Ron Tripp

Ron Tripp (born April 22, 1953) is an American chiropractor, sports executive, coach, and former competitor in judo and sambo.

He is well known in the martial arts community, especially among Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling enthusiasts, for being the only person to hold an official victory in competition over Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Rickson Gracie. Tripp became America's first Merited and Distinguished Master of Sport in 1996. He was promoted to 6th dan by USA Judo in November 2006.

Biography

Education A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, and graduate of Hillsdale College and Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Coaching

Career highlights 1970-1994: Competed in judo, sambo, and wrestling tournaments 1990: Submitted by Rigan Machado in 39 seconds, Pan Am finals 1993: Defeated Rickson Gracie by uchi mata in 47 seconds, U.S. Sambo Championships 1994: Defeated Andrew Bourdeau to win the FIAS World Heavyweight Championship of Sambo in Montreal, Canada

Awards and titles

Sport 1994 World Sambo Champion 7-time World Medalist Sambo 1989 World Judo Team Belgrade (lost first fight against Bjarni Friðriksson ) Mifune Cup Team Bronze Medalist Open Division Three time Sambo National Champion (1988, 1989, 1990) Member of U.S. Olympic Committee 2000-2004 Co-founder and President of C3Fights Three time U.S. Olympic Festival Medal winner (1986, 1987, 1990) District Director, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (2003–2009) Elected as a Director of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners in May 2011