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SIMS Martial Arts Academy | 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Waterloo
5 ★★★★★ 11 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Waterloo, Illinois
Part of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
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 (ages 5–12) — 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
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule 10thplanetwaterloo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (618) 559-7557
Hours
| Monday | 5–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Patient with kids and very skilled at teaching jiu jitsu (and life) skills.”
“Awesome place to learn, very friendly and great spot for beginners and experienced grapplers alike.”
Other martial arts here
“He has been wrestling for several years prior to this.”
What members say
“Awesome place to learn, very friendly and great spot for beginners and experienced grapplers alike.”
“10th Planet Waterloo is a fantastic place to start your journey in this amazing sport.”
“Our son is loving the action and we are loving the discipline he is learning.”
From the reviews
Jiu Jitsu is a life changing experience! 10th Planet Waterloo is a fantastic place to start your journey in this amazing sport. The absolute BEST people in the business run these schools and I’m so proud that I get to call them my friends. I cannot say enough good things about this school!
I brought my 14yo son in. He has been wrestling for several years prior to this. The head coach Gary has been a great coach that is very welcoming. He takes a laid back approach to coaching/training, while still ensuring that his students are technically sound. 10/10 would recommend
Excellent and caring instructors. Patient with kids and very skilled at teaching jiu jitsu (and life) skills. I highly recommend!
Awesome place to learn, very friendly and great spot for beginners and experienced grapplers alike.
New to BJJ? Start at SIMS Martial Arts Academy | 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Waterloo
SIMS Martial Arts Academy | 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Waterloo 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 SIMS Martial Arts Academy | 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Waterloo
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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