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 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 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
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