POISON’s drummer, Rikki Rockett, achieved a significant milestone this week by attaining a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
The 62-year-old artist, a student of Renato Magno, the proprietor of Street Sports Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Santa Monica, California, expressed his accomplishment on Instagram last Saturday (January 27). Rockett posted a photo alongside Magno, accompanied by a message to commemorate the achievement.
Rikki posted: “So this happened today… 4th degree. In just a few words… I am humbled by the journey. Congrats to my Jiu Jitsu brethren and a huge thank you to @renatomagno.streetsports ! @streetsportsbjj @bjjc_streetsports @originusa”.
In 1998, Rockett embarked on his Brazilian jiu-jitsu journey under the tutelage of Rigan and Jacques Machado. To complement his training, he also engaged in private lessons with Magno.
Rockett previously spoke with Jiu-Jitsu Times back in 2019 and discussed how he got involved in jiu-jitsu. He said: “Like many people, I saw Royce Gracie in the UFC and wanted to know more. This was around the time of UFC 3. I met Jean Jacques Machado and John Machado at a rally and they invited me to their school.
“One of the first people I met there was Eddie Bravo. I got tapped about a dozen times by a few people and signed up the next day. I never looked back. I trained at the Tarzana school until purple belt, and when Renato Magno (who came over from Brazil with the Machado brothers) opened Street Sports BJJ, I switched over to that school.”
The POISON drummer added: “I hardly get to train on the road, and it sucks. It’s risk versus livelihood. If I get hurt, a lot of people go home. Promoters don’t like ‘fill-in’ players in this band, and it affects ticket sales. When the original four don’t show up, it’s a pretty big problem. However, I have done a few seminars on the road, and I really love teaching. I can control and sort of ‘read’ who I want to roll with. If I just walk into a school to train, come free training time, every swinging dick in there wants to tap me out so they can say they did.”
Rikki Rockett, born on August 8, 1961, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is best known as the drummer for the iconic glam metal band POISON. Rockett joined POISON in the early 1980s and became an integral part of the band’s success during the peak of the glam metal era. His energetic drumming style and stage presence contributed to the band’s chart-topping hits and widespread popularity.
Beyond his musical pursuits, Rockett has demonstrated versatility and dedication in various areas including Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rockett‘s commitment to both music and martial arts showcases his passion for diverse forms of expression and self-discipline.
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