ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS – Ricardo Cavalcanti Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Judo & Wrestling

At Ricardo Cavalcanti BJJ RI, we are excited to offer wrestling and judo classes, led by Coach Mooney, a highly accomplished competitor and instructor, Coach Mooney brings over 20 years of experience in wrestling and holds a black belt in judo. His extensive background in both disciplines makes him a top-tier coach for athletes looking to improve their grappling, takedown skills, and overall athletic performance. Wrestling is also one of the most well-recognized and respected sports at both the high school and collegiate levels. Many schools and universities offer wrestling programs that provide students with opportunities for scholarships, competitive experience, and personal growth. Training in wrestling at a young age can help athletes build a strong foundation for future opportunities in both academics and athletics.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a solid foundation or an experienced practitioner wanting to refine your techniques, adding judo and wrestling to your training will elevate your game to the next level.

Why Judo & Wrestling?

While BJJ is renowned for its ground fighting and submissions, incorporating judo and wrestling brings a strong focus on takedowns, balance, and positional control, making it a powerful combination for self-defense, competition, and overall athletic development.

✅ Judo & BJJ: A Perfect Pairing
Judo, known as the “gentle way,” focuses on using an opponent’s force against them through throws, sweeps, and trips. Many fundamental judo techniques, such as Uchi Mata, Osoto Gari, and Seoi Nage, translate exceptionally well into BJJ. By training in judo, students develop:

Explosive and efficient takedowns
Better balance, grip control, and body positioning
Seamless transitions from standing to groundwork (newaza)

Judo also enhances a student’s ability to stay on their feet, control an opponent’s movement, and dictate the pace of a fight before it even goes to the ground—an invaluable skill for both sport BJJ and self-defense.

✅ Wrestling & BJJ: Dominate the Mats
Wrestling is one of the most effective disciplines for control, pressure, and positional dominance. Whether it’s freestyle, Greco-Roman, or folkstyle wrestling, the ability to dictate where the fight takes place is a game-changer in both gi and no-gi BJJ. Key benefits of wrestling include:

Explosive double-leg and single-leg takedowns
Strong base, balance, and scrambling ability
Superior top pressure and positional control
Mental toughness and endurance

Adding wrestling to your BJJ game means you won’t just be playing from guard—you’ll be dictating the fight from the top, controlling the pace, and forcing your opponent to react to you.

📩 Contact Coach Mooney
📧 CoachCole401@gmail.com
📞 401-712-0980

Boxing & Muay Thai Fundamentals

At Ricardo Cavalcanti BJJ RI, we are excited to offer Boxing and Muay Thai Fundamentals, led by Coach Rich Jimenez. This program focuses on the essential striking techniques needed to develop a well-rounded martial arts skill set, while also emphasizing seamless transitions from striking to grappling—a crucial element for those looking to excel in MMA, self-defense, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) with striking applications.

Why Learn Boxing & Muay Thai Fundamentals?

Many grapplers neglect striking, but understanding the fundamentals of boxing and Muay Thai provides a major advantage in both self-defense and competition. Striking skills allow you to:

🥊 Develop Stronger Hands & Footwork – Proper boxing stance, punches, and movement help build agility, coordination, and defensive awareness.
🥊 Learn Effective Kicks, Knees & Clinch Work – Muay Thai is known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” teaching you how to use your hands, elbows, knees, and shins efficiently.
🥊 Improve Defensive Awareness – Learning how to block, slip, and evade strikes helps reduce damage and control engagements.
🥊 Condition Your Body & Mind – Striking drills improve endurance, reaction time, and mental sharpness.

Seamlessly Transition from Striking to Grappling

One of the key focuses of Coach Jimenez’s fundamentals program is helping students connect their striking with grappling—a skill critical for self-defense, MMA, and even competitive BJJ. The ability to close the distance, set up takedowns, and control an opponent after striking is what separates a well-rounded fighter from a one-dimensional athlete.

⚡ Key Concepts in Striking-to-Grappling Transitions:
✔ Closing the Distance Safely – Using strikes to create openings for takedowns and clinch control.
✔ Setting Up Takedowns with Strikes – Utilizing jabs, kicks, and feints to enter for a double-leg, single-leg, or body lock takedown.
✔ Defending Against Strikers – Learning how to move, clinch, or shoot for takedowns when facing aggressive strikers.
✔ Controlling the Clinch – Using Muay Thai plum clinch techniques to transition into throws, sweeps, or trips.
✔ Ground Control After Knockdowns – Understanding how to secure position and finish the fight after a well-placed strike.

A Great Addition for All Skill Levels

This fundamentals class is perfect for:
✅ BJJ practitioners looking to add striking awareness to their grappling game.
✅ Beginners who want to build a strong foundation in Boxing and Muay Thai.
✅ MMA enthusiasts who need to improve their stand-up skills and takedown entries.
✅ Self-defense students looking to be comfortable both on their feet and on the ground.

Train with Coach Rich Jimenez Today!

Coach Rich Jimenez brings years of experience in striking, clinch work, and fight strategy to help students understand the fundamentals of striking while seamlessly integrating grappling. Whether you’re training for self-defense, sport, or just looking to build confidence in stand-up combat, this class is an essential addition to your skillset.

🔥 Join us on the mats and start developing a complete striking-to-grappling game today! 🔥