Interview with Sensei Adrian Rivera - Owner & Head Black Belt Instructor of Heart Judo

L-R - Sensei Aaron McCreery, Sensei Adrian Rivera and Sensei Ramon Rivera.

MMA Warlike – First of all we want to thank you for this interview.

Sensei Adrian Rivera - It is my pleasure

Warlike -  When was this school established?

Sensei Adrian Rivera – Approximately 3 years ago 

Warlike - Who started the school and why?

Sensei Rivera – I started the school partly in honor of my father and the years of Judo he trained us and partly to bring back Japanese Judo. Which me and my brother were taught back in Gardena, CA.

Warlike  –  What styles of fighting do you teach?

Sensei Rivera – We teach Judo only.

Warlike – What days and times are you classes?

Sensei Rivera – Judo classes are taught Monday – Thursday, 5:30pm-8pm and Saturday 10am-12 in the afternoon.

Warlike – Talk about a couple of your current students.

Sensei Rivera – First off Maria and Monica Soto are very technical students since they’ve been here. They’ve did Judo to the point where their national competitors and if continued they have the great possibility of being Olympians. 

Also we have Jason Tauber has started from a White belt and has gone on to be a Brown belt through Ippon Judo. When he competes he is very highly technically sound in his Judo.

Sensei Aaron McCreery is Heart Judo’s first Black belt. His dedication to Judo and teaching is bar none.

Warlike – Is there an upcoming event that you have students participating in? If so, what event?

Sensei Rivera – The next event is the USJA/USJF 5^th Annual Winter Nationals in La Verne, Ca.

Warlike – Tell us about your training programs?

Sensei Rivera – Our training programs are hard conditioning, which we work heavy on conditioning to make sure our Judokas can last the 3-5 minutes for competition. The training is very technical in Japanese Judo. We are a Japanese Judo club so our technique is most important to us. With speed and power we can accomplish great things with our technique. We also try to train in the whole Judo principle, which is what you do on the mat and off the mat is part of your Judo style.

Warlike – What makes your school unique?

Sensei Rivera – What makes our school unique is that we’re very oriented in Japanese Judo. Not many clubs that I know of train with the Japanese philosophy. We’re trying to present a total package of Japanese Judo. Which is a 24/7 style of commitment, what you do on the mat is what you do off the mat. Being honorable, being respected, giving respect and holding the values of your family and your traditions as one. Creating a positive attitude in anything you do, that’s the true meaning of Japanese Judo.

Warlike – Who can attend the classes you teach?

Sensei Rivera – Anybody can attend our courses. From 3 years to 80 years.

Warlike – Anyone that deserves recognition from your school (staff, student, etc.)?

Sensei Rivera – Everybody I’ve mentioned before plus everybody that comes to Heart Judo deserves recognition because our training program and what we do here is very intense. They could just be staying home doing nothing, playing video games. That’s why our commitment to the families that are involved in our club and the things that they do to get our students here is very appreciative and very important to Heart Judo. That’s why we named it HEART Judo, Honor, Excellence, Attitude, Respect and Tradition. That’s the whole meaning of HEART.

HEART Judo is located at – 266 East 10^th Drive, Mesa, AZ 85210

(480)890-7991

Official Website - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-Judo/114211981930597