Also known as

Description

American 6th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Gracie Worlds and National Champion, trainer and coach to UFC and MMA fighters, yoga instructor and co-founder, with his brother Ricardo, of Balance Studios in Philadelphia. He was the youngest person to receive a black belt from Relson Gracie when promoted in March 2003.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Relson Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia records that Relson Gracie became Phil Migliarese's mentor and promoted him to black belt in March 2003; the Balance Studios website names Relson Gracie as their instructor

  (1988)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Wikipedia records that Relson Gracie became Phil Migliarese's mentor and promoted him to black belt in March 2003; the Balance Studios website names Relson Gracie as their instructor

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Relson focused his attention on Migliarese's training and became his mentor."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Phil 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 in March 2003 Phil Migliarese became the youngest person to receive the honor of black belt from Relson Gracie at the Gracie Worlds in Columbus, Ohio

  BJJ Ranking System (2003-03)

  granted by Relson Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia explicitly records that in March 2003 Phil Migliarese became the youngest person to receive the honor of black belt from Relson Gracie at the Gracie Worlds in Columbus, Ohio

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In March 2003, at the Gracie Worlds in Columbus, Ohio, he became the youngest person to receive the honor of black belt from Relson Gracie and was among the first Americans to receive this promotion."

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

  receipt_longBlack belt, degree 6 2

  Probable

  Wikipedia describes Migliarese as a 6th 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 Migliarese as a 6th degree Relson Gracie black belt; the promotion date for the degree is not given

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Phil "Jiu-Jitsu Matrix" Migliarese (born Philip Migliarese III, January 11, 1976) is an American 6th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt."

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

Sources