MisHO CEKO

Misho Ceko

Professor

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, 4th Degree

MMA Coach/Trainer

Misho Ceko is the founder and owner of Chicago Mixed Martial Arts. He is a fourth degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with 25 years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Mixed Martial Arts.

Misho has trained and coached martial arts all over the world, including Brazil, Japan, and throughout Europe and Africa. As a competitor, Misho won numerous titles as all levels and placed in 3rd at the 2004 IBJJF Pan-American Championships. Thought his career, he has worked with professional and amateur fighters in MMA (including in the UFC), Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Boxing.

Misho started his martial arts journey in fall 1998 at the Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Mountain View, California. Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the country with athletes such as Dave and Dan Camarillo, BJ, JD, and Regan Penn, Kurt Osiander, Sandro “Batata” Santiago, Alan “Gumby” Marquez and Scott Nelson (founders of OnTheMat.com), Don Geddis (founder of BJJ.org), and Mike Prudencio, among many others.

After earning his black belt in 2004, Misho moved back to Chicago for graduate school. While in Chicago, he trained with Carlson Gracie and Carlson Gracie Jr., the Redzevic Brothers, and Evanston Boxing Club. In 2005, Misho began training at the world-renown Sityodtong Muay Thai Academy in Boston, Massachusetts under Kru Mark Dellagrotte. In 2006, Misho moved to New York City to work for the United Nations and began training with Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn. After moving to Washingto DC in 2007, Misho began training and teaching at Nova MMA in Arlington, Virginia under Jeff Ruth.

After spending a couple years in DC, Misho moved for his work with the UN to Mozambique and opened the first MMA school in Maputo. In 2010, after moving back to Chicago, he opened Chicago MMA.

In his professional life, Misho is the Senior Associate Dean and COO of the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. He holds degrees in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois, MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and MPA for Harvard’s Kennedy School. He currently sits on the board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, home of the Doomsday Clock, and is the chairman of the board for Futbol Mas America.