Description
Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Midtown Manhattan founded by Renzo Gracie in
1996. It is associated with John Danaher's Danaher Death Squad and has
trained fighters and grapplers including Georges St-Pierre, Matt Serra, Gordon
Ryan, and Garry Tonon.
Also known as
Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Instructors (2)
-
Renzo Gracie
Head instructor
1996
expand_morefact_check
1 source
"Renzo Gracie Academy is a martial arts school headed by Renzo Gracie,
located in Midtown Manhattan. Renzo Gracie founded the academy in 1996."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Renzo Gracie
Academy - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
-
Trained here (4)
-
John Danaher
under
Renzo Gracie
badge (1991
- 2002)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
Wikipedia, BJJ Heroes, and Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu all confirm Danaher trained under
Renzo Gracie at the Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan; black belt date confirmed
by BJJ Heroes
"After arriving in New York, Danaher was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu
by a friend at the university, and began taking classes at the Renzo Gracie
Academy in Manhattan."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). John Danaher
(martial artist) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"John Danaher is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt under Renzo
Gracie"
— BJJ Heroes. John Danaher - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
-
Firas Zahabi
under
John Danaher
badge (2006
- 2011)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
fact_check
BJJ Heroes confirms Zahabi holds a black belt under John Danaher and was
promoted at the Renzo Gracie Academy in 2011; corroborated by Zahabi's own
public statements and Wikipedia's list of Danaher's notable students
"Pierre, arguably MMA's greatest fighter of all time, would frequently
visit jiu-jitsu coach extraordinaire, Mr. John Danaher in New York City, at the
Renzo Gracie Academy, a trip Firas started taking as well from around the
mid-2000s."
— BJJ Heroes. Firas Zahabi - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
"Firas Zahabi's hard work on the mats would lead to his black belt
promotion, an endorsement by John Danaher in an event that took place in
2011."
— BJJ Heroes. Firas Zahabi - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
"I'm a black belt under John Danaher. He is the greatest jiu-jitsu
coach of all time and arguably the greatest MMA coach of all time."
— Firas Zahabi: John Danaher Is The Greatest Jiu
Jitsu Coach Of All Time (BJJDOC)link
"Firas Zahabi"
— John Danaher - Wikipedia (EN)link
-
Georges St-Pierre
under
Renzo Gracie
badge (2006
- 2006)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia explicitly states Renzo Gracie awarded GSP his BJJ brown belt on July
21, 2006
"St-Pierre received his brown belt in BJJ from Renzo Gracie on July 21,
2006."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
under
John Danaher
badge (2008
- 2013)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia infobox lists John Danaher as one of GSP's BJJ trainers; Danaher
was also a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 12 for GSP's team
"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: John Danaher, Bruno Fernandes, Renzo Gracie"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
-
Travis Stevens
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia credits Travis Stevens's BJJ black belt to John Danaher and Renzo
Gracie jointly, with Danaher performing the promotion itself
"Stevens also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under John Danaher
and Renzo Gracie, which Danaher awarded on November 19, 2013."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Travis Stevens.
Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
Wikipedia states Travis Stevens holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under
John Danaher and Renzo Gracie, which Danaher awarded on November 19, 2013; BJJEE
reproduces Danaher's own Facebook post calling Stevens "my friend and
student"
"Stevens also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under John Danaher
and Renzo Gracie, which Danaher awarded on November 19, 2013."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Travis Stevens.
Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"It is with considerable pride and happiness that I learned this memorial
weekend of the outstanding success of my friend and student, Travis
Stevens."
— BJJEE. (2016). John Danaher On The Heart & Work
Ethic of Travis Stevens. BJJ Eastern Europe (BJJEE)linkinfo
Tags
bjjacademynew-yorkgracie
Sources
"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: John Danaher, Bruno Fernandes, Renzo Gracie"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KYYYTTW3RXYAKA5JVNCFB9CA