James "Chico" Hernandez - Washburn, ME

Chico excels in the grueling sport of Sombo wrestling against people 20 years his junior. He is a two-time member of the Team USA World Cup. When he is not working as a social worker at the Maine Correctional Institute, he volunteers his time with area schools to warn kids of the dangers of drugs and crime. Chico also serves his country as a combat and basic training instructor in the Army Reserves. His athletic accomplishments, demanding work schedule, and commitment to his community and his nation make Chico a deserving everyday champion.

HONORS, AWARDS, AND SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Featured on the Box of Wheaties "The Breakfast of Champions"
Featured in CNN/SI "Faces in the Crowd"
Featured in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd"
Featured in Grappling, Black Belt and Inside Ku-Fu Magazines
World Sombo Wrestling Champion & Pan American Champion
World Cup Silver Nice, France & 9 X All-World Performer
AAU Iron Man World Wrestling Champion & 31 X AAU Wrestling All-American
2 X British Open Wrestling Silver Medalists
2 X Maine Skirmish Champion & 4 X Finalist
US National Champion in Sombo, Greco Roman, Folk style and Freestyle
12 State of Maine Legislative Sentiment Awards
Member of the Puerto Rico World Aikido Ju-Jitsu Federation
Certified Maine Criminal Justice Academy Instructor at the Maine State Prison Un-Armed Self Defense
Maine Sports Hall of Fame
University of Maine Athletic Hall of Fame
Illinois Wrestlers Hall of Fame
Latin American World Wide Martial Arts Hall of Fame
9th Degree Black Belt Wrestling, Martial Arts Academy of America
10th Degree Black Belt Sport Sombo, Madrid, Spain
3rd Degree Black Belt Military Combat Sombo; Quantico, VA
2nd Degree Black Belt Submission Fighting, Detriot, MI
1st Degree Black Belt Hybrid Wrestling, Modesto, California
1st Degree Black Belt Sombo, British Sombo Federation
1st. Degree Black Belt Sombo, Bulgarian Sports Ministry

COMBAT WARRIOR E-MAGAZINE January 2006 / CombatWarriorMag.net