It's within these blue-padded, dank quarters where UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra earned his white belt (beginner's level) in the Brazilian martial art, and still takes private lessons once or twice a week when preparing for a fight. It's within this converted basement Mecca of martial arts where former UFC welterweight belt holder Georges St. Pierre learned grappling from masters Hansel Gracie and John Danaher. Legend has it that when St. Pierre first arrived, he squared off with Danaher having never been submitted before. After five minutes, Danaher forced St. Pierre to tap out seven times.
Gracie taught Danaher while he took graduate classes in philosophy at Columbia University at the age of 23. Now the pupil and the teacher are just two of the eight blackbelts who teach at the Gracie Academy. Hansel Gracie is a venerable capo in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's (BJJ) most famous family. He's defeated five UFC champions over the course of his illustrious career. But you don't have to be a martial arts master to learn from the best.