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Valko Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 233 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Chicago, Illinois
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
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule valkobjj.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (773) 556-8155
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–1 PM |
The classes they run
“Training partners are always helpful and respectful from the fundamentals class to the advanced class and Saturday open mats are always a highlight of my week.”
“Briefly lived in Chicago and needed a place to train for me and my kids.”
“As a woman (and one with no serious previous sports experience) starting jiu jitsu can feel…intimidating.”
“They are primarily gi and no gi but there is also an MMA/boxing class at 5:30 pm Tues/Thr that I love.”
“They are primarily gi and no gi but there is also an MMA/boxing class at 5:30 pm Tues/Thr that I love.”
“The team regularly competes in IBJJF tournaments, and it’s awesome to train alongside such motivated and talented grapplers.”
“Training partners are always helpful and respectful from the fundamentals class to the advanced class and Saturday open mats are always a highlight of my week.”
“If y’all are looking for to start training the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a beginner or advance don’t look further and try this place and you won’t be disappointed.”
Other martial arts here
“They are primarily gi and no gi but there is also an MMA/boxing class at 5:30 pm Tues/Thr that I love.”
“They are primarily gi and no gi but there is also an MMA/boxing class at 5:30 pm Tues/Thr that I love.”
What members say
“The academy’s located toward the back of the gym, very clean, with great instruction and fun rolls to finish the session.”
“If y’all are looking for to start training the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a beginner or advance don’t look further and try this place and you won’t be disappointed.”
“The instruction is excellent, the culture is welcoming, and there’s no shortage of great training partners for any skill level.”
“Training partners are always helpful and respectful from the fundamentals class to the advanced class and Saturday open mats are always a highlight of my week.”
“The team regularly competes in IBJJF tournaments, and it’s awesome to train alongside such motivated and talented grapplers.”
“One of the ladies attending, named Sara, saw me and quickly helped me get a clean loaner gi that the gym has available, and showed me their huge locker room!”
From the reviews
As a woman (and one with no serious previous sports experience) starting jiu jitsu can feel…intimidating. And yet I’m coming up on my two year anniversary training at Valko. All the evening instructors Jay, Jose, and Pat are always quick to spot newcomers and help them get set up.
Valko BJJ is one of my favorite gyms in the world. The mat space is beautiful and spacious (plenty of room to work the standup game), there is a large diversity in skill levels so you can always find your match, and the people are both highly skilled and genuinely kind.
We are visiting from Austin TX. Searched on Internet for a great open mat and here we go. There is no doubt that Jiu Jitsu is the best platform to meet like-minded people and today it delivered again. Phenomenal vibes, and great hospitality in the heart of Chicago downtown at Valkobjj The owner Prof.
I am a black belt from CT and recently came to Chicago for a week long work conference and have always wanted to train while traveling solo. I looked up a few places in the area but when I saw Valko it just looked like what I was seeking.
New to BJJ? Start at Valko Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Valko Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy 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 Valko Brazilian 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.
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