, and resilience.
The students also plan to surprise Coach Owen again by hand-delivering a copy of this Valley Journal edition, allowing the story of the day — and its meaning — to live on in print.
