Home › Illinois › Glen Carbon › HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
5 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Glen Carbon, Illinois
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 4–12) — 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 headnodhq.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 314-282-5433
Hours
| Monday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 11 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“If you are in the Edwardsville area I highly recommend this gym for Adults and kids alike”
“If you’re looking to join a gym to compete or just for fun this is the place for you.”
“Ron Eon does a great job of breaking it down for everyone to follow along from 20 year black belts to the first timer.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The instructor John is an amazing coach who I’ve known for years training martial arts together and the community he’s built and the camaraderie is a 10/10.”
“Incredibly welcoming place and super laid back, on top of that Headnod has the some highest level of instruction and skill of any jiu jitsu gym in the region”
“Incredibly welcoming place and super laid back, on top of that Headnod has the some highest level of instruction and skill of any jiu jitsu gym in the region”
“Classes are well structured and run, using learning techniques to help you improve faster like designated winner and positional sparing.”
From the reviews
This gym reignited my daughter’s love for BJJ! We’ve been training for 8 years, and my daughter had started to lose her passion for the sport—until she came to Coach John’s gym. The environment here is fun, safe, and incredibly welcoming.
Great jiu jitsu gym with a welcoming and progressive atmosphere. Classes are well structured and run, using learning techniques to help you improve faster like designated winner and positional sparing. Usually the class structure is 30 min drilling and positional sparring, followed by 30 minutes of live rolling.
Headnod Edwardsville is an incredible place to train! The coach, John, creates a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers and visitors, making it easy to feel comfortable right away. His instruction is top-notch, clear, detailed, and with plenty of time to drill the techniques until they stick.
I’ve had the pleasure of training here since they’ve opened. The instructor John is an amazing coach who I’ve known for years training martial arts together and the community he’s built and the camaraderie is a 10/10.
New to BJJ? Start at HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville 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 HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
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.
More BJJ gyms near Glen Carbon
Gracie Humaita Edwardsville, IL
5 ★★★★★ 83 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Gracie Barra Collinsville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense
4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
HeadNodHQ - American Jiu Jitsu - Granite City
5 ★★★★★ 90 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site