Ron Tripp
Ron Tripp (born April 22, 1953) is a World Sambo and Judo champion and the current general secretary of USA Judo. He is also a member of the board of directors of the United States Olympic Committee. His name is well known in the MMA world, especially among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling enthusiasts, as he is 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. A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, and graduate of Hillsdale College and Palmer College of Chiropractic. The 6-foot, 205 pound Tripp excelled in both the sports of Judo and Sambo. Trained by Pat Burris, two-time Judo Olympian and Olympic Judo Coach, Tripp's fight career in judo lasted from 1982 to 1995. He is also a Doctor of Chiropractic and was an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma under Hall of Fame Coach Stan Abel from 1979 to 1992. Tripp trained in Japan for six years, and during that time trained under World  Judo Champion Chonosuke Takagi at NichiDai University, home of MMA star and Olympic Champion Makoto Takimoto and 2 Time All Japan Judo Champion June Konno. In 2006 he founded C3Fights, a professional MMA company, and personally trained C3Fighters at the USA Stars Training Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and coached and cornered UFC Fighters Joe "Daddy" Stevenson and Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard at UFC events. The Rickson Gracie Fight. At the 1993 U.S. Sambo Championships in Norman, Oklahoma, Tripp faced undefeated Rickson Gracie of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family. Tripp threw Gracie to the canvas by "Uchi mata" in  47 seconds, thus giving Tripp the win under FIAS International Sambo rules. Rickson disputed this loss, claiming he was misinformed of the rules of the event despite claiming to be a 2 time Pan American Sambo Champion.