Phil Migliarese
Encyclopedia
Phil “Jiu-jitsu Matrix” Migliarese (aka Philip Migliarese III, born January 11, 1976) is a 4th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black
Belt with over 20 years of experience in BJJ 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. He is the founder of Jiu-Jitsu Share Online Community http://www.jiujitsushare.com, Jiu-JitsuMatrix http://www.jiujitsumatrix.com (a video newsletter and online learning community) and one of the co-founders/co-owners of Matrix Fights Promotion Company http://matrixfights.com. He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA where he teaches at Balance Studios http://www.balancestudios.net which he co-owns with his brother, Ricardo Migliarese. Phil is the Head of Team Balance International.
when he was 12 years old. Maxercise had affiliations with both Royce Gracie’s Academy in Los Angeles, CA and Relson Gracie’s Academy in Hawaii. Three months after he started training, Phil met Rorion Gracie
and Royce Gracie
at a seminar and shortly thereafter, he was introduced to Relson Gracie
. Phil was quickly taken in by the Gracie family as he showed great promise in the sport. It was Relson though, that focused his attention on Phil’s training and became his mentor and inspiration.
in November 1993. Given a clean bill of health in early 1994, he was back on the mat as one of Royce’s training partners for UFC 2
in Denver, Colorado.
or training with Relson in Hawaii. Phil returned to Philadelphia in 2000 to take over as head instructor of Relson’s affiliate school. As a brown belt in 2001, Phil won the Gracie World Championship and was 2nd in the open division. In 2002, Phil and Rick opened Balance Studios, the only Relson Gracie affiliate in Philadelphia. That year at the Arnolds Classic/Gracie Worlds Phil won what would be his most well known match against UFC fighter Renato “Babalu” Sobral. In March 2003, at the Gracie Worlds in Columbus, OH, 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.
and asked for permission to teach Series I and II, which was the custom of the time, prior to current certifications. During this time, Phil not only practiced the Yoga himself, but watched and studied the methods that the Guru used in adjusting others to aide in their practice. Phil teaches Ashtanga Yoga in class and private lessons and utilizes some of the postures in a specific order for his Yoga For Fighters DVD http://www.YogaForFighters.com.
, Bellator fighter Tim Carpenter, several World and Pan-Am Jiu-jitsu winners as well as local police officers and FBI agents. Phil was in the corner of UFC fighter Waylon Lowe on January 22, 2011 at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2.
References
External links
1. http://www.jiujitsushare.com
2. http://www.jiujitsumatrix.com
3. http://matrixfights.com
4. http://www.balancestudios.net
5. http://www.YogaForFighters.com
Belt with over 20 years of experience in BJJ 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. He is the founder of Jiu-Jitsu Share Online Community http://www.jiujitsushare.com, Jiu-JitsuMatrix http://www.jiujitsumatrix.com (a video newsletter and online learning community) and one of the co-founders/co-owners of Matrix Fights Promotion Company http://matrixfights.com. He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA where he teaches at Balance Studios http://www.balancestudios.net which he co-owns with his brother, Ricardo Migliarese. Phil is the Head of Team Balance International.
Early life
Phil began his journey in 1988 at Maxercise in Philadelphia, PA with Steve MaxwellSteve Maxwell
Stephen Maxwell, better known as Steve Maxwell , is an American fitness coach, physical educator, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. Maxwell was named one of the top 100 trainers in the USA by Men's Journal....
when he was 12 years old. Maxercise had affiliations with both Royce Gracie’s Academy in Los Angeles, CA and Relson Gracie’s Academy in Hawaii. Three months after he started training, Phil met Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor, a prominent member of the Gracie family, and a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the oldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,...
and Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, a UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A legend and pioneer in the sport of mixed martial arts, he is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the history of modern MMA.Gracie gained fame for his...
at a seminar and shortly thereafter, he was introduced to Relson Gracie
Relson Gracie
Relson "Campeão" Gracie is a retired professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and martial arts personality. He is a member of the legendary Gracie family.Relson currently lives in Hawaii where he still teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at his academy in Honolulu. There are many Relson Gracie affiliated...
. Phil was quickly taken in by the Gracie family as he showed great promise in the sport. It was Relson though, that focused his attention on Phil’s training and became his mentor and inspiration.
Car Accident
In January 1993, Phil was in a devastating car accident that initially put him in a coma. He suffered injuries including broken nose, shoulder, collarbone, all of the ribs on the right side of his body, all of the fingers on his right hand and his pelvis as well as damage to his internal organs. This accident, which made him nearly immobile for 6 months, changed the direction of his training and approach to Jiu-jitsu forever. He credits his yoga breathing and practice for his recovery. Originally not expected to walk or train again, Phil was doing some light training and in attendance to support Royce at UFC 1UFC 1
The Ultimate Fighting Championship was the first mixed martial arts event by the Ultimate Fighting Championship , held at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, on November 12, 1993...
in November 1993. Given a clean bill of health in early 1994, he was back on the mat as one of Royce’s training partners for UFC 2
UFC 2
UFC 2: No Way Out was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 11, 1994, at Mammoth Gardens in Denver, Colorado...
in Denver, Colorado.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training
He spent much of the 1990s at the Gracie Academy, learning the Gracie method of teacher training directly from Grand Master Helio GracieHélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who, together with his brother Carlos Gracie, founded the martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, known internationally as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
or training with Relson in Hawaii. Phil returned to Philadelphia in 2000 to take over as head instructor of Relson’s affiliate school. As a brown belt in 2001, Phil won the Gracie World Championship and was 2nd in the open division. In 2002, Phil and Rick opened Balance Studios, the only Relson Gracie affiliate in Philadelphia. That year at the Arnolds Classic/Gracie Worlds Phil won what would be his most well known match against UFC fighter Renato “Babalu” Sobral. In March 2003, at the Gracie Worlds in Columbus, OH, 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.
Yoga Practice
Phil also spent a great deal of time studying and practicing his other passion, Ashtanga Yoga. Introduced to Yoga at the grade school level, Phil immediately took to the ancient system of breathing and postures and continued his practice regularly. In 1997, he traveled to Mysore, India to study with Sri K. Pattabhi JoisSri K. Pattabhi Jois
Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois was an Indian yoga teacher. He was a student of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and taught at his school, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, in Mysore, India...
and asked for permission to teach Series I and II, which was the custom of the time, prior to current certifications. During this time, Phil not only practiced the Yoga himself, but watched and studied the methods that the Guru used in adjusting others to aide in their practice. Phil teaches Ashtanga Yoga in class and private lessons and utilizes some of the postures in a specific order for his Yoga For Fighters DVD http://www.YogaForFighters.com.
MMA Trainer
Phil and Rick have trained professional athletes and MMA fighters including Philadelphia Eagles Trey Thomas and Winston Justice, UFC fighters Frankie Edgar and Waylon LoweWaylon Lowe
Michael Waylon Lowe is an American mixed martial artist.-Amateur wrestling career:Lowe was a two time state champion for Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tennessee before wrestling for the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. Lowe recorded 112 victories during his collegiate career...
, Bellator fighter Tim Carpenter, several World and Pan-Am Jiu-jitsu winners as well as local police officers and FBI agents. Phil was in the corner of UFC fighter Waylon Lowe on January 22, 2011 at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2.
References
External links
1. http://www.jiujitsushare.com
2. http://www.jiujitsumatrix.com
3. http://matrixfights.com
4. http://www.balancestudios.net
5. http://www.YogaForFighters.com