Organization
MGA
Overview
Marcelo Garcia Academy (MGA) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy brand and team identity founded by Marcelo Garcia. Originating in New York City, MGA is best known as a centralized training academy with a strong emphasis on technical instruction, competition preparation, and no-gi grappling.
Affiliation
Core Identity
Organization name Marcelo Garcia Academy
Common name MGA
Acronym MGA
Organization type Academy brand and team identity
Founded Circa 2009
Founder
- Marcelo Garcia
Headquarters (current) Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu NYC, 250 W. 26th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001
Operational status Active
Primary discipline Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No-Gi)
Affiliation Model
Affiliation structure Centralized flagship academy with competition team representation; not an open affiliate network.
Gym independence MGA primarily operates through its main academy; associated instructors and programs may vary by context.
Branding / naming conventions MGA or Marcelo Garcia team designation used in competition registration and academy branding.
Instruction / curriculum Instruction rooted in Marcelo Garcia’s technical systems, with structured training programs emphasizing positional control, submissions, and no-gi grappling.
Typical affiliation signals MGA team designation in competition registration, academy branding, and official media channels.
Affiliated Gyms
Competitive Presence
Primary competitive ecosystem Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition circuits in gi and no-gi formats.
Ruleset fit Aligned with standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition rulesets; not a governing body.
Athlete representation Competitors typically register under the Marcelo Garcia Academy or MGA team designation.
Footprint
Global footprint Primary presence in New York City with international recognition through competition, seminars, and instructional influence.
Discover affiliated gyms MGA representation appears at the gym level within city and gym profiles when applicable.
Relationships
Related organization types
- Competition organizations
- Gyms (flagship academy)
- Coaches (team-linked instructors)