Renzo Gracie Academy: Locations and Lineage
Founded 1996 by Renzo Gracie
About Renzo Gracie Academy
Renzo Gracie opened his New York academy in 1996, making it the first major Gracie-family BJJ school in the northeastern United States. The Manhattan flagship became a hub for high-level grapplers and MMA fighters — many of whom went on to become coaches and competitors in their own right.
John Danaher's tenure at Renzo Gracie NYC produced the 'Danaher Death Squad' — a group including Gordon Ryan, Gary Tonon, Eddie Cummings, and others who reshaped the no-gi leg lock game in modern grappling. While Danaher and his core students later moved on to form New Wave, the lineage from Renzo Gracie remains foundational.
Today the Renzo Gracie network includes academies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, the UK, and Brazil. Each affiliate has its own head instructor but shares the Renzo Gracie name and broad curriculum.
Style & Philosophy
Classical Gracie technical base layered with modern competition adaptation. Strong no-gi tradition through the Danaher-era influence. Highly competition-oriented affiliated academies.
Notable Practitioners
- →Renzo Gracie
- →John Danaher
- →Gordon Ryan
- →Gary Tonon
- →Eddie Cummings
- →Ricardo Almeida
- →Matt Serra
Find a Renzo Gracie Academy Academy (26)
New York
- Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Wall Street22 New St, New York, NY 10005, USA
- Renzo Gracie East Side Martial Arts1264 Lexington Ave, Enter on, E 85th St 2nd floor, New York, NY 10028, USA
- East Side Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Grapple Box /Renzo Gracie black belt66 Frankfort St, New York, NY 10038, USA
- Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Upper West SideSubcellar, 246 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023, USA
-
-
-
- Renzo Gracie Academy HQ
Houston
-
- Renzo Gracie Pearland2000 Reflection Bay Dr Suite 164, Pearland, TX 77584, USA
- Renzo Gracie Missouri City1021 Lake Olympia Pkwy Suite 950, Missouri City, TX 77459, USA
-
- Renzo Gracie Lake Houston14555 W Lake Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77044, USA
-
Austin
- Renzo Gracie Jiujitsu Lakeway2303 Ranch Rd 620 S #170, Lakeway, TX 78734, USA
- Renzo Gracie Austin4631 Airport Blvd STE 114, Austin, TX 78751, USA
Los Angeles
- Renzo Gracie East Los Angeles6132 E Washington Blvd Suite D & E, Commerce, CA 90040, USA
- Renzo Gracie Los Angeles5203 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
Dallas
- Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu DFW420 Grapevine Hwy #118, Hurst, TX 76054, USA
Chicago
Singapore
- Renzo Gracie Singapore (Evolve)
Mexico City
- Renzo Gracie Mexico (Mario Delgado)
Cape Town
- Renzo Gracie Cape Town
Newark
- Renzo Gracie Newark
Ottawa
- Renzo Gracie Ottawa (OAMA)
Sunrise
- Renzo Gracie Weston
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Renzo Gracie Academy located? +
The flagship Renzo Gracie Academy is in Manhattan, New York City. Affiliated academies operate in cities across the northeast US (NJ, CT), Texas, the UK, Brazil, and elsewhere. Each affiliate is independently operated under the Renzo Gracie brand.
Is Renzo Gracie related to other Gracies? +
Yes. Renzo Gracie is the grandson of Carlos Gracie Sr. (the founder of the original family lineage) and the nephew of Helio Gracie. He's also cousin to Royce, Rickson, Rolls, and Carlson Gracie.
Did John Danaher train at Renzo Gracie? +
Yes. John Danaher was the head no-gi instructor at Renzo Gracie NYC for nearly two decades. He developed the 'Danaher Death Squad' — Gordon Ryan, Gary Tonon, Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon — at the academy. Danaher and his core students left in 2021 to form New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas.
Is Renzo Gracie good for beginners? +
Yes — the Manhattan flagship and most affiliates run dedicated fundamentals programs alongside their competition tracks. The intimidation factor of training at a famously elite gym can be real, but the actual instructor culture is welcoming to newcomers.
How much does Renzo Gracie cost? +
The Manhattan academy is notably expensive — typical pricing is $250-$350/month for unlimited training, reflecting both the NYC market and the academy's reputation. Affiliated locations elsewhere are usually more in line with regional norms ($150-$250/month).
Related Lineages
Track your training at any Renzo Gracie Academy academy
MatTime is the free app for BJJ practitioners — log every class, track techniques, and monitor your belt progression at the gym of your choice.