About

Professor Ricardo

Founder/Instructor

Professor Ricardo is a highly accomplished fourth-degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with a wealth of experience. He has trained with renowned Jiu-Jitsu legends, Xande and Saulo Ribeiro and is a decorated International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion. Hailing from Santa Cruz, Brazil, Professor Ricardo began his Jiu-Jitsu journey in the early '90s, training under Jean Jacques Machado of The Machado Brothers at their Tarzana studio, one of the first Jiu-Jitsu schools in the LA area. He went on to teach and train at Street Sports in Santa Monica for ten years before opening his private studio in Venice, CA, in 2010.

From 2010 to 2013, Ricardo taught alongside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Xande Ribeiro at True Warrior Jiu-Jitsu in West Hollywood. In 2014, he established LA Jiu-Jitsu Academy and later partnered with his long-time student, Benjamin Willis, in 2020 to co-found Independent Jiu-Jitsu. Professor Ricardo's wealth of experience and knowledge make him an invaluable asset to the Jiu-Jitsu community.

Professor Ben

Founder/Instructor

Professor Ben holds a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Ricardo Wilke. He has an extensive background in the music industry and co-founded the music management company, Indie-Pop in 2007. In 2012, he started training in Jiu-Jitsu, which he credits with changing his life. In 2019, he was presented with the opportunity to partner with Professor Ricardo and co-found Independent Jiu-Jitsu. He joined the venture to share the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu with his community, as he believes the skills learned on the mat translate to dealing with high-pressure situations in everyday life.