Brian Ricci

Brian Ricci (born August 14, 1950) is an American martial artist, special effects coordinator, stunt coordinator and film producer. He began Karate training in 1965, starting with the Shotokan style under Peter Ventresca and was awarded a black belt in 1972. Ricci sought out instruction from O’Sensei Richard Kim, eventually becoming his senior student and, in 2000, promoting to 7th Dan, the highest rank Kim ever awarded and the only time he ever bestowed it upon anyone. Ricci continues to teach and propagate martial arts, including Shōrinji-ryū Karate, Okinawan Kobudō, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu and Tai Chi, at his main dojo in Massachusetts, at students’ dojos, via hosting tournaments, and at seminars throughout North America. In 2001, when Kim was unable to attend his Zen Bei Butoku Kai annual summer camp in Guelph, Canada due to poor health, he asked Ricci to lead the training camp in his stead and Ricci has led it—along with many of Kim's and Ricci's senior students—ever since. After Kim passed away, Ricci became the President of the Zen Bei Butoku Kai International, which carries on Kim's teachings for thousands of students in dozens of dojos across North America and the Caribbean.

In addition to his martial arts career, Ricci has supervised stunts and special effects on over 30 films, including The Fighter, Good Will Hunting, The Perfect Storm, The Departed, and The Next Karate Kid. His martial arts expertise and filmmaking skills inform each other, as he is known to put on a “very colorful special effects martial arts show.” He is also the sensei of and former bodyguard for Wayne Newton, an avid martial artist, black belt, and part of the Zen Bei Butoku Kai since the 1980s.