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HeadNodHQ - American Jiu Jitsu - Granite City
5 ★★★★★ 90 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Granite City, 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 4–13) — 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
- 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 headnodhq.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (314) 643-8368
Hours
| Monday | 5–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 6–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–7 PM |
| Thursday | 6–7 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I have a boy and a girl in the kids class they love Bjj.”
“No matter if your a full time competitor or once a week hobbyist this gym accept everyone”
“It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost.”
“It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost.”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“The instructor Josh is very knowledgeable and have a curriculum that makes sense.”
“It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost.”
“It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost.”
“Class structure was show technique/drill/show times technique appears/drill with variations/ positional rolling.”
“No matter if your a full time competitor or once a week hobbyist this gym accept everyone”
“I visited HeadNod HQ last week and was very impressed with the high level of instruction, friendly students and the clean facilities (including the bathroom).”
From the reviews
HeadNod HQ has been wonderful for my daughter!! The instructors are ALL wonderful, they have a fitness center too that is awesome!! Wholesome business always will get a 5 star review from me!! 10/10
The instructors are friendly, funny, & relatable, not intimidating at all. My son absolutely loves taking Jiu-Jitsu at Headnod. His confidence has sky rocketed since joining & he has really come out of his shell. 11/10 recommend.
HeadnodHQ is a great gym to start practicing jiu jitsu. It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost. The people and coaches friendly and provide both a competitive and relaxed environment.
Headnod HQ is where my jiu jitsu journey began, my life in almost every way has drastically improved ever since I walked through those doors. The atmosphere of all headnod schools is unmatched anywhere in this area. You have people from all walks of life all trying to better each other.
New to BJJ? Start at HeadNodHQ - American Jiu Jitsu - Granite City
HeadNodHQ - American Jiu Jitsu - Granite City 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 HeadNodHQ - American Jiu Jitsu - Granite City
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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