Began his career in martial arts at the age of nine. Having trained various combat styles, finally in the early 1990s, he decided on Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
His extreme passion for martial arts, self-defence for law enforcement in particular, inspired him to develop the OLIVA Combat System, comprising three different operative systems, and to make it accessible to a broader public.
Through its realistic and hence efficient training methods and defence techniques against common attacks, as well as the effective self-defence and training modules that can be optimally applied in self-defence situations, both privately and during official assignments, the Salvatore OLIVA system caused an international sensation.
Salvatore OLIVA is a recognised authority and renowned expert in various martial art styles all over the world. He continuously holds seminars and courses both at home and abroad. Civilians and various law enforcement agencies benefit from his P.D.S. system, and also from his professional P.L.E.T. and C.A.T. systems, developed as part of a targeted programme for the police force, judicial officers, government authorities, military and personal protection organisations and tailored to meet individual needs.