Home › Illinois › Downers Grove › Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy
Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 210 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Downers Grove, 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
- 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 — 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 teamkumajiujitsu.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (224) 875-0030
Hours
| Monday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–1 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My son (almost 7 years old) has been going to Team Kuma for a year now and WOW, we are so thankful for Coach Amir and the fantastic learning environment he creates for these kids.”
“As someone returning to grappling after nearly 10 years away since high school wrestling, Team Kuma gave me the perfect environment to rediscover my passion for the sport.”
“Team Kuma offers a wide variety of Gi, No-Gi, and Wrestling classes throughout the week, with multiple classes daily that worked well with my irregular work schedule.”
“Amir is also great with the kids and supports his students while they compete.”
“They've not only learned self-defense techniques but also valuable life skills like discipline, respect, and confidence.”
“I was a bit nervous, as I'm still a beginner and wasn't sure what to expect, but Coach Amir and the students immediately welcomed me and put me at ease.”
Other martial arts here
“He even has pro mma fighter Matt Leonard come in every week or so and he teaches us Muay Thai.”
“He even has pro mma fighter Matt Leonard come in every week or so and he teaches us Muay Thai.”
“As someone returning to grappling after nearly 10 years away since high school wrestling, Team Kuma gave me the perfect environment to rediscover my passion for the sport.”
What members say
“Coach Amir is a high-level instructor who not only teaches effective jiu-jitsu, but actively competes and consistently performs at a high level on the black belt circuit.”
“I was a bit nervous, as I'm still a beginner and wasn't sure what to expect, but Coach Amir and the students immediately welcomed me and put me at ease.”
“I also really enjoyed the rolls after class which were challenging yet friendly, with a healthy mix of beginners and higher belts.”
“He breaks down techniques in a way that's easy to understand and provides individual feedback to ensure you're always improving.”
“Coach Amir is a high-level instructor who not only teaches effective jiu-jitsu, but actively competes and consistently performs at a high level on the black belt circuit.”
“The gym is very clean and well maintained, and the team members are respectful and inclusive, ensuring that newcomers feel comfortable and supported.”
From the reviews
I've had an incredible experience training at Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the community is supportive and motivating. Amir, the instructor, is not only highly skilled but also patient and attentive to each student's development, regardless of their experience level.
Spending a week in Chicago for work and brought my Gi, hoping to squeeze in some training. After seeing Team Kuma's excellent reviews, I called them and asked to see if I could drop in.
So happy that we found Team Kuma! Amir is a truly fantastic instructor. He’s great at breaking down the techniques and helping to make them easy to understand. I love how he adds in tips and tricks throughout the breakdown. Amir is also great with the kids and supports his students while they compete.
I made Team Kuma my home gym after moving to the area for work. Professor Amir is a great instructor and has been a fantastic resource in my 2 months training here. Team Kuma has a solid and friendly community where everyone feels welcome.
New to BJJ? Start at Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy
Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy 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 Team Kuma Jiu Jitsu Academy
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 Downers Grove
Downers Grove Boxing & Martial Arts, LLC.
4.9 ★★★★★ 34 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
No-nonsense workout facility featuring boxing & martial arts, with day passes & monthly memberships.
All Star Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Gracie Barra Downers Grove
4.9 ★★★★★ 189 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site