Very welcoming atmosphere -- clean and professional. Professor Marcelo and his team run a top notch…read moreoperation, and you won't find a better place around to learn BJJ, for either an adult or a child! My only regret is that I sat on the sidelines, waiting for so long, before giving it a try. "The best time to start training BJJ is 10 years ago. The second best time is now!"

I travel a lot and have had the opportunity to train in a lot of gyms. This is by far one of the…read morebest I've ever been to in the US. Everyone in the academy is all smiles all the time and it feels like a big family. It's one of the most rookie-friendly places I've been and also has an incredible talent pool in the students and coaches. Lots of freedom and encouragement to ask any question you want and it's easy to find a partner that either wants to go easy or is willing to ramp up the pace. Prof Marcello is a world class professor and kind of a legend. He was a multiple time Brazilian National Champion before moving to the states, and of all places, ended up teaching in Deerfield, IL. The depth of knowledge he has when asking about details of positions is insane and is a gentle reminder of how little I actually know. So cool to have been able to spend time in this academy.

One of the best places in the state top quality instruction learning from the best of the bestread more

My four-year-old son is having a wonderful experience here. The instructor is really great with all…read moreages of kids. I am really happy that we found this school. Highly recommend.

Awesome place, awesome people, the instructor breaks it down for you to learn . I always enjoys the…read morespeech's a lot of truth behind them , sometimes they are funny Sincerely the white belt

Awesome group that trains hard. Really appreciate the warm welcome and pointers from all the more…read moresenior players.

My brothers go here they say it's a lot fun I would recommend this place for gym and jujitsu!read more

Amazing place to train huge mat space, weight lifting and a big bathrooms with showers, the…read moreinstructors are amazing and some of the best in Chicagoland. If you want to learn BJJ this is the place to go

I can't say enough good things about CMA. Master Lee and all of the instructors are committed to…read morethe success of my children as well as all the other kids who go through their program. CMA has given my children confidence and satisfaction by successfully testing to higher levels in Tae Kwon Do. This is a great activity for children who go through PT and/or OT as it builds coordination and core strength.

If your interested in learning to defend yourself or simple take a new journey, Jui Jitsu at CMA…read moreDeerfied is the place to grow your skills. Fantastic instruction!! "All of Jiu Jitsu is finding a way to get your partner to willingly go where you want them to go in the first place."

I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am to have found you guys. All 3 of my kids are excited to…read morecome to Jiu Jitsu class and are even staying after class to practice on their own! I can't get my boys to practice much of the sports they say they want to play but they're begging me to let them practice BJJ!! All 3 agree - Tony is an awesome instructor and I know if it wasn't for his teaching style they would not want to attend. He made them feel welcome, included, capable, and strong. Thanks again, Larissa

We've had an excellent experience at FMA! Sensei Gerson and Prof. Tony are excellent, enthusiastic…read moreteachers and know how to relate to kids and adults alike. They've been very patient with our two boys who can be a...handful...and Tony's adult BJJ class is focused, fun, and super supportive. No bad vibes or overly intense instructors here. Highly recommended for students of all ages and stages. Thanks FMA!

I took an hour long train ride up to Evanston just to drop-in to the 6:30am class. This is by far…read morethe most beautiful BJJ school/gym I've ever been to. It is in a new shared space called Gym 1801. The gym is very modern and has locker rooms with all the amenities (towels, hair dryers, soap/shampoo/conditioner, etc.) The instructor and students in the class were both very helpful and friendly. There were also two other women there which was awesome to see. We started with a pummeling drill to warm-up then did about 30-40 minutes of drilling. We finished with some positionals then rounds of rolling. If you are visiting the northern Chicago/Evanston area you should definitely check out Serafin BJJ. The only downside is knowing what I'm missing out on when I go back to my home gym that's in a warehouse :'(

Jeff is the best coach I've ever had in anything. He's very kind and an outstanding teacher. You'll…read moreget high level training in a supportive environment. Can't recommend enough.

I'm just going to put it simply, this place changed my life. I decided to try something new, way…read moreout of my comfort zone. Little by little I grew stronger, more confident and I learned the techniques. The people here believe in me, coach me and encourage me to push further, be braver. They are talented, kind and strong. At the age of 43 I just registered for my first tournament and it feels amazing. Just try it, you never know what will come out of it.

If you are looking for a legit BJJ gym with top notch instruction, facilities, and value, then look…read moreno further. Coach Carlos and Patty have a great culture of respect, honor, team, family, and friends. LCBJJ is an affiliate of Professor Leo Viera's Checkmat Team. I've been around BJJ since 1998 and started martial arts in 1990, and LCBJJ really is a quality location I am proud to be a member of their school. Brand new location with a large new mat and training area, beautiful!! Beginners 101's 6 week program is excellent and a great, easy paced, we'll instructed, and cost effective way to see if you enjoy the art. A high quality Gi is included with an entry level white belt. Evening, Noon, and Saturday classes for us with the busy or flexible schedules. Check your ego at the door and come learn the best martial art, get a great workout, have fun, and meet great people at LCBJJ!!

Brazilian Black Belt Academy has been one of the best decisions we've made for our kids. From day…read moreone, the atmosphere has been welcoming, supportive, and truly family-oriented. Filipe is an outstanding instructor--patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and amazing with kids. He keeps classes structured, engaging, and fun while still teaching discipline, focus, and respect. My children are not only learning real self-defense skills, but I've also seen their confidence and self-esteem grow tremendously. They stay active, build resilience, and actually look forward to every class. If you're looking for a place where your child will gain confidence, discipline, and lifelong skills in a positive environment, I cannot recommend Brazilian Black Belt Academy enough.

I've had the privilege of being one of the founding members of the school, and it's been incredible…read moreto watch it grow under the leadership of Professor Felipe Costa. He's not only a world-class competitor but also a passionate and thoughtful teacher who truly cares about passing on the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What sets this school apart is its well-structured class format and inclusive environment. Felipe offers a dedicated fundamentals class for adults that focuses on self-defense and foundational jiu-jitsu techniques--perfect for beginners. The all-levels class is ideal for those with experience and offers deeper technical instruction. Classes begin with a brief stretch, followed by a movement-based warm-up tied to that day's technique. Felipe often breaks down a sequence into an entry, core technique, and counters or reactions, which we drill before moving into positional sparring and full live rounds. Safety is always emphasized, and Felipe fosters an atmosphere where exploration and learning take priority over ego or "winning." The facility is clean, the mats are top quality, and the culture is incredibly welcoming. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your game, I highly recommend this school.

This is the best multi disciplinary martial arts program I've seen. My son is learning…read moreself-defense, self confidence and great discipline that extends to work and home. He loves the classes and the sensei. He actually is excited to go to class! All the instructors are great and work with the kids individually to address specific weaknesses instead of a standard curriculum that overlooks strengths and weaknesses. Overall, I love this program. We will continue here. I couldnt recommend it more. Thank you, Z-Ultimate Self Defense Studios.

Z ultimate is the best I have seen…read more Sensei Steve and his instructors are really great I can't say how much Z has impressed us. The way our son carries himself with friends his confidence and how his instincts automatically take over from his training. Plus we feel it has helped him with other sports. Sensei Steve teaches real-life defense (no board breaking ) They teach you how to defend vs multiple situations. They don't push Belts testing for revenue. But they also teach you the importance of trying to avoid situations, our son is only 8 but I feel what he has learned will stay with him for his life. All the students in the class are respectful and help each other