Super cool, everyone was really easy going and helpful.

I started training jiujitsu about 3 years ago and I happen to google best places at the time and came to Balance Studios. I quickly fell in love with training even as a beginner. It has nourished my confidence, put me in great physical shape and connected me with a beautiful diverse community of dedicated practitioners. Rick and Phil are amazing martial artists and people to learn from and have so many black belts and advanced belts to train with its unlike any school or learning environment. The people run the gamut from students, working folks who train on their time off to professional fighters. Even the kids who train are amazing! This location is clean, friendly and worth the investment! Cant rave enough about Balance Studios - Fishtown and how it has impacted my life for the better!

I trained at the Center City location for a few years. Would even ride my bike n the freezing cold so I consider myself extremely lucky they opened a gym in Fishtown. The Migliarese brothers treated me like family the day I walked in the door and all the other instructors are super passionate and knowledgeable about Jiu Jitsu. This is one martial art where your gym really matters and these guys make sure the environment is safe and fun to learn in. Phil and Ric are some of the most experienced instructors on the East Coast. They learned Jiu Jitsu directly from Helio and his family who brought the art here from Brazil. Theyve been in the scene since before UFC and stay up to date with all the new techniques while continuing to emphasize basic self defense. They also have a solid back ground in striking, fitness and yoga so this is a place where all your bases are covered. Its been amazing to see so many people start at this location and progress into great grapplers while getting into awesome shape. If youre on the fence about checking out Jiu Jitsu, dont wait like I did. The best day to start is today so grab a coffee on Frankford Ave at Cake Life or La Colombe then pop in and say hello!

If you’re interested in jiujitsu for exercise, self defense, or even making a career out of it, the Migliarese brothers are amazing instructors. You’ll be able to learn jiujitsu at your own pace and in a very clean and safe environment. I would give 6 stars if possible.

This location is full of amazing high level athletes who are humble and willing to help you reach your potential in the art of BJJ. One of the best BJJ gyms Ive ever been to, highly recommend!!

I loved my visit there, i will be back asap

These guys are the real deal, Legitimate Gracie Black Belts; Organized Curriculum; terrific facilities. Truly world class. Go now.

Balance Studios HQ carries on the same spirit that started with Balance Center City back in 2002. That spirit being one of balance between world class instruction for the elite athlete all the way down to the most beginner of beginners and everyone in between. A professionally operated and clean place for people of all different backgrounds to come train comfortably without ego. If you live in Philadelphia, the surrounding area, or are visiting, do check out Balance Studios.

Did a drop in class here last night and I can’t say enough good about this gym. Staff was incredibly welcoming, polite, and professional but laid back. Gave instruction in a clear and easy to understand way. I’m still relatively new (just getting back after a long hiatus) but there was no “meathead/smash everything” attitude in the gym, just hard technical rolling/drills. Many of the higher belts made it a point to offer helpful advice and pointers for me which was very helpful (shout-out to purple belt Ben). If you’re interested in BJJ, I strongly recommend training here, great place to learn for all skills.

Legit instruction not only from the instructors but from the students as well. A vast majority of the students have been there since the beginning. Great all around environment, never a shortage of training partners and access to Center City, Northeast, and numerous Balance affiliates.

This gym is pretty awesome! Instructors are on point with detailed instruction and very professional. The muay thai workout is pretty intense but its exactly what I need. Overall great vibes!

What an incredible school to learn authentic Gracie jiujitsu in a safe and friendly environment ! Highly recommend this facility for pros and beginners. Phil and Rick are great instructors and it really shows.

Brach’s MMA is proud to be a Team Balance School and has the same quality of training and service. Balance Studios is the best academy in the county, and it’s affiliates are all carefully chosen to represent the name. Owners Phil & Rick Migliarese are amazing instructors and have a great influence on our academy.

Incredible people and community. A great place to learn Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu.

Awesome group of people, and the level of talent in the room in second to none.

Balance is the best. Great instructors, zero drama, and an awesome group of people to train with. Couldnt be happier.

Balance Studios offers excellent instruction in authentic Gracie Jiujitsu, Muay Thai, and Yoga. The instructors are the best I have seen. The environment is always positive and friendly. I have noticed that the students and instructors make it a point to make new people feel comfortable and welcome. I highly recommend training here! Best in Philly!!!

I trained Jiu Jitsu at several different gyms and Balance Studios is the best experience Ive ever had. From the passionate and dedicated instructors, the endless amount of talented training partners, and the family like atmosphere is what sets Balance Studios apart from the rest. Literally from the day I came to Balance Studios to the day I left, Phil and Rick Migliarese have helped me out a lot. These experiences will never be forgotten and I will be forever grateful.

Great place to train with great people ....TEAM BALANCE is great 👍🏽

Balance Studios is the best place for jiu jitsu, mma, and kick boxing in the Philadelphia area for EVERYONE from beginners with zero experience to trained fighters they will make you feel comfortable and welcome at all times! Highly recommended!

January 2017 was the first time I stepped into Balance Studios. I had made up my mind to do something I had always wanted to do. So one morning as I was driving up Frankford, Balance Studios, caught my eye. I was a bit nervous, but after the first class I knew I was in good hands. I found myself looking forward to class everyday. All the coaches are amazing and dedicated to helping you improve. Whether you’re looking for self defense, competition jiu jitsu, MMA, or Muay Thai, Balance is the place to do it. I was fortunate in having found the best place in Philadelphia that day. With the best instructors Phil and Rick Migliarese, who have 30 plus years of experience combined. I am truly grateful to have teammates and instructors who are passionate to teach and help others and for that reason I can say I love Balance and I know you will too.

Love training here! Everyone is awesome.

I have been fortunate to train all over in my travels for work. The Migliarese brothers have always been the stop to make when Im in the northeast of the country. When I finally made the move to their school full time. I have to say they have been the most welcoming and truly made me feel like family from the beginning. Here and the famous Gracie Academy of Torrance,Ca have both made me feel part of a family. Which is fitting because of the common quality they share. The level of Jiujitsu, atmosphere, and instruction is fantastic. In Jiujitsu it is common for schools to develop a family feel. But few truly are and look out for each other. Phil and Rick model that behavior and are the real deal. Their training experience at the Original gracie Academy has led them to foster an east coast version of the same. If youre in Philly check them out. If youre looking for a place that will provide legit self defense and do so in an amazing atmosphere and you live in Philly this should be home.

Amazing staff, great rates, & unmatched experience!

If youre serious about getting in shape, competing in a martial art, learning self defence, or all three, Balance Studios is for you. At Balance youll learn and train with legends and high level athletes in the combat sports and Jiu Jitsu world. My Jiu Jitsu has greatly improved in the time Ive spent here. Through training Ive made friends with awesome people all across Philly, the country, and the world. The HQ is the newest addition to the Balance Schools so all the training equipment, mats, changing rooms, and everything else is all new. I highly recommend this school, best place Ive ever trained.

Although I began training at Balance Studios in March of 2013, Ricardo recently reminded me that I have been a part of the Balance family since they first opened their doors in 2002.The past four years have been the most challenging of my life but having Balance Studios as a part of my daily life during this time has enabled me to become stronger by giving me the opportunity to continue my martial arts journey through the study of Gracie Jiu-jitsu under the world class instruction of the Migliarese and Vogel brothers as well as the other wonderful, friendly, funny, tough and knowledgeable instructors such as Aldo, Angie, John, Mauro, Paul, Ricardo, Steve, etc., who teach every Balance Studios class.Lastly on a personal note, training at Balance Studios allowed me to reconnect with my Fight Father Ajarn Andy Russell and to continue and deepen my study of Muay Thai under his expert guidance. 🙏

Phil and Ricky Milgarese have created a a fun professional, and welcoming gym. Top level instruction and friendly members!

If youre interested in starting martial arts, or experienced looking for something better, Balance Studios is the place to join. Work, life and distance keep me loving Advanced Martial Arts in North Brunswick, NJ, but when I have time I travel, with my instructor Brian Katzs encouragement and blessings, to train at Balance headquarters in Fishtown Philadelphia or one of the other Balance locations, under Phil and Ric Migliarese. Ive got black belts in other martial arts, Kung fu helped me focus my life decades ago, and Im a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Ive met a lot of great martial artists and instructors. Balance is at the top of the mountain. Phil and Ricardo are the real deal, balanced with self defense, sport, health and nutrition - yoga permeates the program with Phil a master yoga instructor too. They are Balanced also with humility and a passion to see you improve using their guidance. They have a platoon of experienced black belts who carry on excellence in the practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as an art, with the respectful and caring attitudes forged from years training under Phil and Ricardo. I tapped not because they are more brutal than guys I survive with, but because their BJJ is smoother, they are more slick. There are so many levels of Jiujitsu; you will find those levels at Balance. Make no mistake, these guys are fighting killers who greet you with a handshake not a fist.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an amazing martial art. If your a parent looking for something positive for your child, looking to train as an adult, or youre a UFC level fighter, call or visit Phil and Ric.

The reason why I chose to train at Balance Studios is simple, family. When I first walked into Balance I was greeted right away by Ricardo Migliarese who was teaching a noon class. We talked about a few things and I told him that I trained, and he let me know that the door was always open for me to come in when I liked. Well one night after work I took him up on his offer and I was thrilled with the great instruction and training. I then met Phil Migliarese, and I had never experienced classes the way he runs them. People like to say that Jiu Jitsu is for everyone. I would say this. Jiu Jitsu is for everyone, if you have an instructor that gears his class for everyone. No matter weather you are a recreational player, someone in for self defense, a tournament compeditor, or pro or ammature MMA fighter Phil knows how to teach it with all of these people mixed in as one group. None of these guys knew me, but they all treated me like I was one of them. Whenever someone walk through that front door someone greets you, weather it is an instructor or another student and they are always happy to help you and point you in the right direction. I have done this more than a few times myself in the past 7 years there, and I realized it’s something that just happens because you take pride in saying that you are from Team Balance. As a friend, and jiu jitsu mentor of mine always says, “That’s how we do!”

Such a great place to train, great environment, great instructors.

Great place for genuine Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

Favorite time of the week