Ron Tripp (born April 22, 1953) is an American chiropractor, sports executive, coach, and former competitor in judo and sambo.

He is well known in the martial arts community, especially among Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling enthusiasts, for being the only person to hold an official victory in competition over Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Rickson Gracie. Tripp became America's first Merited and Distinguished Master of Sport in 1996. He was promoted to 6th dan by USA Judo in November 2006.

Biography

Education

A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, and graduate of Hillsdale College and Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Coaching

In 2006, he founded C3Fights, a professional MMA company, and personally trained C3Fighters at the USA Stars Training Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and coached and cornered UFC fighters Joe Stevenson and Melvin Guillard at UFC events.

Career highlights

  • 1970-1994: Competed in judo, sambo, and wrestling tournaments
  • 1990: Submitted by Rigan Machado in 39 seconds, Pan Am finals
  • 1993: Defeated Rickson Gracie by uchi mata in 47 seconds, U.S. Sambo Championships
  • 1994: Defeated Andrew Bourdeau to win the FIAS World Heavyweight Championship of Sambo in Montreal, Canada

Awards and titles

Sport

  • 1994 World Sambo Champion
  • 7-time World Medalist Sambo
  • 1989 World Judo Team Belgrade (lost first fight against Bjarni Friðriksson)
  • Mifune Cup Team Bronze Medalist Open Division
  • Three time Sambo National Champion (1988, 1989, 1990)
  • Member of U.S. Olympic Committee 2000-2004
  • Co-founder and President of C3Fights
  • Three time U.S. Olympic Festival Medal winner (1986, 1987, 1990)
  • District Director, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (2003–2009)
  • Elected as a Director of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners in May 2011

References

  • Ron Tripp's International Judo Federation interview