Thursday, August 28, 2008

ATT 2008


April 2008 brought me home to the USA. I had the priveledge of training with an old friend and making some new ones.
John Salvitti - the man on the left gave me the exceptional gift of a key to his dojo while I was in my 20's. This was his home and cherished place of learning located in Revere, MA USA. He taught me how to train by myself and how important this was to truly progress on my journey of martial arts knowledge.
John has never stopped in his quest of learning true fighting arts. He is an expert in Wushu and Shotokan - 2 very different styles, this shows his unique gifts as an athlete and artist. He now trains in BJJ at Rickson Gracie's Academy in California. Professionally he is know in Hong Kong as one of Donnie Yen's irreplacable cornermen. As you can never take the Boston out of the boy - all of us Boston Boys are incredibly proud of his achievments in the film industry, but more so in the man he is.
The man between us is well known in MMA & BJJ as an innovator. Riccardo Liborio above all else is a gifted martial arts master who leads by example. John and I were completely suprised by his warmth and openess as a teacher and man as we only knew his reputation as a competitor.
ATT is a special place founded and run by a unique man. What is most striking from first contact is the welcoming spirit that runs through all the people teaching there. Anyone who walks through the doors of the academy will be overwhelmed by the depth of experience and the willingness of all the instructors to share the magic of martial arts. What a time John & I had in Coconut Creek.