Description

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai academy in Philadelphia, the only Relson Gracie affiliate in the city, co-founded in 2002 by brothers Phil and Ricardo "Rick" Migliarese, themselves Relson Gracie black belts. It is where the Migliarese brothers guided Lex Fridman from white belt to black belt.

Also known as

Founders

Instructors (2)

• 
  Phil Migliarese

  Head instructor

  2002

  expand_morefact_check 1 source

  "The Migliarese Brothers are the founders of Balance Studios"

  — (2026). Balance Studioslinkinfo
• Ri
  Ricardo Migliarese

  Head instructor

  2002

  expand_morefact_check 1 source

  "The Migliarese Brothers are the founders of Balance Studios"

  — (2026). Balance Studioslinkinfo

Trained here (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

  under Ricardo Migliarese 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

  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

  under Phil Migliarese 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

Tags

Sources