Building a Martial Arts Legacy | Lessons from Renzo Gracie Milford
In this episode of Gymdesk Originals, we visit Renzo Gracie Milford led by Professor Mark Cerrone, one of Renzo’s earliest students from New York City. From taking the train into Manhattan every day as a teenager to helping grow Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into a global movement with over 300+ academies worldwide, Mark’s story is one of dedication, discipline, and vision.
Starring
Professor Mark Cerrone is a 4th° Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie and John Danaher. As one of Renzo’s first U.S. students, he has over 30 years of BJJ experience. He continues training at the renowned Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City to maintain the highest level of instruction at his own academy
About Fit & Fight Gym
Renzo Gracie Milford is more than just a martial arts gym—it's a vibrant, welcoming community built on decades of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expertise. Led by Professor Mark Cerrone, one of Renzo Gracie's earliest students in New York, the Milford location offers top-tier Jiu Jitsu instruction for all ages, including kids as young as three, and fosters personal growth, confidence, and emotional regulation alongside physical skills.
Training here means becoming part of a diverse, unified team where newcomers and experienced practitioners alike are supported and challenged to reach their full potential. Renzo Gracie Milford stands out not only for its rigorous, science-based training and lineage of world-class competitors and UFC champions, but also for its commitment to spreading the positive impact of Jiu Jitsu—whether it’s helping bullied kids, empowering law enforcement, or building lifelong friendships. If you’re looking to train in a place that feels like home while getting world-class instruction and joining a true legacy, this academy is the place to be.
📍354 Woodmont Rd STE 10, Milford, CT 06460
📞 203-496-5827
Summary
In this episode, Gymdesk CEO Alex Cuevas visits Renzo Gracie Milford in Connecticut to explore what goes into building a martial arts legacy. He sits down with Professor Mark Cerrone, one of Renzo Gracie’s earliest students from New York City, to discuss the origins of the Milford academy, the journey from training in the original NYC “blue basement,” and how Mark became a leader in the Gracie organization. The conversation warmly welcomes viewers into the Renzo Gracie community, touching on Alex’s own martial arts story and the family atmosphere in the Milford location.
In this episode, you'll learn about the early days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the East Coast, the challenges of running martial arts academies, and Mark Cerrone’s dedication—including his daily commute from West Haven to Manhattan for over a decade. Mark shares entertaining and inspiring stories about defending the art during the “revolutionary” period when MMA was widely misunderstood and often illegal. The discussion touches on the explosive growth from a single gym to a global network, the importance of building strong teams, and the critical role martial arts play in instilling discipline and emotional regulation in children. Mark also reveals exciting news about bringing Jiu-Jitsu as an official school sport to Connecticut high schools, a first in the United States.
This episode also highlights how Renzo Gracie Milford uses Gymdesk to streamline operations and support growth. Mark explains how Gymdesk’s innovative features—such as branded member apps, attendance tracking, and intuitive user experience—allow academies to focus less on administration and more on building their communities. Through candid feedback from users like Mark and other Gracie locations, Gymdesk is continuously evolving, emphasizing the importance of ongoing innovation for martial arts businesses. The partnership reflects the synergy between technology and tradition, enabling academy owners to scale their impact while preserving the family feel that makes Renzo Gracie gyms unique.
