Cozia Grappling Club started the same way most meaningful things do: with obsession, consistency, and a lot of time on the mats.

Meet Richy

Richy started training Jiu Jitsu at 14 years old. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a full-on commitment. He joined East Coast Jiu Jitsu Academy and, from that point on, did exactly two things: trained every day and competed as often as possible.

Over the next 14 years, Richy worked his way through every belt level, testing himself on the competition circuit and earning his black belt in 2023. But somewhere along the way, it became clear that competing and self-training weren’t enough on their own.

Jiu Jitsu had given him more than just medals and skills, it gave him structure, purpose, confidence, and a place to belong. And eventually, the goal slowly shifted from how far can I go to how can I give this to others.

Cozia Grappling Club was born from that idea:

A place where people can chase the same path Richy did, or simply have a home to train, grow, and be part of something real.

Why Cozia?

The name isn’t random.

Cozia represents roots, struggle, identity, and growth. It’s a nod to where things started and a reminder of where they’re going.

If you want the full story, you can read our Cozia Street to Cozia Grappling Club article to see how the name came to life.

Meet Gabriela

Every strong club needs more than just good training, it needs someone who makes the whole thing work.

Richy and Gabriela met in 2018. Gabriela had been a professional ballroom dancer since childhood, bringing with her discipline, creativity, and an insane work ethic. Not long after meeting Richy, she stepped onto the mats and began her own Jiu Jitsu journey.

Today, she’s a purple belt on the mats, and off the mats, she’s the engine behind Cozia.

Branding, marketing, organization, operations, you name it, she handles it. Gabriela is the reason Cozia looks great, smells great, runs smoothly, and feels intentional the moment you walk in.

If Richy builds the culture on the mats, Gabriela makes sure everything around it supports that culture.

What Cozia Means to Us

Cozia Grappling Club is a shared vision.

It’s for competitors chasing excellence.

It’s for hobbyists who want a place that feels like home.

It’s for people who value effort, respect, and community.

Welcome to Cozia Grappling Club.

This is home.