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Instructors

Pat Cooligan

4th Degree Black Belt
Pat Cooligan is a lifelong martial artist. He began training in 1979 at the age of 5 years old. By his mid-20s, he had decided to dedicate the rest of his life to making a career in martial arts. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1995, finally obtaining the coveted black belt in Year 2007 from Renzo Gracie directly—the first Canadian to be promoted to Black Belt by Renzo. Pat has several unique experiences that separate him from so many of his contemporaries. Pat has been to Afghanistan multiple times in conjunction with National Defense in Canada. While there, Pat conducted the country’s first-ever mixed martial arts event right on the boardwalk of Kandahar Airfield.

Pat has also had the privilege to teach at all military and law enforcement levels. Pat has also done contract work for several other government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2017, Pat had the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. In November of 2023, Pat became a naturalized citizen of the United States. When Pat left Canada, he owned seven Renzo Gracie academies in the national capital region. Upon relocating to Florida, he founded Renzo Gracie Orlando in January 2018. While Pat is not usually at the Academy, he travels the world teaching seminars and overseeing his son’s competitive career. Pat is also a sought-after business consultant in the martial arts industry.

Adam Gignac

Senior Instructor
Adam Gignac Is the senior instructor and has at Renzo Gracie Orlando. Adam went from white to Black Belt under Pat’s Direction. Adam is a very seasoned black belt instructor and extraordinarily gifted at working with children and adults of all levels; however, he has an uncanny ability to make people feel comfortable in the new environment of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Adam is in charge of all the day-to-day operations at Renzo Gracie Orlando. In 2012, Adam founded his own enormously successful Academy in Northern Ontario, Canada, and in December of 2022, he was invited to come to Orlando and bring his proven methodology to teaching adults and children to the central Florida area. Another quality Adam possesses over most of his owner colleagues is his unbelievable knowledge of facility development and construction. Adam was the force behind the design and implementation of the new facility that Renzo Gracie Orlando currently resides in, Grounded Studios.

Andre Porfifio

Andre poroforio is an absolutely world-class black belt having won a multitude of titles he is a multiple time world champion with the ibjjf at different belt levels he’s also a Pan American black belt Champion and he’s also most recently an invitee to the ADCC tournament in August of 2024. Andre first made himself known in the United States when he arrived in Orlando in 2018 after spending a couple years in Orlando Andre moved on to Miami where he spent but he found his way home back to where it all started for him at Renzo Gracie Orlando. Andre is one of the most personable, knowledgeable instructors you will ever have the pleasure to meet, and we cannot wait for you to meet and experience his classes

Renzo Cooligan

Renzo Cooligan is consistently one of the top-ranked juveniles in the world! He was born into a Jiu-Jitsu family named after his father’s instructor, Renzo Gracie. Renzo has excelled in Jiu-Jitsu from a young age, and while not found teaching very often in the Academy, he has the distinction of attending more classes than anybody in the history of the Academy. He is a permanent fixture in the Academy. He’s on the mats daily, and if Renzo cannot be found on the mats daily, he travels extensively with his father, assisting his father in teaching seminars worldwide and in various aspects of the business. Renzo is an absolute wealth of Jiu-Jitsu knowledge for his young age and loves to share and talk about Jiu-Jitsu with all that he meets.

Hear From Our Satisfied Members

Browse through the reviews to get a glimpse of the Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu of Northern Valley experience straight from our community.

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Team Renzo Gracie Orlando
5.0
Based on 34 reviews
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Michael Feltham profile pictureMichael Feltham
01:36 16 Jul 24
The school is Amazing. I've learned a lot in two years. The classes are tough but fun. Everyone learns from that incredible teachers but also learn from all of the other students.
Joshua Kwilecki profile pictureJoshua Kwilecki
17:17 08 Jul 24
For one looking to train jiu jitsu at any level, then I wouldn’t want to train anywhere else. In the world of martial arts gyms, whereas many will offer multiple disciplines of martial arts while sacrificing the quality of teaching and learning techniques, RGNV is the complete opposite. Carl Massaro and his staff of professors/coaches maintain the utmost professionalism while teaching, coming from the most highly regarded lineages of jiu jitsu. The gym attracts great quality people and every single encounter I’ve had with anyone who has stepped foot inside of the gym has been positive. Deciding to train here at RGNV has been one of the greatest personal decisions I’ve made in my adult life. Highly recommend!
christopher cardoza profile picturechristopher cardoza
00:27 08 Jul 24
I joined RGNV as an upper belt, after a two-year hiatus. Students and instructors alike were welcoming and genuinely supportive of my return to training. Professor Carl Massaro, the academy's owner and head instructor, brings a wealth of expertise and pedigree to the table. His attention to detail and commitment to each student's progress are evident in every class. In addition to professor Carl, the other professors all bring a unique perspective and set of technical skills to the mat. This is a great place to train.
Chris Nanartowich profile pictureChris Nanartowich
13:35 07 Jul 24
This gym is amazing. Everyone there is extremely welcoming and friendly. Every class you can guarantee you will get the help you need from the instructors and the higher belts to make sure you understand whats going on. All the fear and nervousness I had on the first day went away instantly and now i cant wait to get to the next class. I recommend this place to everyone.
Justin Marrotte profile pictureJustin Marrotte
17:11 05 Jul 24
This week will be my 13th year at this time establishment and I can confirm with total confidence there is no finer place to train. The level or training and teamwork involved is second to none. Although people begin jiu jitsu for many, many different reasons, we all share the common goal of learning the “gentle art” and becoming very technical and efficient practitioners. I am grateful that I made the decision to join Professor Carl Massaro and the Renzo Gracie Northern Valley Team! The environment and talent is excellent and exceptional.
Chana Smolanoff profile pictureChana Smolanoff
23:09 04 Jun 24
My experience here at Renzo Gracie Northern Valley has been nothing short of transformative. The head instructor Professor Carl, has a unique knowledge of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His expertise and dedication to the craft are evident in every class. He breaks down complex techniques into understandable steps and ensures that each student, regardless of their skill level, can grasp the intricacies of jiu jitsu.

One of the most remarkable aspects of RGNV is the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. From the moment you step through the door, you are greeted with warmth and encouragement. The community here is genuinely supportive, and the culture fostered within the academy makes it clear that making mistakes is part of the learning process. There’s no judgment, only guidance and a shared commitment to improvement.

My journey at RGNV has significantly impacted my life, instilling in me immense self discipline and strength, both physically and mentally.

RGNV is more than just a place to train; it’s a community that teaches growth, resilience, and respect along with the martial art of jiu jitsu. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this academy will provide you with the skills, confidence, and community support you need to thrive in BJJ. I cannot recommend RGNV highly enough.
Joon Chang profile pictureJoon Chang
22:00 04 Jun 24
Over the last 10 years, I've been to many BJJ gyms and Renzo Gracie Northern Valley is by far my favorite place to train.

Professor Carl, who has experience learning from and rolling with the best in the world, is one of the most technical black belts I've ever been around.

The culture of the gym is also outstanding. It's an environment where egos are left at the door and people train to learn and help each other.
Nicholas Stefanidis profile pictureNicholas Stefanidis
21:52 04 Jun 24
I can’t say enough good things about this jiu jitsu school. The level of teaching is simply amazing – the instructors are highly skilled, patient, and genuinely invested in each student’s progress. The environment is friendly, safe, and enjoyable, making it a perfect place for both beginners and advanced practitioners. Whether you’re looking to improve your technique, get in shape, or just have fun, this school has it all. Highly recommended!
Jackie Cheraso profile pictureJackie Cheraso
00:57 25 Apr 24
I started doing yoga almost two months ago and its now something I look forward to weekly. I had never done yoga prior so I was not sure what to expect. Krystal is the most amazing yoga instructor. She truly encourages and supports every student in class based on their individual needs and her voice is so calming which helps way more than you would think. They offer a variety of different traditional yoga practices which is great! Adam is on the BJJ side of the studio and is always smiling when I see him! They make an awesome team!
Correy Nuttall profile pictureCorrey Nuttall
16:29 23 Mar 24
Of all the yoga classes I've taken, Krystal's stands out as the best! The studio's ambiance is inviting and beautiful. Krystal's expertise, kindness, and warmth make each session absolutely amazing. Highly recommended!!
Laura Nuttall profile pictureLaura Nuttall
16:09 19 Mar 24
Had an INCREDIBLE jiujitsu class!
Adam and Krystal run such an amazing and welcoming academy with so many class options for both jiujitsu and yoga! The facility is absolutely stunning, so clean, accessible and centrally located! Will be back again very soon!
Rolles Cooligan profile pictureRolles Cooligan
15:21 18 Feb 24
Great jiujitsu, They have an awesome bjj program and bjj kids program and nice relaxing yoga classes! This place is for everyone and it’s super awesome!
AJ Ahmed profile pictureAJ Ahmed
18:36 12 Dec 23
Extremely welcoming and insightful staff. Highly recommend!
Joel Robledo profile pictureJoel Robledo
18:42 24 Jun 22
Best gym in Orlando! From my own experience, this is the best gym I have ever had the pleasure of going to. They have classes for adults, children, as well as for different levels from beginners to advanced. The schedule is also very flexible offering 3 classes through out the day. The instructors there are all high level competitors respectively and bring their wealth of knowledge and skills to the table for their classes. They are super friendly and genuinely care about the students who attend. The classes are relatively small as well so you will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, get personal help from your instructors and also have some amazing team mates who are outstanding! This gym is top notch! The facility is very clean and well sanitized, so no staph or nasty rashes. They offer awesome children's classes and the instructors are amazing , they are very patient and keep the little ones engaged. I am very grateful for this gym and highly recommend it to anybody considering it. If you want a awesome environment to train in and lose weight this is the spot. I lost about 15lbs in my first month. If you want to build confidence and learning practical self defense this is the gym for you. If you are a competitor and want to sharpen or hone your skills this gym is also for you. They have things for every level and never comprise the family friendly environment like some big gyms. Thank you Pat, Ramiro, Malena, Fran. I can't wait to come back and train with you all again.

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(689) 220-6935

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Located in Grounded Studios

3837 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

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