Made world famous by the Gracie family of Brazil, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a modern combat system of standing and ground techniques which utilize principles of balance and leverage.Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is an advanced grappling style which emphasizes relaxation and precise technical movement. The highest expression of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the victory of technique over strength, making it an ideal style for men and women of any age, size, shape, or ability.We train with progressive resistance in a fun, relaxed, and friendly environment. You will learn takedowns, pin escapes, sweeps (reversals), chokes, joint locks, and much more! Whether your goals are self-defense, competition, or just to have fun, there is a place for you at our gym!
Rockwell Submission League '06 Highlight
Head Instructor: Jeff Rockwell
Phone: 814-222-5150
Email: – [email protected]
Class Schedule: 8:30pm-10pm, M-Thursday
What should I wear? - please bring a jiu-jitsu or judo gi if you have one; if not, comfortable workout clothing is acceptable until you can buy a gi. For no-gi training, I generally recommend board shorts and a rashguard/underarmor type top for comfort and to prevent fingers and toes getting snagged up in loose t-shirts and sweatpants.
Location: LionHeart Fitness & MMA (formerly BodyWorks), 127 Sowers St. State College, PA, 16801
About Professor De La Riva: The art of Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to Brazil by Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Champion Conde De Koma, a friend of Carlos Gracie. Carlos not only learned the techniques, but also taught his brothers. To this day the Gracie Family is still practicing and teaching their style of Jiu-Jitsu.
Ricardo De La Riva, a student of the great late Master Carlson Gracie, started training in January of 1980 (at the age of 15 years old) in the house of his friend Vinicios Landmarks, also a student of Master Carlson Gracie. It became clear from very early on that De La Riva would make a great mark on the Jiu-Jitsu world. Master De La Riva soon began to help Master Carlson Gracie give lessons at his school starting at blue belt. He continued to teach at Master Carlson Gracie's school for an additional four years after achieving his Black Belt in 1986.
Master De La Riva is best known for his legendary "De La Riva Guard". He was able to display his great knowledge and skill in victories against highly skilled adversaries as Royce, Royler, and Rolker Gracie. Master De La Riva defeated Royce and Rolker Gracie in the same competition to be the only man alive ever to beat two Gracie on the same day. Master De La Riva has also beaten Royler Gracie two times in additional competitions.
Master De La Riva has been training for more than 25 years in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu art. He is constantly modifying and improving the Jiu-Jitsu art. Recently he has renamed his legendary "De La Riva Guard" to "De La Riva Hooks." Always working to improve his own techniques, he found a better way to apply the guard. This is what Master De La Riva has always done to the art - improve it! The information and skill that Master De La Riva possesses cannot be found with anyone else in the world.
"He's an interesting guy, and possibly the only person in Brazil who doesn't have enemies. He's the only one in Rio who nobody dislikes, according to many Brazilians I talk with. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people in Rio who don't like the Gracies, but no one doesn't like De La Riva. He is regarded as the quintessential technician. One of his students, former Pride HW champion Rodrigo Antonio Nogueira, said recently in Tokyo 'I've tried and I've tried, but I still can not pass professor's guard'." - Roberto Pedreira - http://www.fusionbjj.com/robertointerview.htm Repository of Professor De La Riva's Instructional and Competition Video Clips:
The New and Improved De La Riva Hook Sweep..Defending the Cross Pass with the Reverse De La Riva Hook:
A simple Half Guard reversal:
A slick way to pass the guard:
Reversal using your opponent's lapel:
Ricardo De La Riva "flow rolling" with a student: A teaser from a De La Riva seminar video: DLR showing the Reverse Omaplata: (It looks crazy, but he has used it to submit an opponent in the Mundials!)
De La Riva passing the open guard:
De La Riva shows a sweep and a reversal from the open guard:Boca and De La Riva show several Half Guard passes:Ricardo De La Riva vs Yuki Nakai, 2004:
De La Riva showing a guard drill against a wall:
Footage of De La Riva's comeback at the 2002 World Championships in Brazil. He entered the men's adult division instead of Masters, and lost to the eventual champion in the semi-finals to the famous (and very young and athletic) Fredson Paxio.
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