Who we are and our goal
Elite Fight Academy was born from this belief: a place to train, grow, and become the best version of yourself, both on and off the tatami.
Our identity
Our logo is a diamond enclosing the initials EFA. It is not a random choice.
The diamond is one of the most precious stones in the world, and it only becomes so under pressure. It is precisely that pressure that turns it into something practically indestructible.
Just like a diamond, we believe that under the pressure of methodical training true warriors are forged: people capable of facing difficulties and reaching their goals.
The origins
Elite Fight Academy was born from a friendship.
Marco Doda and Matteo Gazzo share a bond born and bred on the tatami: years of training side by side, up to six hours a day, every day. Through sacrifice, sweat, and a long journey together, a friendship was transformed into a shared vision.
A key step in their journey was training at the Climent Club in Alicante. That is where, day after day, the idea of building something of their own was born: a gym where you train, teach and shape champions through methodical study and precise protocols.
To really grow, Marco had to look outside Italy for what was missing here. He trained in England, Germany, Spain and other countries, before moving to the United States to train with John Danaher, widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach of all time, the man who took BJJ to another level.
Marco's path led him to spar with world-class athletes, including Marvin Vettori, several times over. Experiences that teach more than any book: what it really means to prepare at the highest level.
Years of training around the world allowed him to meet some of the biggest names in MMA history, such as Khamzat Chimaev in 2018 and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Every trip, every gym and every encounter became part of the method we now bring to Genoa.
All these travels made one problem clear: in Italy, there are very few gyms truly dedicated to teaching—the real kind, capable of guiding you until you achieve your goals. And often, even where the technique is present, the connection with the students is missing: you don't feel like you're part of something.
Marco and Matteo decided to create the place they had always wanted to find.
This is how Elite Fight Academy was born.
How we train
No lesson is left to chance. Every workout is carefully designed to guide each student toward their maximum technical growth, whether it's their first day or they're preparing for a match.
A clear technical progression, built step by step.
Training planned to achieve concrete results.
From your first lesson to competing, we support you all the way to wherever you want to go.
A family
Improving is a given. But for us there is something just as important: feeling at home.
At Elite you will find a relaxed environment where people help each other, have fun and grow together. Here you leave the day’s worries at the door, clear your mind and train with people you can count on, even outside the gym.
Because results come more easily when you know you are not alone.
The first step
Come try a lesson and discover what it means to train at Elite.
Book a trial lesson