Home › Illinois › Mt Prospect › Threshold Martial Arts / Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Threshold Martial Arts / Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
4.8 ★★★★★ 97 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Mt Prospect, 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
- 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 5–18) — 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 thresholdmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 847-257-2210
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“It is not just punching and kicking school that will give you kid next belt because he/she showed up for class.”
“One of the things I appreciate a lot in this academy is that the BJJ classes also focus on practical self defense, not just the sporting aspect.”
“My 7 year old daughter’s first time and the staff and other students have done a great job teaching her the sport.”
Other martial arts here
“I'm enrolled in the adult Muay Thai class and they have 3 different classes during the week, with 3 different instructors, so you have 3 different teaching styles.”
“I do BJJ and Kickboxing classes in the evenings and the people and instructors have been great.”
“whenever I go I always learn new moves and techniques to help better my career in both wrestling and jiu-jitsu.”
What members say
“Very knowledgeable instructors and great class structure.”
“My 7 year old daughter’s first time and the staff and other students have done a great job teaching her the sport.”
“whenever I go I always learn new moves and techniques to help better my career in both wrestling and jiu-jitsu.”
“People are very respectful to each other, and the facility itself is kept clean and tidy.”
“I’ve gone to this place for almost 5 years, I have improved my fighting skills, focus improvement, problem solving under pressure, and build my discipline.”
From the reviews
We have had our children at Threshold Martial Arts since November 2023 and it has been a great experience. Bill and the other instructors work closely with kids to instill discipline, confidence and the importance of knowing how to defend yourself.
I've been training here for over a year, and it's a fantastic environment for learning Jiu Jitsu! I started with no previous martial arts experience and I felt both welcomed and properly challenged to succeed over the months of training.
Threshold Martial Arts goes much further than most martial arts schools. It is not just punching and kicking school that will give you kid next belt because he/she showed up for class. This school has a strong focus on personal development and self-esteem.
My son recently attended his first 2 classes at Threshold Martial Arts. Staff and students were welcoming and the atmosphere was positive. Another student was assigned to show him around, this made him very comfortable on the his first day.
New to BJJ? Start at Threshold Martial Arts / Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Threshold Martial Arts / Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 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 Threshold Martial Arts / Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
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 Mt Prospect
Premier Martial Arts Downtown Arlington Heights
5 ★★★★★ 18 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Victory MMA Academy - Arlington Heights
5 ★★★★★ 170 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Brazil 021 Arlington Heights - School of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Self-Defense
4.9 ★★★★★ 29 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site