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Bill Henry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Washington, Illinois

BJJ gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons No-gi

Plan your first class

  • 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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • 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 billhenrybjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (309) 287-2004

Hours

Monday 11:30 AM–1 PM, 4:30–7 PM
Tuesday 11:30 AM–1 PM, 4:30–7 PM
Wednesday 11:30 AM–1 PM, 4:30–7 PM
Thursday 11:30 AM–1 PM, 4:30–7 PM
Friday 11:30 AM–1 PM, 4:30–6:30 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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 Bill Henry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 10 mentions

“Very kind, is awesome at teaching all of us and helping us fix our problems, and is great with the kids!”

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🩳 No-Gi

“Bill is a great instructor and provides Gi and no Gi trainings.”

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🥋 Gi 2 mentions

“Bill is a great instructor and provides Gi and no Gi trainings.”

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👤 Private Lessons

“Bill is detailed in his coaching and provides hands-on, one-on-one coaching that is second to none!”

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🌱 Beginners 3 mentions

“He accommodates to all skill levels, and makes it rewarding for all.”

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What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 19 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 8 mentions

“Coach Bill has been great with teaching proper techniques while working at a comfortable pace for everyone.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“He talks very highly of Bill, very welcoming guy!”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 4 mentions

“The students are friendly and great to train with.”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 5 mentions

“Coach Bill has been great with teaching proper techniques while working at a comfortable pace for everyone.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 4 mentions

“What I like best is the faculty is always very clean, small class sizes, and coach Bill is excellent with kids.”

From the reviews

This is a great school to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. My son and I have been going here for about 5 months now. Bill's knowledge and expertise with the adults is awesome! He is an excellent teacher with the adults at any belt level.

★★★★★ — Jason, Apr 2024

My son and I joined with no prior experience. Coach Bill has been great with teaching proper techniques while working at a comfortable pace for everyone. What I like best is the faculty is always very clean, small class sizes, and coach Bill is excellent with kids.

★★★★★ — Jeff, Apr 2024

Bill Henry is an experienced martial artists, very skilled and talented with an exceptional martial arts program for all ages. World class instruction is what you will get in Professor Bill Henry, weather you are a seasoned practitioner or a beginner you will get technical detailed Jiu-Jitsu in a safe family oriented…

★★★★★ — Kahana, Apr 2024

Bill is a great instructor and provides Gi and no Gi trainings. The students are friendly and great to train with. He offers classes twice a day which makes it easy to fit into most work schedules. I would highly recommend giving his classes a try. You won’t regret it.

★★★★★ — Bradd, Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 19 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Bill Henry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Bill Henry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Bill Henry Brazilian 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 Bill Henry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

703 Peoria St, Washington, IL61571

Get directions

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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.