Also known as
Rick Migliarese · Animal
Description
American 5th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and
professional grappler, World and Pan-Am champion, trainer and coach to UFC and
MMA fighters, and co-founder, with his brother Phil, of Balance Studios in
Philadelphia, where he teaches. He received his black belt from Relson Gracie in
December 2005, one of only 28 people to receive this honor from Relson.
Teachers (1)
-
Relson Gracie
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia explicitly records that Ricardo received his black belt from Relson
Gracie in December 2005; the Balance Studios website names Relson Gracie as
their instructor
“Ricardo received his black belt from Relson Gracie in December 2005 and is one
of only 28 people to receive this honor from Relson”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Ricardo Migliarese.
Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
“The Migliarese Brothers are the founders of Balance Studios and have over 30
years of experience in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”
Ranks (2)
-
receipt_longBlack belt
Probable
BJJ Ranking System (2005-12)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia explicitly records that Ricardo received his black belt from Relson
Gracie in December 2005
“Ricardo received his black belt from Relson Gracie in December 2005 and is one
of only 28 people to receive this honor from Relson who is notorious for being
very hard on promotions.”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Ricardo Migliarese.
Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
receipt_longBlack belt, degree 5
Probable
BJJ Ranking System
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia describes Ricardo as a 5th degree Relson Gracie black belt; the
promotion date for the degree is not given
“Ricardo "Animal" Migliarese (aka Rick Migliarese, born December 17,
1978) is an American professional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler and a 5th degree
Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Ricardo Migliarese.
Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
Students (1)
-
Lex Fridman
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Lex Fridman's own Instagram post, quoted by Jiu-Jitsu Times and Jits
Magazine, names Phil and Rick Migliarese as the instructors who guided him from
white belt to black belt; Wikipedia corroborates that Ricardo Migliarese awarded
a black belt to Lex Fridman
visibilityFirst-hand
“I got a stripe on my jiu jitsu black belt today from Phil and Rick Migliarese
who guided me from white belt to black belt, as mentors and friends.”
— (2023). Lex Fridman Awarded First Stripe on Black
Belt by Philadelphia's Migliarese Brotherslink
history
info
“Migliarese also awarded a black belt to research scientist and podcaster Lex
Fridman.”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Ricardo Migliarese.
Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZRA7SNMVZ4732D5Z1V2GDEE
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Ricardo Migliarese. In Martialis: Martial
Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZRA7SNMVZ4732D5Z1V2GDEE - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZRA7SNMVZ4732D5Z1V2GDEE, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Ricardo Migliarese}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZRA7SNMVZ4732D5Z1V2GDEE}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
Database content on this page is CC BY-SA 4.0;
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