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BJJ Lifestyle Academy
4.9 ★★★★★ 63 Google reviews · BJJ gym in O'Fallon, Illinois
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
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 — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule bjjlifestyleacademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (314) 780-4222
Hours
| Monday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8 PM |
| Friday | 5–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 12–1:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“This is a gym where you and your kids can safely train without the threat or risk of "thuggery" where guys come in off the street and try to hurt someone.”
“I have yet to find a better atmosphere for those looking to compete every training session and pushed to their highest potential.”
“You get that from the first time you walk in.”
What members say
“Coach Mike is great with all the kids and breaks down even the most complex moves into something the children can understand.”
“Mike Rethmeyer was welcoming and generous in sharing his knowledge with me, a complete stranger, and answered any and all questions throughout the session.”
“Mike Rethmeyer was welcoming and generous in sharing his knowledge with me, a complete stranger, and answered any and all questions throughout the session.”
“Mike has taken the time to show my son how to perform techniques as well as not be afraid of his opponent, which is HUGE for my emotional son.”
“I have yet to find a better atmosphere for those looking to compete every training session and pushed to their highest potential.”
From the reviews
Joining BJJ lifestyle Academy was one of the greatest decisions I've made. I grew up doing various martial arts and all of those felt very watered down to me. When I started becoming interested in BJJ I did my research and looked around. I tried a few schools out and this one felt like the real deal.
I've been attending coach Mikes academy for over a year now. The leadership is amazing, training will push your limits, and there are time slots accommodating nearly everyone. The friendship bonds you will gain thru Lifestyle BJJ will last a lifetime. Highly recommend giving it a try.
My experience at BJJ Lifestyle Academy has been great. I used to train at a gym 5 minutes from my house, and now I drive an hour one way to train with Mike, and the other great students there. I knew after my first class that this was the gym for me. I've been there ever since, two years and counting.
I started with Coach Mike and his team back in 2014 one year before joining the Army. Since then I’ve trained off and on all over the country and even in Europe. I’ve since been able to come in for drop-in sessions while visiting home.
New to BJJ? Start at BJJ Lifestyle Academy
BJJ Lifestyle Academy 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.
Your first BJJ class at BJJ Lifestyle Academy
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.
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