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Professor David Rivera, 8Th Degree, Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Vee Jitsu Ryu Jiu Jitsu, Arnis, Capoeira Angola, International Martial Arts Academy, LLC
Professor David Rivera began his Martial Art training in Brooklyn, New York in 1974 under the tutelage of Grandmaster Michael Medina and Sensei Laura Medina, both students of Grandmaster Robert J. Cooper. After many years of hard training, Grandmaster Cooper promoted Professor Rivera to 1st degree Black Belt in Vee Jitsu Ryu ’65 and Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do. Subsequently, Professor Rivera was introduced to Supreme Grandmaster Florendo Visitacion, Grandmaster Duk sung Son, Dr. Moses Powell, Grandmaster ‘Lil’ John Davis, Grandmaster Joao Grande, and Master Jelon Vieira, all of whom vitally influenced Professor David Rivera’s Martial Arts career during the late 1970s and 1980s. As a result of the knowledge gained from these relationships and hard work, in 1995 Professor Rivera was selected by J.H. Park to train on the U.S. Olympic Tae Kwon Do Team—one of Professor Rivera’s proudest moments. In 1996, Professor David Rivera opened his first Martial Art School, Most Holy Trinity Martial Arts Club in Brooklyn, NY, under the tutelage of Grandmaster Cooper with blessings from Supreme Grandmaster Visitacion. Professor Rivera produced many quality Black Belts from the Most Holy Trinity Martial Arts Club and in 1997 was featured in Soke Ni Dai Michael Depasquale’s Black Belt Magazine.
Throughout his career, Professor Rivera has taught, and participated in numerous demonstrations throughout the United States including participation as part of a seminar team, which conducted seminars and promotions in Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, and Capoeira at Notre Dame University South Bend, Indiana (1995-present); seminars in Tae Kwon Do and Jiu Jitsu at Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana; seminars in Jiu Jitsu and Capoeira at “Kick-Connection Martial Art School” in Pasadena, Maryland (2002, 2003, and 2004); and by invitation of Professor Darrell King to conduct Jiu Jitsu seminars at the Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (2004 and 2005); and by invitation of Masters Chonfa and Victor Rivera to conduct a Jiu Jitsu seminar to Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido students in Puerto Rico (2002 and 2007).
In addition to providing training through seminars, and his own programs, Professor Rivera has shown his commitment to sharing the Arts and works of charity by providing martial arts training to those unable to afford training. These programs include teaching at the “Y” on 92nd St, NYC, New York (1997), the Boy's Club of America in NYC, New York (1999), and the Beacon's Program (a program for the underprivileged, 2000). Professor David Rivera not only taught adults, but also children with various physical and learning challenges such as, Autism, severe attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and blindness.
Upon moving to Maryland in 2002, Professor Rivera started teaching Vee Jitsu Ryu, Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Arnis, and Capoeira Angola at a gymnastics facility in Millersville, Maryland, drawing students of all ages. In 2003, Professor Rivera founded the International Martial Arts Academy, co-located at the gymnastics facility. Due to his continuous training and sharing of his knowledge in the Martial Arts, in 2004, Grandmaster Cooper promoted Professor Rivera to 8th degree Black Belt.
Professor Rivera has been awarded several honors due to his dedication and talent in Martial Arts: Professor of The Year from the Notre Dame Martial Arts School, Certificate of Achievement from Dr. Moses Powell, Plaque of Acknowledgement and Achievement from the Holy Trinity Martial Arts Club, the title “Shidoin,” and the title “Kyoshi Shihan.” However, Professor David Rivera’s greatest honor is the ability to give back to the Martial Arts in the form of teaching.
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