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Staley Martial Arts, Carlson Gracie North Shore
4.5 ★★★★★ 79 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Wilmette, Illinois
Part of Carlson Gracie
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
- Membership memberships run around $99/mo — many academies also offer a discounted first month and family plans, so ask about new-member rates
- 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 staleymartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (847) 242-1305
Hours
| Monday | 4–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 12–1 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6–7 AM, 4–8:15 PM |
| Thursday | 4–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 4–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“Gus is a fantastic teacher and treats the kids always with respect and demands respect back.”
“They were wonderful coaches to me at my first tournament and I would say I did well because of their skillful coaching!”
“A great place to start learning self-defense and martial arts; it feels amazing to work hard here and see it pay off.”
“Since then, their family has grown into a wonderfully complex operation of learning for beginners and advanced students alike, with a handful of very experienced instructors.”
Other martial arts here
“My 11 year old son started with BJJ and now wants add Muay Thai.”
What members say
“Great instructors, tons of class offerings, super clean, and awesome training partners.”
“Since then, their family has grown into a wonderfully complex operation of learning for beginners and advanced students alike, with a handful of very experienced instructors.”
“Since then, their family has grown into a wonderfully complex operation of learning for beginners and advanced students alike, with a handful of very experienced instructors.”
“The instructor is excellent giving very clear directions and taking time to work with each participant on improving their techniques.”
“Unfortunately their class schedule were being temporarily changed from Saturdays to Mon&Wed due to competitions, which was not good for our schedules :( .”
“I have been training with them since they opened, and followed them to the new location (which is big, clean and inviting!”
From the reviews
We were able to attend Staley with my 3 year old daughter. We were very pleased with the treatment we received from the sensei and Laurie for our Little one's first Jiu Jitsu class. They were very patient and encouraging with my daughter.
I had been looking for a jiujitsu school for my kids for a long time. All of the schools I came across seemed to teach kids as an add-on but did not seem to have a truly kid friendly program.
I take my kids here and absolutely love it! I was hesitant to have my girls try martial arts before. They are very girlie and to be honest I was a little concerned about them getting hurt.
Professor Gus and Laurie have managed to create the best environment to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I have been training with them since they opened, and followed them to the new location (which is big, clean and inviting!). I was a complete newcomer to Jiu Jitsu and I am in my late 40’s.
New to BJJ? Start at Staley Martial Arts, Carlson Gracie North Shore
Staley Martial Arts, Carlson Gracie North Shore 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 Staley Martial Arts, Carlson Gracie North Shore
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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