# Riccardo Ammendolia

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## Overview

**Name:** Riccardo Ammendolia

**Date of Birth:** August 01, 1979 (age 47)


## Bio

The first black belt promoted by the Mendes brothers, Riccardo Ammendolia built his reputation as much through organizing and commentating as through competition. A Canadian of Italian descent, he began training in 1997 under Jeff Joslin, whose affiliation with Alliance gave Ammendolia early exposure to the team’s top competitors. He became a fixture at Grapplers Quest and the ADCC American trials, later working closely with Copa Podio and co-founding FIVE Grappling, a tournament that quickly became a staple of the North American circuit. His commentary is a steady presence across major events, and he received his black belt in 2012 from Gui and Rafa Mendes at Pura BJJ.
## Specialties

- Baleiaplata
## Achievements

- Copa Osvaldo Alves Champion (2004 purple)
- Canadian Open Champion (2003 blue)

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/riccardo-ammendolia)