Ricardo Liborio

Ricardo Libório

Libório at American Top Team
Born July 13, 1967
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Residence Coconut Creek, Florida
Nationality Brazilian American
Team American Top Team
Rank      black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
     Black belt in Judo

Ricardo Libório is the head instructor and co-founder of American Top Team (ATT), a mixed martial arts school based in Coconut Creek, Florida.

At ATT's main facility, Libório helps to train a stable of UFC, Bellator, and other professional fighters, including Thiago Alves, Robbie Lawler, Antônio Silva, Nik Lentz, Mark Hunt, Marcus Brimage, Hector Lombard, Cole Miller, Micah Miller, Jeff Monson, Brad Pickett, Alessio Sakara, George Sotiropoulos, Ken Stone, Gleison Tibau, Steve Mocco, Tecia Torres, Dan Cramer, Yoel Romero, Attila Vegh, Jorge Masvidal, Jessica Aguilar, Dustin Poirier, and Tyron Woodley.

According to Fight! magazine's most recent "Power 20", which profiles the twenty "most significant power players, movers, shakers, ambassadors, and game-changers in MMA," Libório is currently ranked #13.[1]

He was nominated as "Coach of the Year" for the The Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Awards in 2009.[2]

Early years and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Antônio Ricardo Jardim Libório was born on July 13, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His introduction to combat sports began at the age of 4, when he began studying Judo. He later took up tae kwon do and boxing. At 14, he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] at the Carlson Gracie academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, which produced black belts such as Vitor Belfort, André Pederneiras, and Ricardo de la Riva. Libório received his black belt from Carlson Gracie in 1993 at the age of 26.[4]

In 1996, Libório entered the first ever "Mundials," or World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, winning a gold medal in the super heavyweight (super-pesado) division over Leo Castello Branco, a much heavier opponent.[3] He was awarded the title of "Most Technical Black Belt" in that tournament.[5]

In 2000, Libório competed in the International Masters Mundials under his middle name, Antônio Jardim, taking gold in the meio-pesado (middle-heavy) division.[6]

MMA

Ricardo co-founded Brazilian Top Team in collaboration with three other Carlson Gracie students, Murilo Bustamante, Luis Duarte, and Mario Sperry.

In 2001 Ricardo was approached by American businessman and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, Dan Lambert. Dan recruited Ricardo, and together they formed a partnership, which would eventually become American Top Team.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw 0–0-1 Ikuhisa Minowa Draw Deep - 1st Impact January 8, 2001 3 5:00 Nagoya, Japan

Work with the visually impaired

After craniosynostosis rendered Libório's daughter, Bella, blind at 1½ years old, he developed a community outreach program through American Top Team. The academy is certified to teach judo to visually impaired students.[7]

Other accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "The 4th Annual Power 20". Fight!. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Nominees for Fighters Only World MMA Awards 2009". Fighters Only. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ricardo Libório". ATT.
  4. ↑ "American Top Team instructors". ATT.
  5. ↑ "USA Grappling National Coach Ricardo Liborio interviewed on Eddie Goldman's No Holds Barred". The mat.com.
  6. ↑ "Campeonato Internacional Master E Sênior 2000". IBJJF.
  7. ↑ "Visually impaired kids hit the mat in martial arts lesson". Sun Sentinel.
  8. ↑ "Liborio, Levitetz take USA Grappling leadership roles; USA to host 2009 Grappling Worlds in Florida". The mat.com.