Martial Arts Nation Lake Nona co-founder Ricardo Liborio has dedicated his life to two goals: training in martial arts, and helping enrich other’s lives by promoting the benefits of training.Born in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, Liborio began studying judo at the age of four. He trained in a variety of traditional and modern martial arts, including taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Western boxing. At age 15, he began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Carlson Gracie Academy, under the tutelage of Carlson himself. In 1993, he received his black belt from Master Gracie.Liborio’s talent, drive, and sheer love of the art lead him to excel in competition. He took gold at the inaugural IBJJF World Championship, competing against opponents multiple weight classes above him.Although Liborio could have made a career from competition alone, he felt compelled to do more. In 2000, he helped found the Brazilian Top Team school, and, upon moving to United States of America, established American Top Team.Soon after, Liborio introduced the art of BJJ into the college landscape. And not just any college, but the biggest one in the United States, the University of Central Florida. Today through his three accredited classes and the UCF BJJ club, he and his assistants teach over 350 students each semester!At UCF he met several amazing students and youth professionals, two of which being Howard Graham and his brother Duncan Graham. Together they saw opportunity in the Lake Nona area and wanted to bring the amazing results they had seen at UCF in transforming student’s lives to this new and growing area of central Florida. Within 11 days of making the decision to open at Lake Nona the GYM opened and student’s began to learn the gentle art for the first time…. always an exciting thing to see and experience. They are excited for what the future holds and the lives they can positively impact everyday class by class, roll after roll. Welcome to the Nation!OSSSS

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