Trevor John T. Rivers

Professor Trevor Rivers is the founder of Rivers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Lawrence, Kansas, a Gustavo Dantas Association school, and a third-degree black belt under Gustavo Dantas. He started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2001 while in graduate school at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, receiving his blue belt in the Renzo Gracie Association. After moving to Phoenix, Arizona, he trained with Gustavo Dantas, who awarded him his purple, brown and black belts. Rivers has competed and medaled in a number of tournaments, including bronze at black belt at the 2016 IBJJF Masters World Championship, bronze at brown belt at the 2010 American Nationals and gold at purple belt at the 2007 American Nationals. Outside the academy he is a marine biologist and academic who teaches biology courses. He has promoted students of his own, including PJ, who received his brown belt from Rivers in 2023.