Ricardo Libório facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ricardo Libório |
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Ricardo Libório
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| Born | July 13, 1967 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Residence | Orlando, Florida |
| Nationality | Brazilian American |
| Rank | 7th deg. BJJ red and black Coral belt under Carlson Gracie 2nd Degree Black belt in Judo under Rhadi Ferguson |
Antonio Ricardo Jardim Libório (born July 13, 1967) is a famous Brazilian jiu jitsu expert. He holds a black belt under Grand Master Carlson Gracie. Ricardo Libório is known for helping start two big martial arts teams: American Top Team (ATT) and Brazilian Top Team (BTT). He also founded Martial Arts Nation and the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Institute (IBJJI). Today, he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the University of Central Florida. In 2012, a magazine called Fight! listed him as one of the top 20 most important people in MMA. He was also named "Coach of the Year" in 2009.
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Ricardo Libório's Martial Arts Journey
Ricardo Libório was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 13, 1967. He started learning martial arts very young, at just four years old, by studying judo. As he grew up, he explored many different fighting styles. These included taekwondo, Muay Thai, and boxing.
Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
When he was 14, Ricardo began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He joined the famous Carlson Gracie academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. This academy was known for training many top black belts. Some famous students included Vitor Belfort and Mario Sperry. Ricardo worked hard and earned his black belt from Carlson Gracie in 1993. He was 26 years old at the time.
Winning World Championships
In 1996, Ricardo Libório competed in the first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, also known as the "Mundials." He won a gold medal in the super heavyweight division. He beat a much heavier opponent, Leo Castello Branco. Because of his amazing skills, he was given the title "Most Technical Black Belt" in that tournament. The next year, he won another gold medal at the International Masters Mundials. His talent in jiu-jitsu was so well-known that Carlson Gracie even said he could beat the legendary Rickson Gracie in a sport jiu-jitsu match.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Ricardo Libório helped create Brazilian Top Team with three other students of Carlson Gracie. These were Murilo Bustamante, Luis Duarte, and Mario Sperry.
Founding American Top Team
In 2001, an American businessman named Dan Lambert, who also practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, contacted Ricardo. Dan asked Ricardo to join him in starting a new partnership. This partnership eventually grew into the well-known team called American Top Team.
Ricardo's MMA Fight
Libório had his own MMA debut in Japan that same year. He fought against Pancrase wrestler Ikuhisa Minowa in a promotion called Deep. The fight had very few strikes. Ricardo tried to take Minowa down and almost got an armbar submission. Minowa tried a kimura in return. Ricardo mostly controlled the fight from the top position. He almost got a rear naked choke at the end of the second round. In the third round, they traded leglock attempts. The match ended in a draw because there were no judges.
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 0 losses |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 0–0-1 | Ikuhisa Minowa | Draw | Deep - 1st Impact | January 8, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan |
ADCC Superfight Victory
On August 29, 2015, Ricardo Libório competed in a special "Superfight" at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. He faced his former teammate from Carlson Gracie's academy, Mario Sperry. After 20 minutes of fighting and two extra overtime periods, the referees decided that Libório was the winner.
After American Top Team
After leaving American Top Team in 2015, Ricardo Libório started new projects.
Martial Arts Nation
In 2018, Libório founded a company called Martial Arts Nation. This company helps martial arts schools with things like advice, events, and branding. Their main goal is to create programs that teach important life skills. These skills include good character, leadership, and overall well-being through martial arts training. Martial Arts Nation also focuses on making sure every training place is welcoming for everyone.
Teaching at University of Central Florida
Ricardo Libório has made a big difference at the University of Central Florida (UCF). In August 2018, he helped change the UCF MMA club into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club. He introduced a new way of organizing the club and created a welcoming atmosphere. By the end of 2018, the club had 30 members. By 2020, it grew to 250 members, becoming the largest sports club at UCF. It also had the second-highest number of female participants among all sports clubs.
On August 26, 2019, he started the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu college class in the U.S. taught by a world champion and coach. In 2020, he added a second, more advanced class. His classes and the club have taught hundreds of students.
In March 2018, Libório helped host the first Florida collegiate Jiu-Jitsu competition. It was called "Resenha," which means "hangout." This event was for people who usually just watch Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to try it out. It also taught about the mental and physical benefits of the sport. These benefits include self-defense, reducing anxiety and depression, improving focus, and building self-confidence. This was done through a "Mat and Chat" system that Libório developed. More than 350 people participated, and 85 Black Belts from across the U.S. attended.
Programs in Public Schools
In 2018, Libório also started an after-school martial arts program. He hoped to bring this program to schools across the U.S. He partnered with Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida. They created the first after-school martial arts program at Edgewater High School. This program, through Martial Arts Nation, focuses on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Márcio Pimentel was the first lead coach, and Professor Kyle Leisher is now in charge of the club at Edgewater.
While BJJ is the main sport, other martial arts like Judo, grappling, and self-defense are also taught. Like his other programs, this one helps students build self-confidence and good character. It also aims to raise self-esteem and, for high school students, teach about anti-bullying. The program shows how BJJ can help people in their daily lives, not just in competitions. The Edgewater program has grown every year since it started.
Helping Visually Impaired Students
Ricardo Libório's daughter became visually impaired when she was young. Because of this, he created a special program through American Top Team. This academy is certified to teach judo to students who are visually impaired. This shows his dedication to helping others through martial arts.
Achievements and Awards
Ricardo Libório has achieved many great things in his martial arts career:
- Three-time Brazilian National Champion
- IBJJF World Champion in 1996
- Placed 3rd at the Abu Dhabi Submission Tournament in 1999
- Placed 2nd at the Abu Dhabi Submission Tournament in 2000
- World Champion in the Masters Division in 2000
- Named NAGA Coach of the Year in 2005
- Served as the National Coach for USA Grappling
- Inducted into the NAGA Grappling Hall of Fame in 2005
- Voted Most Technical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competitor at the 2006 Mundial
- Worked with the Wounded Warrior Project and U.S. Navy Seals
- Received the USA Grappling Honors Award in 2009
- Inducted into the official World Grappling Hall of Fame in 2010
- Inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010
- Won the ADCC 2015 Superfight, defeating Mario Sperry
- Served as the International Olympic supervisor for judo and wrestling at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
- Received the Palm Sports Abu Dhabi Honors award in 2018
- Received the Martial Arts Industry Association Honors award in 2019
