Really enjoy coming here. Sensei Hollis and all the instructors really want you to improve your…read morejudo. I've learned so much in a short time span and am eager to keep learning.

I trained at the JJI for decades. Hollis Barnett is among the best judo teachers I have ever met,…read moretruly a master's master. He trained my mother into her 70s. I've now moved across the country, and still train at a local dojo. But JJI will always be my home. Hollis is an adept teacher with both beginners and advanced students. If you are looking for a good school - look no further.

From day one, I have nothing but good things to say about GB West Loop. It is an awesome place if…read moreyou want to learn jiu jitsu in a friendly and safe environment! The staff is commited to great service and they are always willing to help with your jiu jitsu improvement. I started going there a couple times a week and now I feel that this place is like my second home.

My happy place!! I love training here and the camaraderie among the students. I always leave…read moretraining in a good mood.

Genuinely can't say enough good things. The teachers are really encouraging, and the environment is…read morewelcoming and fun- I came in with zero experience, and have never felt out of place or uncomfortable. There's a great sense of camaraderie between the students, who have all been more than willing to help out my unskilled self during partner drills. The classes are definitely challenging while being incredibly enjoyable and satisfying. I've always hated traditional gyms and had to drag myself to go, and for the first time ever, as soon as I leave I can't wait to come back! I'd recommend CMMA to anyone looking for practical self defense skills, a new physical activity, or even just an awesome community to be part of. I'm so happy I found this place!

After training here for a couple of months, I received amazing training for Muay Thai and Brazilian…read morejiu-jitsu from instructors that have a lot of experience, and they make it safe for beginners to join so that the fundamentals of new students are strong.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeast Mooooooooooooode! Gino put in the work this morning, I'm spent! The morning crew…read moreworked out and getting closer to the goals.

I've been a member of the KMF family for over 4 years. Their classes are wonderful if your either…read morewanting to learn a fighting style, self defense, or just looking to get in shape. Classes are accessible for almost any schedule. Facilities are always clean. Staff and instructors are cool and knowledgeable

Terrific ego-free environment, great instruction, and friendly instructors who want to make sure…read moreyou're learning and enjoying yourself. I first met one of the owners (John) in college back in 2005, and ever since I've known him, he has had a huge passion for the martial arts, and BJJ in particular. He has a great knack for creating camaraderie, and is an open, inclusive personality, which you can feel through the rest of the members at the gym. I was only able to train there for a few weeks a few years back (shoulder injury), but the environment was terrific, as was the instruction. they also have muay thai, boxing, and wrestling, so you're definitely able to explore your passions. the three most important takeaways: 1. john is a guy who is completely trustworthy and is not out to play "gotcha" with pricing. he's completely transparent with his prices and doesn't hassle you if you want to cancel (though i don't see why you would. the prices are VERY reasonable considering the local competition. 2. the environment is great- friendly, but if you want to train seriously you'll have tons of opportunity. 3. the instructors are excellent at showing you technique and truly care if you are grasping the concepts they're teaching.

Looking for an experienced but welcoming BJJ gym? Seeking an effective high intensity workout?…read moreConvenient location in Chicago? The Chicago School of Grappling is a yes for all three. Having been a wrestler and jiujitsu practitioner for a number of years, I was very interested in the CSOG. I attended one of the JitFit sessions which is comprised of a circuit of high-intensity, jiujitsu-based exercises. The JitFit sessions are non-contact and fitness oriented, I feel they are well suited to beginners to advanced people trying to get fit, as well as men and women. I believe they have a kids session too. I enjoyed my session, having mainly been lifting the past few years, and the HIIT type session was helpful in addressing my cardio and goal of leaning up, while practicing fundamental jiujitsu maneuvers. The instructors are very experienced here, Nick and John (black and purple belts respectively), and can teach the spectrum of jiujitsu - from fitness enthusiast to advanced competitor. I highly recommend checking out the CSOG! I'm looking forward to my next session.

If you want to attend a Brazilian Jiujitsu school where the owner and head instructor dates his…read morefemale students and gets them pregnant. While forbidding his adult male and female students from dating each other outside of school grounds, which is a private matter between two consenting adults. Maintaining a double standard of "do as I say, not as I do" then this is the place for you! If you want to be accused, labeled, and threatened to cancel your membership or kicked out without getting the facts first because the owner doesn't know how to handle conflict resolution, then this is the place for you! If you get injured, and you're not able to attend training due to your injury, and you asked the owner to put your paying membership on hold temporarily because your orthopedic doctor has you on medical orders, be careful! The owner is more concerned about money than your health! He will get upset and ridicule you for putting your paying membership on hold. Somehow the owner has a medical degree! If you want to attend a Brazilian Jiujitsu school where you're a new student who has suffered a knee injury and another female student who happens to be a white belt, with no experience, and with a tremendous amount of ego and does a leg lock on your injured leg and you questioned their technique or asked them not to such a technique out of concern for your health and safety. Then this is the place for you! If your role with a student that practices "Tickle Jiujitsu" with his opponent, then you rough him up for doing something dumb and stupid, then he goes and cries foul 3 weeks after the fact to the academy owner. Then the academy owner blames you for being rough and informs you that this "student" has a 20% stake in the academy. Then this is the place for you! If you want to be ridiculed or embarrassed in front of others of a misunderstanding of the facts not yet known, then this is the place for you! If you want to attend a Brazilian Jiujitsu school where some students are too sensitive and act like babies, their egos get shattered. Then go cry foul, then this is the place for you! If you're under the impression that you're having a private telephone conversation with the school owner without him asking you permission for others to listen to such dialogue. Disregarding your privacy, then this is the place for you! If you want to attend a Brazilian jiujitsu school where the owner is more concerned about money more than your well-being, then this is the place for you! If you want to attend a Brazilian Jiujitsu school where the owner suffers from anger issues, acts unprofessional, rude, and hangs up the phone on you because the owner doesn't know how to handle constructive criticism, then this is the place for you! If you want to attend a Jiujitsu school were the owner has cameras all over the place without posted legal signs indicating that you're being recorded during training or anytime thereof, this is the place for you! I don't like to post negative reviews because of the love that I have for Jiujitsu. After leaving a well-respected Jiujitsu school and visiting "Soul Fighters" Andre Maneco, Brazilian Jiujitsu school, and staying for a short time, I experience all of the above. It's unfortunate and sad, but I feel compelled to leave a negative review because I wish not to elaborate any further due to the reasons above and many others. Male and female students have left this academy for personal reasons, and I'm just another casualty of the rude, unprofessional character and behavior from Andre Maneco. I wouldn't recommend this school, not even to my worst enemy! I was warned, but I choose not to listen... With so many good, professional, caring, and understanding BJJ schools around Chicago, this is "NOT" the one! Stay away! Lesson learned!

So when I'd been wanting to start BJJ for years but was always intimidated. I even tried a couple…read moreintro classes at another gym in Chicago and the vibe was just all wrong for me. This is why I'm so happy to have found Soul Fighters Chicago. Such a great gym with top notch instruction. Andre has found what is the perfect balance of seriousness/intensity in training while maintaining a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. One thing I've found particularly great about the instruction is the attention to detail. Somehow if your foot is not quite in the right place or your hand needs to be rotated Andre can spot this from across the room and will correct you so you're not drilling with mistakes, its truly impressive. While I don't make it to a ton of evening classes (6:30 am crew checking in!) I'd also like to shout out to Zito's instruction in the fundamentals classes. He's really great at making the new people feel relaxed and comfortable all while being a great teaching of techniques and concepts. This also brings me to the other students and overall vibe of this academy. Everyone is there is get better, have fun, and really takes the time to help each other. The feeling of camaraderie here is high and is what has allowed me to get over that initial intimidation and end up as a regular student going 2-4 times a week for the last 8 months. Overall I can not recommend Soul Fighters enough if you're interested in BJJ.