Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Best training gym in Chicago!!! Everybody is friendly and willing to help you learn!!! If you want to learn real Muay Thai and BJJ this is the place to go, Master Andre Madiz is great! And RJ Rudy is the real deal when it comes to BJJ.

Was visiting from out of town and Carlson himself welcomed me and a friend into his gym with open arms. The instructors (especially Andre) were really hands-​on and on top of their game, pushing us to work hard and try new things. Technique is fun but rolling with some really experienced guys was a great time. Would definitely train here if I lived in the area.

I don’t train here at the moment, because I moved, but this school is by far the toughest school I’ve ever trained at. If you want to compete or potentially fight MMA this school is the place to get your ground game on! They constantly win the Chicago tournaments for gi and no gi

Training with The Carlson Gracie Team has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.
The level of expertise demonstrated by the various instructors is extremely impressive and so is the general attitude of all of my general teammates. I walked through the door well past my athletic prime and out of shape, yet received nothing but encouragement and useful feedback from day one.
The team is extremely diverse with members representing almost any age, size, athletic background, race, religion, etc… Everyone is accepted, educated, and challenged here, physically and mentally.
I would recommend Junior’s academy to anyone.

In my opinion the best place to learn BJJ and Muay Thai. Top level instructors ad high quality students. I am always treated like family every time I go. Although the location is not close to my house, I gladly make the trip because of the top level instruction. I highly recommend.

Ive been training here for the past two years an love it. The enviroment is welcoming and respectful, never intimidating like you would expect with such an aggressive sport. There is a great mix of skill levels to work with and learn from.

This is the world headquarters of the Carlson Gracie Team.
My BJJ life began in this academy, where I continue to train and assist with instruction.
There are other BJJ academies in Chicago. Most of the best ones are operated by persons who still train here, or have trained here in the past.
This academy is the best in the region because of the unmatched breadth and depth of experience here. Carlson Gracie Jr. is a master of BJJ who needs no introduction. There is nobody I would rather train with. There are also other instructors, each of whom is developing his own interpretation of BJJ. Several teach at other places, including Andre Madiz (Andre Madiz BJJ & Muay Thai — Conviction Fitness), Andre Campos (Powersource Martial Arts), Rudy Jimenez (Chicago Fight Team), and Malik Elliot (Neal/​Colon MMA). The fact that their instruction is contributed at this location creates a very multifaceted learning environment. Despite differences in weight and body type, all instructors are unified around the «Carlson Gracie Style» of BJJ — that is, an emphasis on technical precision, aggressive execution of fundamentals, and high preference for positional dominance. It is the antithesis of berimbolo or other butt-​scooting styles of BJJ that may work in sport BJJ but are not realistic in a self-​defense situation. The BJJ here is practical, and equally compatible with sport, MMA, or street defense.
Despite the concentration of experience, there is relatively little ego. People are hungry to learn and will help one another move forward. The black belts not only learn from Carlson Jr., they are ready to learn from each other, as well as from those of other experience levels. In fact, there is impressive talent and dedication throughout the ranks.
The morale at this academy is high. This is a place where people practice because they love it. Others would call it an addiction or a way of life. They are completely serious, even fanatical, about their training in BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai.
The level of camaraderie also is high. Many have practiced together for years. The Carlson Gracie Team calls itself a family because in many ways it is, and its ethos is nuanced with all that comes with family life. Loyalty is the highest currency.

I have been a member of the Carlson Gracie Team since 1996 and this is the most storied, biggest an has more roots in the Chicago area than any other team. Many other teams such has Bön Sai, Valko, Vianna Brothers, Andre Maneco, Evolution MMA and Movimiento all have Carlson Gracie lineage. We teach BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and self defense. We also have children’s classes. Stop by for a class.

I started training BJJ a few years ago at the Fitplex with Carlson Gracie Jr. Carlson and his instructors are wonderful people and provide a real nice environment. Carlson Jr is an encyclopedia of Jiu-​Jitsu and self-​defense. He also was on the Brazilian Pan-​American wrestling team. Other instructors like Daniel Wanderley travel and train with the best in BJJ and MMA. Junior is a great guy and its cool to learn Gracie Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu from an actual Gracie family member.