Carlson Gracie MMA - Channahon

"My daughter Abigail started at the age of 6 and has been going for about 7 months now and absolutely loves it. Coach Brian and all the coaches are extremely kind and caring as well as the other children in class. Even the older more experienced children take their time to help the newer ones. Since my daughter started training she has learned to be more confident in herself and she has made several friends with the other kids in class. She has chosen to stop gymnastics and soccer to stay focused on Ju Jitsu and she made this choice after the 1st month of being at Carlson Gracie Channahon. As a parent I feel so confident and comfortable with the coaches and other kids that I let my daughter go into class on her own at times which builds her confidence and has made her grow less shy around people. I am truly happy that we found a place where our daughter can not only learn how to defend herself but can become more confident in all aspects of life."

"My oldest kids were 3 when they started martial arts. We did 3 different schools. We had coaches who gave daily “participation” stripes, coaches who coached with fear and intimidation, coaches who had 6 year olds walking around wearing black belts, coaches with extremely big egos. We had started to think maybe it’s the same everywhere, WRONG! Coach Brian has something super special here at Carlson Gracie, he and his staff are the most humble coaches. Our kids learned more here in the first few classes than they learned in all the years they’d been training elsewhere. You will not find egos here, you will not find 6 year olds walking around in black belts. You will find compassion, a positive environment, and skills being taught that are skills used for life. I’m so grateful we finally found what we had been looking for and look forward to our sons and daughter learning and growing here!"

"My opinion is this is one of the best places around to learn a true art. The level of instruction is great even for a new person coming in. I initially was only looking to get my 7 year old son into Jui-Jitsu , but ended up joining myself. (Wish my job allowed me more time to attend) but any time i do make it i still feel welcomed every time. Its a true family team , meaning even the advanced students are more than happy to help you learn. They promote a fun atmosphere for the kids which makes them look forward to every class. I highly recommend attending. Very glad we did ."

"Super well equipped gym, with massive space, and friendly knowledgeable instructors, who care - you really can't ask for more. I've been doing various martial arts since I was a kid, and I've been in a lot of "schools"- so far I've found the instructors, and students very open, patient, and well versed in how to explain concepts and movements of all levels. Seems to be good at keeping a nice balance of drilling, making sure of comprehension, and practical application. Honestly- I only started here because they were the only place that fit my schedule, so I wasn't sure I would stay- but I've ended up very impressed, and completely hooked. I couldn't be happier with how well it's gone."

"I have been training martial arts my entire life. Since the age of 4 I have trained and experienced a variety of gyms throughout the states and I can easily say that Carlson Gracie Team MMA is the best gym I have ever had the privilege to be a part of. The quality of training and teaching there is simply unmatched. It's all about having fun while becoming better so naturally I have become a greater martial artist than I ever could of imagined. On top of that, the welcoming atmosphere that the gym provides makes it feel like a second home. I highly recommend this gym to anyone that is looking to have fun, get in better shape, and learn from the best."