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BJJ Gyms in Illinois
219 BJJ gyms across 127 cities in Illinois — including 129 with a free trial, 146 beginner-friendly, and 182 with kids' classes. Pick a city for full listings with member reviews, live open-now hours, and the classes each gym runs — or browse the map.
BJJ — the gentle art — has spread from Rio to every corner of America, and Illinois now has academies for every reason people train: a nervous first class, a serious workout, self-defense, kids' and women's programs, or the competition team. You don't need to be fit or experienced to walk in; all levels are welcome — just leave your ego at the door.
Cities in Illinois
- Chicago
- Orland Park
- Aurora
- Springfield
- Arlington Heights
- Bloomington
- Naperville
- Schaumburg
- Downers Grove
- Libertyville
- Lombard
- Marion
- Oswego
- Alton
- Barrington
- Benton
- Bolingbrook
- Buffalo Grove
- Champaign
- Deerfield
- Elgin
- Elmhurst
- Glenview
- Highland Park
- Highwood
- Mattoon
- McHenry
- Mundelein
- New Lenox
- Niles
- O'Fallon
- Pekin
- Peoria
- Peru
- Quincy
- Roselle
- St. Charles
- Tinley Park
- Urbana
- Washington
- Wheaton
- Bartlett
- Batavia
- Belvidere
- Bloomingdale
- Bridgeview
- Canton
- Carpentersville
- Carrollton
- Collinsville
- Country Club Hills
- Countryside
- Crystal Lake
- Danville
- Darien
- DeKalb
- Dixon
- East Alton
- East Dundee
- East Moline
- Edwardsville
- Effingham
- Evanston
- Evergreen Park
- Fairview Heights
- Forsyth
- Frankfort
- Geneva
- Glen Carbon
- Granite City
- Greenville
- Hanover Park
- Hardin
- Herrin
- Highland
- Hinckley
- Hinsdale
- Hoffman Estates
- Homer Glen
- Homewood
- Huntley
- Indian Head Park
- Jacksonville
- Joliet
- Lake Bluff
- Lake Zurich
- Lisle
- Lockport
- Loves Park
- Macomb
- Mascoutah
- Melrose Park
- Miller City
- Moline
- Morris
- Mt Prospect
- New Baden
- North Aurora
- North Riverside
- Northbrook
- Oak Lawn
- Palos
- Park Ridge
- Pittsfield
- Plainfield
- Rantoul
- Robinson
- Rockford
- Rockton
- Roscoe
- Round Lake
- Shiloh Valley
- South Elgin
- Sparta
- Sterling
- Streator
- Sycamore
- Taylorville
- Toulon
- Vernon Hills
- Waterloo
- Wenona
- Willowbrook
- Wilmette
- Wood River
- Woodstock
- Yorkville
Featured BJJ gyms in Illinois
Ranked by what members say — Google rating weighted by review count. See the full best-of-Illinois ranking →
Taylor Biagi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 351 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
BJJ Lab Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self Defense
5 ★★★★★ 308 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Dominion MMA
4.9 ★★★★★ 273 reviews
Fusion Martial Arts Bloomington, IL
5 ★★★★★ 246 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
The Academy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
5 ★★★★★ 238 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Valko Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
5 ★★★★★ 233 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
More ways to train in Illinois
- Best BJJ gyms in Illinois — the state-wide ranking
- BJJ for beginners — 146 beginner-friendly gyms in Illinois, ready for your first class
- Kids & teen BJJ — 182 gyms in Illinois with youth programs
- Free trial classes — 129 gyms in Illinois offer a free trial or intro class
- Women's BJJ — 32 gyms in Illinois with women's classes
- Browse BJJ class types — beginner, kids', women's, private, no-gi, open mat, competition team and more
- Gracie Barra locations in Illinois
- Carlson Gracie locations in Illinois
- 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu locations in Illinois
- Gracie Humaitá locations in Illinois
BJJ programs in Illinois
Find the class that fits — whether you're starting from zero, bringing the kids, or chasing your first competition.
Other martial arts trained in Illinois
Most BJJ gyms are multi-art. Here's what else Illinois gyms teach under the same roof.
BJJ in Illinois: common questions
- How many BJJ gyms are in Illinois?
- Our directory lists 219 BJJ gyms across 127 cities in Illinois. The cities with the most are Chicago (30), Orland Park (6), Aurora (5).
- How much does BJJ cost a month in Illinois?
- Among Illinois gyms that publish a rate, monthly memberships run about $20–$120 (median around $99). Prices vary by academy and how often you train, and many gyms don't post online — so check the gym's own schedule. Our cost guide breaks down what to expect.
- Are free trial classes available in Illinois?
- Yes — 129 gyms in Illinois advertise a free trial, free first class, or intro week. It's the low-pressure way to try a class before you commit; confirm the current offer on the gym's site.
- Can beginners and kids train BJJ in Illinois?
- Absolutely — BJJ welcomes all levels. 146 Illinois gyms are highlighted by members as beginner-friendly, and 182 run kids' or youth programs. You don't need to be fit or have any experience to start, and no reputable gym makes you roll before you're ready.
- Do I need to be in shape or spar to start BJJ?
- No. You can start with zero fitness base and no experience — the training itself gets you in shape. Rolling (live sparring) builds up gradually and a good gym never throws beginners into it; tapping early and often keeps every roll safe. Drilling-focused fundamentals classes let you build skill at your own pace, and you can leave your ego at the door.