Team Redzovic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I was in town, visiting Chicago (I’m from NY) and they let me drop in and train with no problem. Everyone here is very cool and it’s a great atmosphere. The training is good. If you’re looking for a great place to train, I highly recommend this school.

One of the best choices I have ever made was joining Team Redzovic. I joined early summer of 2015 and am still very much a beginner, but everyone, from the instructors to the higher belts and my peers at white belt, have created a positive attitude of learning and respect. I often am partnered with a higher belt and each time, without fail, that person has taken the time walk me through our lesson without ego and with the utmost patience.
The philosophy of every class is to get better each day, and not let a bad day of training deter you from the journey. The atmosphere is one of respect and teaching. I missed a few classes due to an serious illness and twice I got a call from the school wishing me a speedy recovery and welcoming me back whenever I was ready. This demonstrates the character this school exemplifies. I had already paid for my classes, those calls weren’t about the money it was about keeping me on track and checking in on a student. Class organization.
I recommend this school to anyone. It’s a great workout, a challenging and humbling art that pushes your limits and requires one to step outside their comfort zone and test their own resolve to learn. Great experience-​truly one of the best decisions I ever made.

I have been training with Team Redzovic for several years now, after having studied as well as taught a variety of martial arts over the past 20 years with a variety of schools and academies here in the U.S., the UK, as well as China. I feel like I have seen it all when it comes to school culture and quality of instruction.
I want to focus my review on the culture aspect at Team Redzovic, because I feel like a lot of reviews have touched on the skill and quality of the instruction available there (which is excellent), and hopefully you are familiar with the legendary efficacy of Brazilian Jiujitsu as a martial art. And yes, it’s a great way to have fun and get/​stay fit. At 43, I am happy to say that I am in the best shape of my life.
But I feel what really makes or breaks a school in the long run is its attitude and culture. The best schools thrive on a culture where its members feel safe, respected and supported throughout their martial arts journey. This is only possible when this is made a priority by the teachers and staff, and in turn by the senior students and so on down the ranks.
And you definitely see that here. This unified commitment to a positive training environment is what makes R-​Team so special.
Upon joining the team, you will encounter an amazing group of diverse individuals: doctors, lawyers, firefighters, police, EMTs, IT professionals, chefs, people from all walks of life, all bound together as a family of equals, there to support one another in becoming the best martial artists and people they can be. This is actually pretty amazing to be a part of, though you may find it challenges you as well to grow physically, mentally, and even spiritually, which can be hard work. Not everyone may be up for it, or just might be looking for a different kind of experience.
Of course, no school is perfect. But there is a genuine commitment to continuous development and improvement throughout, and the school looks at itself in the same light, always trying to find ways to be better.
Over the past 15 years, this community has deepened and matured, and I think it’s a great time to join and see what it’s about.

So I am a female training in this male dominant sport and the environment here is very family friendly and NO EGO which is why I have been here for over 5 years now. There is a laid back atmoshpere so if you are high strung, overly competitive or highly opinionated, its probably not the school for you. If you are looking to try and train in this growing sport in a safe and friendly environment, you have to give it a try! All the Professors and Instructors are so helpful and you grow close to your teammates quickly because everyone is there to help you out. There are 3 locations in the chicago area but the one here in Lincoln Square is the one I am at the most. All locations pretty much share the same Coaches and Instructors and all are wonderful, supportive teachers!

If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in training Jiu Jitsu and learning self-​defense, stop by Team Redzovic. It’s the best school in the area! I began training there in 2007 and have since been hooked on the sport. People walk through the doors for a variety of reasons; I train primarily for self-​defense and physical fitness. The great friends that made in the process were an added benefit.
Walking through the doors of any school that teaches combat is a daunting experience because you are entering an environment where people are learning how to fight. The instructors at Team Redzovic help to alleviate the initial apprehension by fostering a supportive environment and collegial atmosphere. The instructors – while all very skilled in Jiu Jitsu – are very approachable and friendly, which to me is equally as important. There is also a high level expectation for students to be respectful of the school and their training partners. Bad language, manners and personal hygiene are not tolerated. The instructors promote a very safe training environment, which helps to facilitate the learning process.
With all that being said, at this academy, you will get the best combat training there is, so you will learn how to fight! I have witnessed the personal transformation of both male and female students, who have grown tremendously confident and can now competently defend themselves. If you are eager to learn, respectful, courteous, and persistent, you will do well at this academy.

This place was recommended to me by a friend and I really did not like the atmosphere. It was very male-​centric and I did not feel comfortable. I won’t return there.

I started training here about two years ago and instantly fell in love with the sport of jiu jitsu. I thought this was a sport I could really excel at, as it is the best martial art for smaller people. I felt so welcome when I started and really thought this was a school I could stick with through my BJJ career.
Sadly, that was not the case. As I started moving up in the ranks, I realized other male students would make comments that were less than supportive of women students. It also became clear the school didn’t value their women students as much as men (i.e. men had showers and women didn’t, women had to sit out rounds because people didn’t want to partner with them, etc).
Because I felt so strongly about wanting to be treated equally, I did bring a lot of my concerns to the management. Unfortunately, they were not receptive and shortly thereafter I was asked to leave the gym for having a ‘poor attitude’. A much more positive way to approach this situation would have been to acknowledge and understand your students’ concerns and actually address the underlying issues. If you are a woman looking to learn BJJ, don’t go here. At best, you will waste your money each month to be treated like shit. At worst, you will question why you even want to do BJJ. Either way, find a better gym that will value you as a teammate.
ETA — It is pretty unfortunate that the owner of this school had to result to childish lies and insults in an attempt to discredit me. And the women in the videos who gave testimonials are either no longer training there or have directly told me they feel the same way I do about how they are treated.

I have been training at Redzovic for over 5 years. The physical benefits are beyond what you expect. I have gained a body/​spacial awareness that benefits many aspects of my life. Not only do I get a great cardio and strength workout from it, I also learn a valuable skill. Knowing Jiu jitsu removes an element of the fear of violence, and elevates your confidence as a result. The instructors are friendly, intelligent, and promote a clean lifestyle — mind and body. The sport is surprisingly safe for being a combat sport. One of the best decisions of my life, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I can not say enough Good things about GB Chicago and everyone there. You will be surprised how many of their students have long commutes (45 mins+), and the reason is plain and simple: GB Chicago has the best instructors, and their students are always winners in competitions. Despite it being a big school, the instructors do a great job walking around during class to make sure that everyone is drilling the moves correctly and to answer questions. The students all train hard and they all look out for their partners during training (not the case with some of the MMA gyms where people hurt training partners and not care). Professor Adem, Professor Idriz, Professor Andre, and Hamid are the nicest guys you will ever meet. You will be treated like family from day one, Absolutely no Egos. Come check out a free class, and we will see you on the mats.

I have been training at Gracie Barra Chicago for 2 years now and I have nothing negative to say about this gym at all! The instructors are very friendly, knowledgeable, available and will assist you with anything you may need. Whether you want to learn self defense, compete in BJJ or simply get in shape Gracie Barra is a clean and safe environment for all ages and genders. There are no egos here. Both Instructors and students pride themselves on their hospitality and kindness, and the camaraderie is can be seen as you first walk in the door. If you are a beginner to the sport or an experienced grappler this is the place to take your game to the next level.
Also, they host great seminars with world champion BJJ competitors like Rolles Gracie, Clark Gracie, Braulio Estima, Marcio Feitosa. UFC fighters have also stopped by like Cole Miller, Kenny Florian…

Check your ego at the door, this is what an effective, competetive and brotherly academy is supposed to be, the original Chi-​town BJJ school with a place for those looking to compete and plain old weekend warriors looking to better their health and self defense.

I have trained at Team Redzovic Chicago on Lincoln Ave. for over 5 years and I have only good to say about their academy. They are flawless in their teaching, customer service and very respectful towards everyone. The atmosphere at Team Redzovic has always been very welcoming towards everyone there, like a family. The art of Gracie Jiu-​Jitsu is the real deal and very effective no matter size, shape or sex, it works! This academy is great for men, women and kids as there is no cursing or foul talk ever. The instructors are great and carry themselves with the up most respect and the members do as well. Great place, great training and great people!

Well this is my 3^rd school that I have attended. This is by far one of my favorite places to continue my jujitsu education. They take take small steps and start out the first several months with lots and lots of drilling. This is perfect for the beginner and also the advanced.

Gracie Barra Chicago is a great place to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The teachers are knowlegeable and attentive. Students are very frendly, welcoming and humble. There is simply no macho posturing, rough treatment or ego battle here. Also, I like the more casual atmesphere, compared to other martial art schools that tend to be formalistic, rigid and somewhat oppressive. Gracie Barra Chicago can help you reach your goal, whether it is personal fitness, self-​defense preparation or sports training, and the odds are, you will enjoy every minute of it (everyone I know here does).

Give it a shot, and leave your ego at the door. As a former college athlete I have been around people that always seem to have something to prove and are out to make sure that everyone knows it. I have not seen that at Gracie Barra Chicago there is no bullying and no intimidation. It is also very humbling, as I found out while training with an individual that I outweighed by almost 100lbs, and that is a positive experience for anyone no matter what your position in life is or your reasons for joining Gracie Barra Chicago. Just remember as you walk in for your first class that everyone in the room started with their first class and go from there.

I am a current member and joining was the best decision I have ever made. I now feel stronger mentally and physically and have more coinfidence in myself. I recomment trying out the free class. You’ll get hooked!

Gracie Barra Chicago is the finest school in Chicago to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The combination of excellent instructors and welcoming attitude of the students make it very easy to feel comfortable within minutes. The instructors are highly experienced and focus on teaching instead of furthering their egos. The students follow their lead and are humble as well; people help each other out and promote a close knit atmosphere.
There is no need to feel pressured or intimated, your first class is free! I’ve been training at the school for the last 8 months and can’t wait to attend class each week. BJJ itself is an outstanding martial art for self defense, physical fitness, and overall wellness/​confidence. The school also offers an excellent curriculum for kids.
I urge anyone that is curious or considering BJJ to stop into the school to watch a class or jump in to try it for themselves.

I started training here last year in November and I would have to say that the experience has been nothing but great.
First of all, the teachers are great. We have multiple black and brown belts that rotate depending on their availability but each one not only knows what they are doing, but they are extremely helpful as well. There is never a dumb question and there has never been a time even during a really full class, where I couldn’t ask a teacher to come over and see if I was doing a move correctly or not. Second, as someone has said before, there’s a ton of people that range from beginner to very experienced, so its easy to find someone to practice with that’s in your weight class and your skill level. Third, and I can’t stress this enough, but everyone, EVERYONE, here is humble to a fault, from the highest black belts to the white belts with no stripes. Everyone helps each other out, and there is a real feeling of family and community when training.
They recently also added new class times as well to account for our growing number of members which is awesome as well.
Its a great place to not only learn Brazilian jiu jitsu and get in shape, but to meet like minded people who love and want to learn this «beautiful art».

I recently started training here and have to say how good the experience has been. I had taken a few classes in Oregon a few years ago and had my ass handed to me early and often, but this place is different– much more attuned to the beginner and teaching basics before throwing you into the fire. Sid Blustain teaches the fundamentals class on Saturdays and is a born teacher and really nice person, as are the other students I have trained with. No attitudes, just people helping each other. I would not make this recommendation if they really didn’t go out of their way to make the experience positive.

I’m moving to Boston and sadly this will be one the places I miss the most. I’ve trained on and off over the past decade, in many different dojos and even multiple states. Gracie Barra Chicago offers the best jiu-​jitsu training I’ve ever received from anywhere. They have multiple intructors that are enthusiastic about teaching, they have a large practice space, they have day and evening classes, and (something not to be overlooked) they have a huge student population which means you can find multiple training partners of both your size and skill level. There is no attitude here, everyone is really cool and respectful.
However, this wouldn’t be a real Unilocal!review if I didn’t have some tough criticism to add so here it is: my only complaint is that registration is based off of a contract system and I prefer paying month to month. But what are you going to do, pretty much everywhere has gone to contracts so that shouldn’t stop you from training here.