BJJ legend Ricardo Liborio has just become the latest person to be promoted to coral belt in the sport, an honor that he received on March 17th, 2024 in the presence of many fellow top figures in the sport. The event took place in the AABB Main Hall in Rio de Janeiro and it attracted a number of legendary coaches like Reyson Gracie, Carlos Rosado, and Fernando Pinduka among many others. The belt was tied around Liborio’s waist by Rosado and Pinduka, who are currently the two oldest members of the Carlson Gracie academy. Liborio was originally promoted to black belt by Carlson Gracie himself, but obviously his original instructor passed away back in 2006.
The new belt that Liborio has received marks the 7th degree on the black belt and is only awarded after someone has spent an incredible 31 years training and teaching as a black belt. Liborio began training in BJJ long before that though, as he actually discovered the sport at the age of 14 after originally starting his grappling career with Judo. He was eventually promoted to BJJ black belt in 1993 after spending 12 years training in the sport and he was able to prove that he was one of the best in the world when he entered the first IBJJF World Championship in 1996, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division.
Liborio eventually transitioned into coaching and founded Brazilian Top Team alongside his fellow Carlson Gracie students Mario Sperry, Luis Duarte, and Murilo Bustamante. His influence on the world of professional MMA didn’t stop there though, as he eventually partnered with Dan Lambert to create American Top Team as well. He continued competing sporadically too, having a single MMA fight that ended in a draw in 2001 and beating Sperry by decision in a superfight at ADCC 2015. Liborio has been incredibly influential over the course of his career as both a competitor and a coach, so this latest belt promotion is incredibly well-deserved.
Ricardo Liborio announced the news that he had been promoted to coral belt in BJJ in a recent post to his official Instagram account:
