Cindy Omatsu

Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Omatsu (born in Torrance, California, on January 19, 1961) is a Japanese-American black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under senior instructor Rigan Machado and Leka Vieira. She is best known for being the first Asian-American and first woman outside of Brazil to be promoted to black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.[1]

Cindy Omatsu
BornCynthia Ann Omatsu
(1961-01-18) January 18, 1961
Torrance, California
ResidenceTorrance, California
NationalityUnited States American
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Teacher(s)Rigan Machado, Leka Vieira
Rank  Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
OccupationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
UniversityEl Camino Junior College

Biography

Cindy was born and raised in Torrance, California the fourth of five children. She attended Madrona Middle school and Torrance High School. Later earning her Associate of Arts degree from El Camino Junior College.[1]

Cindy has been training for over eleven years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu originally starting for self-defense purposes. She enrolled at Rigan Machado’s school in Redondo Beach, California eventually earning her black belt under Machado and Vieira. Initially hesitant about training due to the lack of female students she continued training eventually becoming the first Asian-American and first woman outside of Brazil to earn a black belt in the art.

Career

Cindy is currently an instructor at Rigan Machado’s school in Redondo Beach and conducts seminars worldwide. In addition to training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Cindy has also trained in Jeet Kune Do under Richard Bustillo, boxing and kickboxing with June Castro, Krav Maga with Mitch Tavera, and wrestling with Frank Trigg and Rico Chiparelli.[1] In addition to teaching martial arts she is also an interviewer for the online magazine website GrappleTV.[2]

Cindy is also well known for her four volume DVD instructional series “Vicious Vixens: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu” which also featured fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Felicia Oh.[3]

Lineage

Jigoro Kano → Tsunejiro Tomita → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Carlos Gracie, Jr. → Rigan Machado → Cindy Omatsu

DVD
  • Vicious Vixens: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Panther Premium, 2005)
    • Volume One: Basic
    • Volume Two: Beginning
    • Volume Three: Intermediate
    • Volume Four: Advanced

Titles
  • IBJJF Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships (Hawaii) First Place
  • IBJJF Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships (Florida) Third Place

References
  1. Daynin.com >> Featured Fighters >> Cindy Omatsu Bio Archived 2012-02-27 at archive.today. URL accessed on October 10, 2009.
  2. GrappleTV. URL accessed on October 10, 2009.
  3. Century Martial Arts >> DVD >> Cindy Omatsu's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed on October 10, 2009.
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