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Gracie Barra Champaign
4.9 ★★★★★ 115 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Urbana, Illinois
Part of Gracie Barra
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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule graciebarra.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 217-904-4246
Hours
| Monday | 7–9 am, 5:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7–9 am, 5:30–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 pm |
| Friday | 7–9 am, 4:30–7 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–1:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Classes offered at the school include BJJ Fundamentals Class, BJJ Advanced Class, No-Gi BJJ, Competition Class, and the Commando Krav Maga Classes.”
“We have been happy with Gracie Barra for the past year and hope 2025 is a great year for our kids!”
“Visiting unknown gyms as a woman can be really scary - but I felt immediately safe here.”
“Classes offered at the school include BJJ Fundamentals Class, BJJ Advanced Class, No-Gi BJJ, Competition Class, and the Commando Krav Maga Classes.”
“Classes offered at the school include BJJ Fundamentals Class, BJJ Advanced Class, No-Gi BJJ, Competition Class, and the Commando Krav Maga Classes.”
“The added benefit of the Gracie Barra system is the real world utility of learning a combat sport from the family responsible for creating it as a form of self defense.”
“He breaks down techniques to their smallest detail, and his patience with students of all levels makes him an excellent coach.”
Other martial arts here
“If you've ever thought about taking self-defense, Muay Thai, or Brazilian jiu jitsu classes, I highly recommend trying a class at GB Champaign.”
“I met the current owner of the gym, Josh Cadenbach, in September 2013, which was right when he took over the Dragonz Lair MMA gym in Champaign on 1st Street.”
“Coaches and professors are extremely attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about BJJ, judo, and wrestling.”
“Coaches and professors are extremely attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about BJJ, judo, and wrestling.”
What members say
“Best School of Champaign-Urbana and professor Joshua is amazing, with the best team of the world Gracie Barra!”
“The waiting area was comfortable (important if you're signing up to bring your child(ren) twice a week) and the other parents were super warm and welcoming.”
“Overall, this gym has a very inclusive and welcoming vibe from the moment you walk through the door and everybody seemed to enjoy being there.”
“Classes offered at the school include BJJ Fundamentals Class, BJJ Advanced Class, No-Gi BJJ, Competition Class, and the Commando Krav Maga Classes.”
“The classes provide great conditioning and training for both self-defense and sport applications!”
“The added benefit of the Gracie Barra system is the real world utility of learning a combat sport from the family responsible for creating it as a form of self defense.”
From the reviews
I signed up for the 8-week women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu course at Gracie Barra Champaign and I've ALREADY BENEFITED SO MUCH from just one class! I can now get myself out from underneath somebody, to on top of them, and then *away*... 2 hours ago I could not.
My home BJJ gym closed during lockdown, but a friend of mine told me GBChampaign had remote classes. I joined up and was immediately thrilled - the instructors are stellar and the classes were fun and challenging. I was only sorry I lived too far away to join in person.
I have been training at Gracie Barra for about 6 months now and I must say that it has been one of the best athletic experiences in my life. It is a lot more than just a gym, everybody treats each other like family. I would recommend this palce to any and everyone looking to pick up valuable self defense skill.
A great place! Coaches and professors are extremely attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about BJJ, judo, and wrestling. The classes provide great conditioning and training for both self-defense and sport applications!
New to BJJ? Start at Gracie Barra Champaign
Gracie Barra Champaign 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 Gracie Barra Champaign
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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