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Your first BJJ class is free. Beginners welcome. No experience needed.2643 W Chicago Ave, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60622 · (866) 977-7021

Beginner BJJ Classes in Chicago

Start from day one

Our Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals classes are beginner BJJ in Chicago done right: clear steps, friendly partners and coaches who remember what their first class felt like.

LevelComplete beginners
AgesAdults & teens
ClassesGi & No-Gi, 5 times a week
First classFree · workout clothes
Students drilling BJJ technique at Brazil 021 Chicago

BJJ for Beginners in Chicago, No Experience Needed

Fundamentals is where almost everyone at Brazil 021 Chicago started. You do not need to be in shape, flexible or tough before you walk in. You just need to show up. Plenty of beginners here are hobbyists with jobs and families who want a workout that keeps their brain busy, a little self-defense and a group of people to train with.

Classes are built for people who have never trained, people coming back after time away and anyone who wants to tighten up the basics.

  • Complete beginners to martial arts
  • Adults who want fitness that never gets boring
  • People looking for practical, leverage-based self-defense
  • Returning students who want to rebuild their foundation
Adult beginners on the mats at Brazil 021 Chicago
Adult beginners on the mats at Brazil 021 Chicago

What a Fundamentals Class Looks Like

Each class runs one hour. We start with a warm-up that teaches the movements jiu-jitsu uses, like shrimping, bridging and standing up safely. Then your coach shows a technique, breaks it into small steps and lets you drill it slowly with a partner. Toward the end you practice the move against light resistance so it starts to feel real.

Nobody throws you to the wolves. Your partners are other beginners and you always set the pace. Tapping is normal, encouraged and part of learning.

What You Will Learn

Fundamentals covers the positions and ideas that every other class at the academy builds on. Week by week you will start to see how the pieces connect.

  • The core positions: guard, mount, side control and back control
  • Escapes for when you end up on the bottom
  • Basic sweeps and simple, safe submissions
  • How to fall, stand up and control distance for self-defense
  • How to use leverage so size and strength matter less
Students drilling fundamentalsThe Brazil 021 Chicago team

Why Start Beginner BJJ at Brazil 021 Chicago

Brazil 021 was founded by black belts Andre “Negão” Terencio, a 6th-degree black belt and longtime IBJJF head referee, and Hannette Staack, a 5th-degree black belt and 7x World BJJ Champion. That world-class background shows up as calm, clear coaching, not ego. Our students have given us 4.9 stars across 80 Google reviews.

You also get a real schedule to choose from. Gi fundamentals run Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 PM and Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 AM, plus a beginner no-gi class on Friday at 6:30 PM.

How to Start: Your Free First Class

Book your free first class, then come a few minutes early so a coach can say hello and show you around. Wear comfortable athletic clothes without zippers or pockets, and bring water and sandals for walking off the mat. If you are not sure what to wear for a gi class, ask when you book.

We are at 2643 W Chicago Ave, 2nd Floor, in Ukrainian Village / West Town, near the Blue Line and the #66 Chicago Ave bus.

Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals Class Times in Chicago

Pick a class that fits.

Any of these can be your free first class. Times change by season, so check the full schedule before you come.

Beginners (Gi)

All adults
    Monday | 6:30–7:30 PM Tuesday | 6:30–7:30 AM Wednesday | 6:30–7:30 PM Thursday | 6:30–7:30 AM

Beginners (No-Gi)

All adults
    Friday | 6:30–7:30 PM

Inside the Academy

See the mats.

Real classes and real students at Brazil 021 Chicago on West Chicago Avenue.

Students drilling BJJ technique at Brazil 021 Chicago
Adult BJJ class training at Brazil 021 Chicago
Students and instructors at the Brazil 021 Chicago academy
No-gi BJJ class lined up at the Chicago academy
Brazil 021 Chicago students and instructors team photo
Hannette Staack and Andre Terencio teaching BJJ at Brazil 021 Chicago
Adult BJJ students lined up at Brazil 021 Chicago
Training floor at the Brazil 021 Chicago BJJ academy
Adult gi BJJ class at Brazil 021 Chicago

Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals FAQs

Common questions.

Book a Free Trial

I'm over 40. Am I too old to start BJJ?

Not at all. Adults start jiu-jitsu in their 40s, 50s and beyond. Technique and leverage matter more than speed or strength, you train at your own pace, and you can tap any time. Professor Andre won IBJJF gold in the Master 3 division, for ages 41 to 45.

Is beginner BJJ good for women?

Yes. Jiu-jitsu’s leverage-based techniques work against bigger, stronger people, which makes it one of the most practical forms of self-defense for women. Brazil 021 was co-founded by 7x World Champion Hannette Staack, you will find other women on the mats, and a dedicated women’s self-defense program is coming soon.

What is the atmosphere like for beginners?

Safe, friendly and ego-free. Coaches supervise every round, partners look out for each other, and you can tap at any time. Brazil 021 is a family-friendly academy where kids, teens, parents and grandparents all train.

Can my whole family train at Brazil 021?

Yes. Kids train in Kids Class 1 (ages 3–6) and Kids Class 2 (ages 7–12), parents can join adult classes, and we host family events like our free Parents Class.

Is BJJ good for beginners in Chicago who have never done martial arts?

Yes. Our Fundamentals classes are made for people with zero experience. Techniques are taught step by step and you drill with other beginners at a pace that feels safe.

Do I need to be in shape before my first BJJ class?

No. Jiu-jitsu is a great way to get in shape. Go at your own pace, take breaks when you need them and your fitness will build as you keep coming.

When are the beginner BJJ classes?

Gi fundamentals run Monday and Wednesday 6:30 to 7:30 PM and Tuesday and Thursday 6:30 to 7:30 AM. Beginner no-gi runs Friday 6:30 to 7:30 PM. There are no classes on Sunday.

What should I wear to my first class?

Comfortable athletic clothes without zippers or pockets work well. Bring water and sandals. If you would like to try the gi class and do not own a gi, ask us when you book.

Is the first class really free?

Yes. Your first class at Brazil 021 Chicago is free, so you can meet the coaches, try a class and see if it fits before committing.

Will I get hurt in a beginner class?

Safety comes first. You learn to tap early, you train with partners at your level and coaches watch every round. Live practice starts light and builds as your skills grow.