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Sal's BJJ
5 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · BJJ gym in DeKalb, 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
- 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
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule salsbjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (630) 809-5540
Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–12 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30–8:30 AM, 10 AM–12 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
| Friday | 6:30–10 AM, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, 5:30–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–1:30 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“Sal’s kids program regularly shows up and dominates locals tournaments while creating a fun, exciting, and entertaining atmosphere.”
“Sal’s kids program regularly shows up and dominates locals tournaments while creating a fun, exciting, and entertaining atmosphere.”
“Sal does a great job of creating an inclusive environment that's comfortable for anyone, including women, adult beginners, and different body types.”
Other martial arts here
“It's also been nice to see Sal's gym grow even more with a new and bigger location and a comprehensive wrestling, striking, and MMA schedule in addition to jiu jitsu.”
“It's also been nice to see Sal's gym grow even more with a new and bigger location and a comprehensive wrestling, striking, and MMA schedule in addition to jiu jitsu.”
What members say
“Sal is a great coach and has built up a great gym full of good people that uphold a culture of hard work and kindness while remaining challenging, encouraging, safe, and welcoming.”
“Sal is a great coach and has built up a great gym full of good people that uphold a culture of hard work and kindness while remaining challenging, encouraging, safe, and welcoming.”
“Sal is a great coach and has built up a great gym full of good people that uphold a culture of hard work and kindness while remaining challenging, encouraging, safe, and welcoming.”
“Sal’s kids program regularly shows up and dominates locals tournaments while creating a fun, exciting, and entertaining atmosphere.”
“Sal is a great coach and has built up a great gym full of good people that uphold a culture of hard work and kindness while remaining challenging, encouraging, safe, and welcoming.”
“Joining his studio has helped me improve my health and confidence, and has given me something fun to do in the evenings!”
From the reviews
Sal's BJJ is an incredible place to learn the art. Sal not only is an incredible teacher, he makes it very fun and has a great sense of humor. Everybody that trains here is so welcoming and trains safely. The new facility is so clean and open and theres so much mat space!
Instructor is highly knowledgeable and experienced. An asset to the area. He is building a solid team.We have trained together in the past and i look forward to visiting this gym
Sal is a great coach and has built up a great gym full of good people that uphold a culture of hard work and kindness while remaining challenging, encouraging, safe, and welcoming.
I’ve trained with Sal for a few years and his knowledge and passion for the sport have been instrumental for my Jiu Jitsu. His gym is safe, clean, and promotes foundational, technical, and practical Jiu Jitsu for all ages, genders, and ability levels.
New to BJJ? Start at Sal's BJJ
Sal's BJJ comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. 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 Sal's BJJ
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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