Rivera Fitness & Kickboxing

lt in VEE-JITSU-JU-JITSU
2nd Dan Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt
4th Dan Black Belt in Kuen-To Kickboxing

What Does an Exercise Therapy Specialist Do? Exercise Therapy Specialists are educated and certified professionals who are part of an integrated healthcare network. Never heard of them? Well, let's take a deeper look at who these people are, why they are so important, and how you can become one of them! Exercise is Medicine
There is a growing movement to include fitness as a regular part of healthcare. Exercise Is Medicine calls for physicians and healthcare providers to evaluate the physical health of patients, prescribe exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, refer patients to community resources, and help to follow up with their progress in fitness. Why is this important? Because regular exercise has been found to improve quality of life, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and make people healthier! When paired with traditional medicine, patients are more likely to improve their health and add years back to their lives. Think of it this way, orthodox or traditional healthcare is designed to treat or control conditions and rehabilitate people. Alternative medicine like chiropractic care can also help prevent chronic conditions and pain. But exercise and naturopathic care can prevent, treat and control, rehabilitate, restore function, and prevent the recurrence of chronic health issues! Exercise is powerful. Exercise is medicine! General Health
Exercise therapists keep people healthy. They can work with a client's medical team to implement exercise protocols to reduce or prevent chronic health conditions and keep people moving well. Chronic Conditions
People with health issues (and there are a lot of them) can see an exercise therapist to implement recommendations that are unique for their condition and health status. Many clients with chronic conditions will have limitations and an Exercise Therapist is well versed in indications and contraindications. Clients will see progress without the risk of getting hurt. Injury and Rehabilitation
Both athletes and non-athletes get hurt. Sometimes it's something as simple as tripping in the bathroom. Like a physical therapist, an Exercise Therapist can help clients rehabilitate through injuries to restore their normal functions....and most likely improve them! Exercise therapy aims to prevent the recurrence of injury by helping people come back stronger after an injury. Did you know that low back pain and knee pain are the two most common orthopedic pain conditions people experience? Learn more about low back pain and how to get relief in this informative ISSA blog: Exercises For Low Back Pain—Help Clients Get Relief
Education for Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy is something that requires a specific educational background. It is similar to corrective exercise, but Exercise Therapy dives deeper into chronic conditions, limitations, and helping people improve their overall health. Exercise therapy is also often confused with physical therapy (PT). Let's clear that up: PT focuses on the restoration of movement and capacity at the site of an injury. Exercise therapy focuses on the use of exercise to restore optimal function of the body as a whole! To become an Exercise Therapist, a certification is the first step. Certification takes 2-4 months depending on how fast you move through the material and sit for the exam. There are degree paths available for those who prefer classes or are moving towards licensure in occupational therapy or physical therapy, but it is not required for entry-level employment as an Exercise Therapist. Certification is also an important step as it will be a minimum requirement for employment as an Exercise Therapist. If you're interested in also pursuing a degree in Exercise Therapy, check out this helpful site for more on accredited programs! Career Outlook for Exercise Therapy
Careers in exercise therapy, physical therapy (sports and orthopedic), and exercise physiology are booming! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for this type of job is $47,940 per year with projected job growth of 13 percent between now and 2030—that's much faster than usual! The Exercise is Medicine movement is driving the push for more educated and credentialed specialists. Healthcare providers are expanding their referral networks and even hiring Exercise Therapists to work with patients in their medical offices. When on the job, Exercise Therapists can expect to:

Conduct client assessments (static and dynamic)

Develop programming for resistance training, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular health

Deliver programming to clients with various chronic conditions or limitations

Help clients with nutritional guidance to promote overall health

Engage in rehabilitation programming and delivery for athletes and non-athletes

Perform administrative tasks to uphold patient records and progress reporting


Vee Jitsu (Vee Jitsu, Vee Arnis Jitsu, Vee Jitsu Te, Modern Vee Jitsu) is a modern system developed in the 1950's by Professor Florendo Visitacion, often affectionately referred to as Professor V (or Vee). He had connections to Judo and Jujutsu associations, as well as FMA groups, and the claims are that he spent years studying different martial arts, and came to the realization that a single system isn't always required, but that aspects of many can be used. His expression of this was Vee Jitsu. The name is taken from his own name (Vee, from Professor Vee), the term Jitsu is used, rather than the correct Jutsu to indicate art, Te refers to hand, and implies technique, and obviously Arnis is from FMA, most commonly referring to arts associated with Remy Presas. Interestingly, both Visitacion and Presas were associated with Wally Jay and his Small Circle Jujitsu in the early 50's, so there is probably a deal of influence there. It's thought that the various names for the system were used to show different stages of it's development as Visitacion continued to train in whatever he could, and gained knowledge. Visitacions tactics are based in survival skills, and using little effort. Off-shoots include Sanuces Ryu Jujutsu, Ju Kido Kai Ryu Modern Vee Jitsu, and Kumite Ryu Jujutsu. Kuen-To System was founded by 7th Dan Black Belt Master Anthony Cruz Back in the early 90's. Master Cruz at the time was already an accomplished Martial Artist, by winning championship tournaments in Point Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing. Having a Black belt in ITF and WTF Tae Kwon Do. Master Anthony also trained in the arts of Wing Chun, Boxing and Kickboxing. He started to combine what he has learned and was still learning. The basic applications of Wing Chun, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing and Kickboxing and called it ( Kuen To/ Kuen Dao ) "Boxing Form/Fist Form"
Today Master Cruz continues his Martial Arts Journey in MMA, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Submission Grappling.