I started training with Ricardo de la Riva in 1998, as a purple belt in Rio de Janeiro. He’s world famous in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and better known for his de la Riva guard. He was Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira’s professor, so he took me in as one of his own. I competed for the Carlson Gracie then Brazilian Top Team, but spent countless hours at de la Riva’s academy. Master de la has become one of the greatest influences in my life of Jiu-Jitsu. For this reason, I look to him as master.
I had many great teachers on my journey, and learned so many great techniques, but Minotauro and Ricardo de la Riva are the only ones who emphasized being a great person. They showed me the greatest techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and molded me to become a champion in life.
Master de la would show to corner me at competitions sometimes. I remember being undefeated in his presence, but I also remember never listening to him and carrying out my own strategy. Even when my strategy was sour to start, I would always manage to find my moment for the submission. It drove him crazy that I executed via instinct, but in the end it was all smiles in victory. The explanation makes for a funny situation, but it always unfolded like so.
Master de la Riva is a great champion who coaches so many to become champions, including an awesome trio to back-back-back titles in the Brazilian Championship: Rodrigo Minotauro in 1998, Rogério Minotouro in 1999, and me in becoming Brazilian Champion 2000.
I’m proud to represent Ricardo de la Riva, through all that I do in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Vice versa, he’s proud to rep Jiu-Jitsu Chop. We both work hard to set the absolute highest standard in BJJ. The confederation just recently certified him as sixth degree, and the master himself certified me to the third degree in the rank of Black Belt.
Ricardo de la Riva continues to play a major role in my life and style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as he does for so many others.
ACADEMY DE LA RIVA RIO training for MUNDIAL 99′
Mauro Jorge, DUSTIN “CLEAN” DENES, Ricardo DE LA RIVA, RODRIGO “MINOTAURO” Nogueira, Marcelo Grosso, Julio
ROGERIO “MINOTAURO” Nogueira and Marcelo “Bocao”
continued…….LINK HERE My CHAMPION story and GOLD medal Interview