Ron Tripp
Encyclopedia
Ron Tripp Battle Creek, Michigan
, is a World Sambo
and Judo
champion and the current general secretary of USA Judo. He is also a member of the board of directors of the United States Olympic Committee
.
His name is well-known in the MMA world, especially among jujutsu
and submission grappling enthusiasts, as he is the only person to hold an official victory in competition over veteran Brazilian fighter Rickson Gracie
. Tripp was promoted to 10th degree in Sambo in 1995 and became America's first Distinguished Masters of Sport in 1996. He was promoted to 6th dan by USA Judo in November 2006.
A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, and graduate of Hillsdale College
and Palmer College of Chiropractic
. The 6 foot, 205 pound Tripp excelled in both the sports of Judo and Sambo. Trained by Pat Burris, 2 time Judo Olympian and Olympic Judo Coach, Tripp's fight career in judo lasted from 1982 to 1995. He is also a Doctor of Chiropractic. Tripp trained in Japan for six years, and during that time trained under Sensei Takagi at NichiDai University, home of MMA star Makoto Takimoto and 2 Time All Japan Judo Champion Jun Konno. In 2006 he founded C3Fights, a professional MMA company, and still personally trains C3Fighters at the USA Stars Training Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as well as Joe "Daddy" Stevenson and Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard of the UFC.
of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family. Tripp threw Gracie to the canvas by "Uchi mata
" in 47 seconds, thus giving Tripp "absolute" victory under U.S. Sambo rules. Rickson disputed this loss, claiming he was misinformed of the rules of the event.
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, is a World Sambo
Sambo (martial art)
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. The word "SAMBO" is an acronym for SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as "self-defense without weapons". Sambo is relatively modern since its development began in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve their hand to hand...
and Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
champion and the current general secretary of USA Judo. He is also a member of the board of directors of the United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
.
His name is well-known in the MMA world, especially among jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
and submission grappling enthusiasts, as he is the only person to hold an official victory in competition over veteran Brazilian fighter Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...
. Tripp was promoted to 10th degree in Sambo in 1995 and became America's first Distinguished Masters of Sport in 1996. He was promoted to 6th dan by USA Judo in November 2006.
A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, and graduate of Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
and Palmer College of Chiropractic
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Palmer College of Chiropractic is a chiropractic school located in Davenport, Iowa. It was established in 1897 by Daniel David Palmer and is considered "The Fountainhead" as it was the first school of chiropractic in the world. For many years, Palmer College of Chiropractic was the world's largest...
. The 6 foot, 205 pound Tripp excelled in both the sports of Judo and Sambo. Trained by Pat Burris, 2 time Judo Olympian and Olympic Judo Coach, Tripp's fight career in judo lasted from 1982 to 1995. He is also a Doctor of Chiropractic. Tripp trained in Japan for six years, and during that time trained under Sensei Takagi at NichiDai University, home of MMA star Makoto Takimoto and 2 Time All Japan Judo Champion Jun Konno. In 2006 he founded C3Fights, a professional MMA company, and still personally trains C3Fighters at the USA Stars Training Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as well as Joe "Daddy" Stevenson and Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard of the UFC.
Career highlights
- 1970-1994: Competed in over 2,000 Judo, Sambo, and Wrestling matches.
- 1982-1994: Reportedly compiled a tournament record of over 900 wins.
- 1990: Submitted by Rigan MachadoRigan MachadoRigan Machado is an 8th degree red and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu earning his rank under Carlos Gracie Jr. He is a former Jiu-Jitsu world champion and a veteran of the ADCC. Machado holds a victory over Ron Tripp, the only person credited with a victory over Rickson Gracie...
in 39 seconds, Pan Am finals - 1993: Defeated Rickson GracieRickson GracieRickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...
by Uchimata in 47 seconds. - 1994: At 41, defeated 24-year-old Andrew Bourdeau to win the World Heavyweight Championship of Sambo in Montreal, Canada.
- 1995: Tripp came out that he was a homosexual.
- 2000: Tripp started LGBT chapter in Oklahoma so that he can help (pick up)men.
The Rickson Gracie Fight
At the 1993 U.S. Sambo Championships in Norman, Oklahoma, Tripp faced undefeated Rickson GracieRickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...
of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family. Tripp threw Gracie to the canvas by "Uchi mata
Uchi Mata
is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as developed by Jigoro Kano.It belongs to the second group, Dai Nikyo, of the traditional throwing list, Gokyo , of Kodokan Judo.It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo....
" in 47 seconds, thus giving Tripp "absolute" victory under U.S. Sambo rules. Rickson disputed this loss, claiming he was misinformed of the rules of the event.
Awards and titles
- 1994 World Sambo Champion
- 7-time World Medalist Sambo
- 1989 World Judo Team Belgrade
- Distinguished Master of Sports
- Olympic Festival Judo Champion Open Division
- 8-time Olympic Festival Medal winner
- Mifune Cup Team Bronze Medalist Open Division
- 12-time Judo and Sambo National Champion and Pan American Champion
- President of USA Judo 2000-2008
- Member of U.S. Olympic Committee 2000-2004
- Co-Founder and President of C3Fights
- President of the Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners (1997–)
- District Director, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (2003–2009)
- Chairman of the FCLB Board of Directors 2008-2009
- Recipient of the FCLB George W. Ardvison Award 2010, Baltimore
- Vice-Chairman of the Board of International Oil and Gas Holdings