Also known as

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

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "The Migliarese Brothers are the founders of Balance Studios and have over 30 years of experience in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu"

  — (2026). Balance Studioslinkinfo

Ranks (2)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt 3

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia explicitly records that Ricardo received his black belt from Relson Gracie in December 2005

  BJJ Ranking System (2005-12)

  granted by Relson Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia explicitly records that Ricardo received his black belt from Relson Gracie in December 2005

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  receipt_longBlack belt, degree 5 2

  Probable

  Wikipedia describes Ricardo as a 5th degree Relson Gracie black belt; the promotion date for the degree is not given

  BJJ Ranking System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia describes Ricardo as a 5th degree Relson Gracie black belt; the promotion date for the degree is not given

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Lex Fridman

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 2

  Probable

  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

  sports_kabaddiBalance Studios badge

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Brotherslinkinfo

  "Migliarese also awarded a black belt to research scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Ricardo Migliarese. Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Sources