LightningKali.com
"I agree and approve Rico Acosta and his brother Richie Acosta of New York their highest effort and performance to promote Kali Arnis through Kuntaw Kali and LSAI so help us Lord of Heaven and Earth, ESGM Vic R. Sanchez"
- Senior Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez
Kali Arnis International Federation
"I can only give the utmost highest praise for master Rich Acosta. I have been doing martial arts as a full time pursuit almost my entire adult life and I was self trained as a kid and teenager. One of my first video sets I purchased was from Remy Presas. I just practiced patterns with a couple of sticks I bought, but never was able to find anyone in my neighborhood willing to do drills. Eventually I found my way into proper martial arts training with a Gracie Jiu Jitsu affiliate, which eventually led to me moving to Brazil to train jiu jitsu there full time for almost three years with pit stops in Holland and Thailand to train Muay Thai. I competed at the highest levels of jiu jitsu up until receiving my blackbelt and transitioning into professional mixed martial arts. While training to be a professional fighter I trained many styles including wrestling, judo, karate, and kickboxing. All of my training was geared towards competitive mma, while very realistic, it is still different than real world self defense. I had been stabbed three times in a gang fight when I was 18, it almost cost me my left leg and my life. Having been in my fair share of street fights growing up, I was always able to discern the difference between a real fight and a competitive one. For sure the skill level of a professional fight is almost always higher, but the rules, the ref, the weight classes, and the agreed upon time and place give it a different feel than a streetfight. Once I stopped fighting I got to work on opening my gym in New York CIty, called Mushin Mixed Martial Arts. I really enjoyed training both striking and grappling and always wanted to do some proper weapons training. After putting it off for far too long I contacted master Acosta and started doing privates with him once per week at my gym. One of my students and instructors at my gym joined me for most of the sessions. I really enjoyed the straight forward and pragmatic approach master Acosta taught me. I felt comfortable with knife, stick and empty hand applications after about 20 lessons with him. Unfortunately covid happened and it changed everything in the city and my gym, eventually causing me to leave the city and move to Miami. If I still lived in New York City, I would definitely continue my training with master Acosta. I highly recommend training with him if you have the opportunity. He is a true master of his craft and an excellent instructor. I wish I could still train with him, as I really do miss his instruction."
- Erik Owings, 5th Dan Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Former Professional Mixed Martial Artist
"Maestro Rich Acosta is a superb martial arts instructor with rich technical experience and professional insight into his craft. His martial arts system is efficient and effective. Moreover, this system’s techniques are easy and relatively quick to learn.
Maestro Acosta represents the ideal martial arts instructor’s excellence, spirit, and dedication. Finally, he is highly deserving of recognition as an outstanding martial artist and instructor."
— Lieutenant Colonel Tyrone J. Morrison, USAF (Retired)
- Senior Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez
Kali Arnis International Federation
"I can only give the utmost highest praise for master Rich Acosta. I have been doing martial arts as a full time pursuit almost my entire adult life and I was self trained as a kid and teenager. One of my first video sets I purchased was from Remy Presas. I just practiced patterns with a couple of sticks I bought, but never was able to find anyone in my neighborhood willing to do drills. Eventually I found my way into proper martial arts training with a Gracie Jiu Jitsu affiliate, which eventually led to me moving to Brazil to train jiu jitsu there full time for almost three years with pit stops in Holland and Thailand to train Muay Thai. I competed at the highest levels of jiu jitsu up until receiving my blackbelt and transitioning into professional mixed martial arts. While training to be a professional fighter I trained many styles including wrestling, judo, karate, and kickboxing. All of my training was geared towards competitive mma, while very realistic, it is still different than real world self defense. I had been stabbed three times in a gang fight when I was 18, it almost cost me my left leg and my life. Having been in my fair share of street fights growing up, I was always able to discern the difference between a real fight and a competitive one. For sure the skill level of a professional fight is almost always higher, but the rules, the ref, the weight classes, and the agreed upon time and place give it a different feel than a streetfight. Once I stopped fighting I got to work on opening my gym in New York CIty, called Mushin Mixed Martial Arts. I really enjoyed training both striking and grappling and always wanted to do some proper weapons training. After putting it off for far too long I contacted master Acosta and started doing privates with him once per week at my gym. One of my students and instructors at my gym joined me for most of the sessions. I really enjoyed the straight forward and pragmatic approach master Acosta taught me. I felt comfortable with knife, stick and empty hand applications after about 20 lessons with him. Unfortunately covid happened and it changed everything in the city and my gym, eventually causing me to leave the city and move to Miami. If I still lived in New York City, I would definitely continue my training with master Acosta. I highly recommend training with him if you have the opportunity. He is a true master of his craft and an excellent instructor. I wish I could still train with him, as I really do miss his instruction."
- Erik Owings, 5th Dan Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Former Professional Mixed Martial Artist
"Maestro Rich Acosta is a superb martial arts instructor with rich technical experience and professional insight into his craft. His martial arts system is efficient and effective. Moreover, this system’s techniques are easy and relatively quick to learn.
Maestro Acosta represents the ideal martial arts instructor’s excellence, spirit, and dedication. Finally, he is highly deserving of recognition as an outstanding martial artist and instructor."
— Lieutenant Colonel Tyrone J. Morrison, USAF (Retired)
