Ricardo de la Riva Goded

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Ricardo de la Riva Goded is a fifth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is most famous for inventing the de la Riva Guard. He was voted one of the five top BJJ players in the world by Gracie Magazine.^{[citation needed]} De La Riva received his black belt from Carlson Gracie and is also well known for having beaten Royce Gracie in a BJJ tournament.

Ricardo De La Riva Goded, pupil of the Carlson Gracie Sr., started to train in January of 1980, at age 15 years old, in the house of family friend Marcos Vinícios - also a pupil of Carlson Gracie. When Marcos noticed the ability with jiu-jitsu of De La Riva while still a blue belt, he took him to the academy of Carlson Gracie where he continued his training.

Since the beginning, De La Riva helped Carlson to give lessons until in 1986 he was awarded the black belt. It was at this time that the great mark of De La Riva became known through his style of classic and offensive fighting. He is known mainly through the hook known as "De La Riva Guard". A great part of this knowledge came through undisputed victories against great adversaries such as Royce Gracie, Royler Gracie and Rolker Gracie. De La Riva defeated Rolker and Royce in the same competition (Royler twice).^{[citation needed]}

In 1993 he stopped competing regularly to dedicate exclusively to teaching his pupils, having formed or helped in the formation of such champions as Rodrigo Minotauro, Rogério Minotouro, and Marcelo Grosso amongst others.

De La Riva is now giving seminars around the world where he recounts a little of his life and he shows his techniques.