Team Redzovic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I have trained at the school twice while visiting family in Chicago. As a visiting student, you never know what to expect when you visit a school for the first time. I was immediately put at ease by the laid back and welcoming attitude. I walked in with my gi, signed the standard waiver and was changed and on the mats within 10 min. Everybody was very friendly and welcoming. Students were happy to roll and the instruction was very good. I recommend stopping by to train at Team Redzovic without reservation. Thanks Redzovic!

Worst Jiujitsu experience I’ve had after training at over a dozen gyms around the country. I’ve trained for a year or two off an on and have been traveling across the U.S. from SF back to Ohio.
I search for the closest gym near my Airbnb in Chicago and see this one. Signing up for my «free class» online they start sending me text messages and calling my cell phone each day. It’s aggressive marketing, but I’m okay with it.
I show up for my first class and sign the waver, tell the guy at the desk I’ve trained a little over a year and ask if they have any spare Gi’s. It’s a common thing at my gym in SF where we have extras for new people etc. A nice guy offers me his extra, but they preferred I didn’t use it. The guy teaching the class said I won’t need it today.
After the warm up and instruction we go to positional sparring. The instructor asks me to sit out and watch. I assure them I’m competent, calm and love training with beginners. They ask me skeptically what gym I’ve trained at and who he got his black belt from.
I have no idea and so since they’ve never heard of the black belt on the other side of the country, they won’t let me spare.
I ask if I can take the next class, the sport Jiujitsu class and that I’m happy to pay a «drop in» fee for the day. Paying $ 10-​$ 30 is what most gyms I’ve been to have and a majority happily wave it and invite me to train.
They keep skeptically questioning me about «my travels» and former gym and then say, «we have guys show up that don’t know Jiujitsu and get hurt.» Really? If your guys can’t not hurt a 5’7″ 140 lb guy then they might not know Jiujitsu so well themselves.
100% aggressive marketing, 10% customer service. I personally recommend going to a gym that’s more community oriented vs the big gym here. Next time I’ll bring my own gi.

This place has been my favorite of the 3 gyms I’ve had the pleasure of training at in my short time practicing BJJ. I had to leave because my company relocated me.
The professors are all very professional and always willing to help. The actual building is always in prestige shape. It feels good to practice in a clean environment. They have a schedule for the classes too. Every week they have 3 – 4 techniques they show — its amazing because the repetition really allows students to soak in the information.
This is the only place I would train if I moved back to Chicago!

Redzovic BJJ is the gym I decided to call my home and that is something considering I tried almost every gym in the city and have literally a lifetime of martial arts experience including grappling arts.
The things I like about it are as follows: tons of classes and continuity at 3 separate locations, morning/​lunch/​evening/​weekend classes, no ego driven/​douchey behavior is tolerated, the gym has a family type of atmosphere, the gyms are clean and professionally run with no billing issues or shenanigans, they require proficiency in self defense techniques before allowing their students to go to sport related classes which maintains the tradition of jiu jitsu and helps ensure their students don’t get beat up, the coaches are professional/​knowledgeable/​more than willing to help and answer any questions, everyone is very helpful.
This BJJ gym is for you if want to learn self defense techniques that really work in a safe, clean, and friendly environment.

I’ve been training at Team Redzovic on Lincoln Ave. for 5+ years. With that said, I know all the instructors at the new location for years and I personally train with them on a weekly basis. Every single one of them are legit grapplers and great people, such good people I consider them as family now. This new location is a very exciting one for me for several reasons. First, its prime location right of the «L» and with plenty of restaurants to grab a snack after a good training session. LOL, it is Unilocal after all right. Can’t leave the food out. Second, it also provides many other classes aside from Jiu-​Jitsu. They offer an excellent Muay Thai/​Kickboxing class at the same facility and third they have the highest decorated American Karate competitor and instructor in the country there, John Fonseca. Its very beneficial because I can train Jiu-​Jitsu and work on my stand-​up all in the same place without having to drive to another location like others at different schools may have to do. All in all, its free to check it out and well worth it. I highly recommend them to all my friends and family and of course, to you as well.

I am 40 years old and have been training at Gracie Barra for seven months. What do I get for my money?
1. Superior instruction
2. Highly motivated and dedicated training partners
3. Camaraderie
4. Self confidence
5. Physical fitness that is unparalleled
6. Lifelong friendships
6. FUN!
The list could go on and on… I look forward to training at GB for many years to come. I am now in the best shape I have been in since college, and look forward to improving my Jiu Jitsu game for many years to come. There is so much more to learn, and I feel privileged to be training at the best academy in Chicago, if not the country, and training with a group of guys and girls that help me elevate myself to levels I never thought obtainable again. Kudos to the Redzovic Brothers for expanding to a second location in Lakeview to accommodate those willing to travel just a bit farther, and past other academies, to train at the best with the best!

I have been training at Redzovic Brothers Gracie Barra in Lincoln Square now for nearly 2 years. Gracie Barra offers outstanding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instruction and has expanded to the Lakeview Neighborhood.
There are so many benefits to training at Gracie Barra including world-​class instructors, multiple locations, great training partners, exercise, weight loss, and importantly, an ego-​free, motivational and challenging environment. We train hard independently and as a team
Our instructors are approachable, encourage respect among team members and lead by example.
If you want a challenge and live in the Lakeview Neighborhood or are near the Belmont stop on the CTA absolutely stop by for a free class.
Look for the Fonseca Martial Arts sign on top of the building.
FIddypop

I have been training at Gracie Barra Chicago for over two years and as a former college athlete and someone that has been involved in organized sports for over 20 years, I can honestly say this is by far the greatest training environment I have ever been in. The instructors help you every step of the way and unlike a lot of other martial arts schools… you won’t just find the Redzovic name on the door/​website/​tshirts but you will also find them training side by side with you and teaching multiple classes inside the academy. The Lakeview location is a prime spot for the CTA commuter as well. If you are the type of person looking for individual development in a positive environment… you really need to come in and give it a try. If you are the type of person looking to add submissions to your tough guy arsenal, feel free to stay home and maybe look online for a school that has a lot of skulls or blood on their logo. My only regret is not starting my training earlier… it has made my work life better… my home life better and it has been a vehicle for a lot of positive changes in my life… don’t make the same mistake I did and put off coming in… you searched for reviews so you are interested… and that is step one now on to step two… come in and give it a try.