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

Founder

Renzo Gracie

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
John Danaher
2006

Trained here (4)

John Danaher

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

Confirmed

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

under Renzo Gracie badge (1991 - 2002)

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
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

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"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

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

Confirmed

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

under John Danaher badge (2006 - 2011)

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
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

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"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

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

Confirmed

Wikipedia explicitly states Renzo Gracie awarded GSP his BJJ brown belt on July 21, 2006

under Renzo Gracie badge (2006 - 2006)

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
1 source

fact_check

Wikipedia explicitly states Renzo Gracie awarded GSP his BJJ brown belt on July 21, 2006

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"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

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

Confirmed

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

under John Danaher badge (2008 - 2013)

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
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

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: John Danaher, Bruno Fernandes, Renzo Gracie"

— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Travis Stevens

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 2

Probable

Wikipedia credits Travis Stevens's BJJ black belt to John Danaher and Renzo Gracie jointly, with Danaher performing the promotion itself

under Renzo Gracie badge

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
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

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"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

linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

Confirmed

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"

under John Danaher badge

expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis
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"

assessed by FSMverified

Frederico Muñoz

Researcher, Martialis

"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