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Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 122 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Alton, Illinois

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 3–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule altonelite.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (618) 795-2692

Hours

Monday 5–8 PM
Tuesday 4:15–8 PM
Wednesday 5–8 PM
Thursday 4:15–8 PM
Friday 5–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–12 PM
Sunday 5–6 PM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 17 mentions

“Every member has now become family, and I would highly recommend our kids classes to any young kids with lots of energy.”

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💪 Women's BJJ

“Jacquelin was amazing with the kids and her women's class is a great distraction from the outside world.”

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🩳 No-Gi

“We do no-gi BJJ, gi BJJ, and MMA/striking, and every program has been an amazing experience.”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“The entire facility is brand new, amazing mats, high-end equipment and fun for all ages.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🏟️ MMA

“We do no-gi BJJ, gi BJJ, and MMA/striking, and every program has been an amazing experience.”

Other gyms that also teach mma →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 122 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 5 mentions

“Coach Jacqueline is great with the kids, and coaches Adam and Steven give awesome instruction and support when questions come up.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Amazing academy with the best instructors, great positive atmosphere with a welcoming community that treat you like family!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 18 mentions

“Amazing academy with the best instructors, great positive atmosphere with a welcoming community that treat you like family!”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 2 mentions

“He makes his classes fun and engaging with an emphasis on safety and technique.”

🧒 strong kids program 3 mentions

“Our kids have grown in confidence, discipline, and respect, and we love that we can all train together under one roof.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 4 mentions

“The studio is clean, spacious, and padded everywhere!”

From the reviews

Cannot say enough good things about this jiu jitsu gym and the amazing folks that run it. Cort is a world class instructor that is beyond amazing with the kiddos! Adam, the owner, is a successful entrepreneur with roots in this community. He also gives back in a huge way with his charity work.

★★★★★ — Sarah, Sep 2025

I tried this gym with some friends, just trying to find something fun that would also help me with weight issues. I got everything I could have asked for. The coaches are amazing, especially the women's coach Jacqueline.

★★★★★ — Kimberly, Aug 2025

This is the best jiu jitsu gym in Illinois, around St. Louis, and possibly even the country. Newly renovated, expert coaches, and the owner of the gym is a servant leader. The entire facility is brand new, amazing mats, high-end equipment and fun for all ages.

★★★★★ — Ian, Dec 2025

Our whole family trains here, and we truly can’t say enough good things about this gym. We do no-gi BJJ, gi BJJ, and MMA/striking, and every program has been an amazing experience. The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely care about their students, kids and adults alike.

★★★★★ — Cara, Jan 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 122 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu

Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

See their beginner class info

Your first BJJ class at Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu

Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu

2716 Corner Ct, Alton, IL62002

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.