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Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

5 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Highland, Illinois

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule fathombjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (618) 979-8010

Hours

Monday 12–1 PM, 5–7:30 PM
Tuesday 12–1 PM, 5:30–7:30 PM
Wednesday 12–1 PM, 5–7:30 PM
Thursday 12–1 PM, 5:30–7:30 PM
Friday 5–7 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday 1–3 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 Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids BJJ 14 mentions

“He’s always been the kid who joined sports to be around friends—not the one picked first—but he consistently showed up ready to learn.”

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Teens BJJ

“A few months after Drew started training, he had someone picking on him at the high school.”

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🏆 Competition Team

“An awesome academy for high level competitors to local families just looking for a positive outlet.”

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🔓 Open Mat 2 mentions

“My daughter and I stopped in for the Sunday open mat and had a great time!”

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🌱 Beginners

“Throughout the years I’ve seldom found such a collective effort to provide such a positive growth experience for all levels of combat sports as Fathom provides seamlessly.”

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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 Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

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 27 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 2 mentions

“An amazing school with amazing instructors.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 8 mentions

“Throughout the years I’ve seldom found such a collective effort to provide such a positive growth experience for all levels of combat sports as Fathom provides seamlessly.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 20 mentions

“I’ve popped in to Fathom to train a few times while I’m in the area and coach Charles is always so welcoming.”

active competition team 2 mentions

“An awesome academy for high level competitors to local families just looking for a positive outlet.”

🧼 clean, well-kept mats 7 mentions

“They also keep the place as clean as possible, which is an extremely important thing to consider.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 8 mentions

“Jiu Jitsu has brought out a level of confidence and determination in him that we didn’t even know was there.”

From the reviews

The best activity you can put your kids in around highland area. The owners are friendly and professional. They offer adult classes, that my wife participates in, but the joy and excitement our kids get from going can not be overstated.

★★★★★ — Mike, Sep 2020

Best gym around, hands down! From day one you’re going to realize the instructors, Charles and Taylor, are the best! They’re knowledgeable, humble, welcoming and as real as it gets. They make classes incredibly fun while also promoting high respect for the techniques.

★★★★★ — Jackson, Mar 2021

Love this place. It's like a workout, a therapy session, and a meditation all in one. I walk out both exhausted and rejuvenated. I'm both more confident and calmer because of jiu-jitsu. After a two hour session, I've given everything I got, and left it all on the mat...

★★★★★ — Nicolaides, May 2025

An amazing school with amazing instructors. He has a deep understand of his art as well as how to teach it in different ways. This is so much more than just the art it's a way of life that generates confidence, discipline and peace. If you haven't checked it out you should. It's the best one I've ever been a part of.

★★★★★ — Bruce, Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 27 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Fathom Brazilian 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Fathom 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 Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

919 Washington St, Highland, IL62249

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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.