Long Grove Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for First-Timers
Long Grove has a way of making people slow down. There is the historic downtown at Old McHenry Rd and Robert Parker Coffin Rd, the covered bridge over Buffalo Creek, Apple Fest weekends in the fall, and quiet trails at Reed-Turner Woodland and the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve off Checker Rd. What a lot of Long Grove adults are missing is something on the calendar that is just for them.
If you have ever thought about trying a martial art but never knew where to start, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a good first choice. It is a grappling art, so there is no punching or kicking in class. You learn how to control a position, escape from the bottom and stay calm under pressure. Brazil 021 offers BJJ Arlington Heights classes, south of Long Grove off IL-53, and the academy is led by world champion black belts. Compare our jiu-jitsu classes to find the right fit for you or your child.
Getting to Brazil 021 From Long Grove
From downtown, take Robert Parker Coffin Rd to IL-53 and head south to Lake Cook Rd. Turn left, take the IL-53 expressway south and exit at Euclid Ave. Continue east on Euclid, turn left onto Rohlwing Rd and right onto Salt Creek Ln.
From the south side of the village, Long Grove Rd also connects to IL-53, so you can join the same route there. Either way, the drive ends at the Euclid Ave exit, a few turns from the academy’s door on Salt Creek Ln.
Beginner Jiu-Jitsu Near Long Grove, No Experience Needed
Most adults start in Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals on Monday or Wednesday evening. Class starts with a warm-up, then a coach teaches one technique in small steps and you drill it with a partner who is also learning. Patrick Mullen, the black belt who teaches fundamentals, started in 2017 as a complete beginner himself. You can tap anytime, rest when you need to, and nobody expects you to know anything on day one.
After a few months, many students add the Tuesday All Levels class. Thursday and Saturday Advanced No-Gi comes later. If you have kids, they have their own classes by age in the afternoons.
- Adults Fundamentals (Gi): Mon & Wed 6:30–7:30 PM
- Adults All Levels (Gi): Tue 6:30–7:30 PM
- Adults Advanced No-Gi: Thu 6:30–7:30 PM and Sat 11:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Kids Class 1, Beginners (ages 3–6): Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 4:15–5:00 PM
- Kids Class 2, All Levels (ages 7–11): Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 5:15–6:15 PM
Something New on a Weeknight
We hear the same story from a lot of new adults: work is fine, the kids are busy, and the evenings had started to blur together. An hour on the mat changes that. You leave a little tired, with one new thing you understand and a few people who will ask where you were if you skip a week. Our coaches, including co-founders Hannette Staack, a 7x World Champion, and 6th-degree black belt Andre “Negão” Terencio, teach beginners the same way they teach everyone else, with patience.
Free trials are for people who live in or near Arlington Heights. For adults: visiting from out of town? That is a drop-in, not a free trial. Brazil 021 has 4.9 stars from 32 Google reviews. Book your free first class and see if jiu-jitsu is your new thing.
From our blog: The Best Age to Start Kids Jiu-Jitsu Classes.
