Brian’s first interest in Martial Arts came as a result of watching movies. At the time, no one knew much about Martial Arts, but he knew he wanted to learn what he was seeing on film.

He began his training in 1965 with Peter Ventresca and he received his black belt in 1972. At 22 years of age he decided he wanted to learn more in depth about the Martial Arts so he wrote a letter to Richard Kim and word was sent back that he had been accepted as a student of Kim’s. In July 1973, he quit his job and drove to San Francisco, California, and became a student of Kim’s at the Chinese YMCA.

After many years, Ricci became an assistant instructor to Kim and in 2000, Kim awarded him a prestigious 7th dan.

Since the passing of Richard Kim, Ricci has continued his teacher’s work in passing on the Martial Arts to the next generation of students. Many of the members in Kim’s organization, the Zen Bei Bu Toku Kai International, are now training with him.

These are some of Brian Ricci’s senior students: Edward Ricci, Brian Brandano (Asst. Instructor), Dennis Mann (Chief), William (Billyjack) Jakielaszek, and Ken Driver.