Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodrigo Frezza.
Hi Rodrigo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Rodrigo Frezza, and I am a Brazilian born in São Paulo. I began training in martial arts at an early age, experimenting with disciplines such as Karate, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. However, Jiu-Jitsu has been the martial art I dedicated myself to the most.
In Brazil, in 2012, I founded a Gracie Barra school in the state of São Paulo, where I trained several champions and dedicated myself to training the military police of the region. I taught immobilization and unarmed combat techniques for approximately four years.
In 2019, I moved to the USA to open Gracie Barra Celebration. The journey was initially challenging, especially with the pandemic hitting just a few months after opening. Nevertheless, over time, our school achieved great success, producing numerous champions competing in major associations and events across the United States.
I am proud to have been invited to train US Army National Guard recruits since 2021, which brings me great joy. I love this country and see this as a way to express my gratitude for the warm acceptance I’ve received.
In 2024, together with my student and good friend, Fillipe Pascalicchio, we opened Gracie Barra Davenport, FL. From the very start, it has been a huge success. We broke the record for enrolled students prior to the grand opening, and the school continues to grow daily. We’re proud to offer self-defense and anti-bullying programs for children as young as three, as well as Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai classes for children and adults of all ages, providing meaningful benefits to the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As mentioned previously, opening a martial arts school, where full contact is mandatory just a few months before the pandemic, was extremely challenging.
Another point is that when immigrants move to a new country, they often don’t realize they need to learn everything from scratch, such as the language, culture, customs, etc. Furthermore, starting a business isn’t easy when you’re unfamiliar with the bureaucracy, such as permit applications, regulations, accounting and tax rules, laws, waivers, etc. All of this causes immigrants to either give up on their journey (which never crossed my mind) or dedicate themselves much more to overcoming these challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always been passionate about martial arts and their impact on the personal development of adults and children. Therefore, my dedication to martial arts is not only to creating champions on the mat, but mainly to creating good citizens for society.
I’ve practiced various martial arts, but I’ve dedicated myself most to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where I’m a second-degree black belt (I’m expected to receive my third degree this year, 2025) and a Muay Thai instructor.
In addition to my experience teaching children, adults, and competitors of all ages, I have extensive experience teaching police officers (four years teaching the São Paulo State Military Police, and four years so far teaching the US Army – Florida National Guard). My high-level experience in both grappling and striking ensures my knowledge is comprehensive, covering all hand-to-hand combat learning needs for all situations.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a mentor or mentors is not easy. First, you must analyze the results of those you choose and trust as mentors. Without a doubt, having a mentor who knows what the next steps are can absolutely facilitate your journey. My professor is one of my mentors and is always available to guide me.
Regarding networking, I believe that offering value to people is the key to success. People often seek to network for the sake of gaining an advantage, when the key to establishing new connections is to sincerely offer something valuable to the person you want to connect with, without ulterior motives. I am very blessed, because one of the great benefits of teaching martial arts is the pleasure of meeting wonderful people who benefit from my dedication to their personal development, creating a relationship of trust and true friendship.
Pricing:
- Jiu-Jitsu for kids and adults unlimited (up to 6 days a week) $45 per week
- Muay Thai unlimited $40 per week
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gbdavenport.com and www.gbcelebration.com
- Instagram: @gbdavenportfl @gbcelebration
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gbdavenportfl and https://www.facebook.com/GBCelebrationFL
