BEN EATON | BLACK BELT - 3RD°
|
Ben's relentless passion for learning lead to Ben meeting and establishing a longtime friendship and mentorship with BJJ Legends and multiple time World Champions, Saulo and Xande Ribeiro in 2001. This relationship led Ben to becoming a Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association instructor and affiliate owner in 2006. On 10/10/2009, after years of dedication, hard training; often driving hours to train with the Ribeiro brothers in their Toledo and Detroit academies on a weekly basis, Ben had the honor of becoming the 6th American to be promoted to the rank of Black Belt by Saulo. Professor Ben Eaton is not only the head instructor of RJJ Yorktown, but he also has the privilege of being the East Coast Director of the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association. Along with being a passionate practitioner, instructor and small business owner; Ben is also an active competitor. He believes that he must constantly test himself to maintain the integrity of his practice and instruction. Since black belt, some of his tournament accomplishments are:
|
Alberto Cruz | BLACK BELT
He earned his 1st Degree Blackbelt (Shodan) in 1994 and is currently a 3rd Degree Blackbelt (Sandan) in Judo. Throughout his Judo career, Sensei Alberto has been the assistant instructor or main instructor at 10 different dojos throughout the world. He is an accomplished Judoka (ranked as high as 6th in the nation) having competed at national and international tournaments. While stationed in the UK, he had the unique opportunity to learn Sambo Wrestling., He quickly burst into the tournament scene winning the 1999 British Sambo Wrestling Championships and the 2000 World Sambo Wrestling Championships after only a few years of training. In 2006, Alberto officially began studying Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu. He has taught Judo for Jiu-Jitsu players at every Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association affiliate in the the Hampton Roads area and won 3rd place at the 2013 IBJJF Master World Championships as a purple belt. In 2018, he was honored to receive his Blackbelt in Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu from Professors Ben Eaton and Scott Oates. What Professor Alberto is most proud of is being an instructor for so many years in so many different grappling martial arts. Wrestling, Judo, Sambo and Jiu-Jitsu all compliment each other and he absolutely loves passing his knowledge to eager students. |