Phil “Jiu-jitsu Matrix” Migliarese
Phil “Jiu-Jitsu Matrix” Migliarese III is a 4th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with over 20+ years of experience in BJJ, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Mixed Martial Arts.
A Gracie Worlds and National Champion, Phil is a trainer, training partner and coach to UFC and MMA fighters as well as World and Pan-Am Champions. Phil is also a Master Level Yoga Instructor, author/creator of Yoga For Fighters and has many years of training in Judo.
During the 1990′s, Phil did an extensive teacher training at three different Gracie Academies: California, Hawaii and Brazil. He trained under Grand Master Helio Gracie, Master Relson Gracie, and UFC legend, Royce Gracie.
He is the founder of Jiu-Jitsu Share Online Community , Jiu-Jitsu Matrix (a video newsletter and online learning community) and one of the co-founders/co-owners of Matrix Fights Promotion Company . He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA where he teaches at Balance Studios which he co-owns with his brother, Ricardo Migliarese. Phil is the Head of Team Balance International.
To learn more about Phil Migliarese CLICK HERE.
Ricardo “Animal” Migliarese
Ricardo “Animal” Migliarese is a 3rd degree Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt with 20+ years of BJJ, Boxing, and MMA
A World and Pan-Am Champion, Rick is a trainer, training partner and coach to UFC and MMA fighters as well as other World and Pan-Am Champions. He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA where he teaches at Balance Studios which he co-owns with his brother, Phil Migliarese. Rick is also one of the co-founders/co-owners of Matrix Fights Promotion Company.
Ricardo began his athletic training with boxing lessons at age 12 with his older brother Phil. Soon, Rick began to compete in in-house tournaments with favorable results. Rick began to take his own practice to the next level. In 1999, Rick traveled out of the country for the first time – to Brazil for the Mundials. He won the silver medal to start what would be a successful and impressive professional career
Rick joined his brother Phil at the Gracie Academy in California in the late 90′s to train with Grand Master Helio Gracie, the source of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Frank Ambrifi
Frank Ambrifi is a 1st degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Phil and Ricardo Migliarese with over 15 years experience. Frank also has over 25 years of wrestling and boxing experience. He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA where he is the head instructor/manager at Balance Studios Northeast Location, which he co-owns with Phil and Ricardo Migliarese.
Frank began his competition career in wrestling at the age of 14 at George Washington High School. By his senior year, Frank had earned the respect of his teammates and coaches to become the captain of the team. After graduating from high school in 1992, Frank joined the United States Marine Corps and continued to wrestle in their intramural system. He was also an Ironman Champion in 1992 & 1993. After his time in the Marines, and inspired by Royce Gracie in his win at the first UFC, Frank started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the Migliarese brothers.
With a dream of opening his own studio, Frank spent much of his time honing his BJJ skills and studying the special techniques involved with teaching Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He wanted to bring top notch instruction to Northeast Philadelphia and would not pursue his goal until he received his black belt. Knowing that the Gracie self defense techniques can and do save lives is important to Frank and he wanted to ensure that his skill level was thorough enough to convey every detail of this system properly. In 2008, his hard work was rewarded by Phil and Rick with approval from Relson Gracie who had also been overseeing his training through the years. He then focused his energy on building a new Balance location, bringing Gracie Jiu Jitsu to the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Frank follows the Balance Studios Leadership Program model with an exemplary level of personal attention to his students and their instruction, setting this school above and beyond all others in the Northeast.
