Living Art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Willowbrook, Illinois

NOD

I am grateful to have found Living Arts BJJ. I have been training with Coach Ramses for a year now. I look forward to my hours of the week with him because of his dedicated and personal approach to teaching. He takes the time to find what does and doesn't resonate with me. Once he finds something that "clicks", he builds off of that. That has made the learning aspect far less daunting and turned it into one that is very rewarding. He is incredibly patient with his approach and often asks for questions and feedback--which, to me, is the sign of a great and confident teacher. I take both individual and group classes with him and find them both incredibly rewarding in their own ways. He has shown me that no matter your age or skill level, you can retain what he teaches and feel solid accomplishments and progress with each session. I appreciate there are a lot of options out there for BJJ, but Coach Ramses is the difference for me. My first year with him has flown by and I feel I have learned so much- on top of the incredible physical and mental workout I get. Because of him, I want to continue to learn for the long time. I'd HIGHLY recommend Coach Ramses and Living Arts BJJ to anyone--regardless of their age or skill level.

Piotr Morawa

I can't say enough good things about Living Art BJJ. The instructors are top-notch, patient, and truly passionate about teaching the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, you'll find a welcoming and challenging environment here.The community at this gym is incredible—everyone is supportive and encouraging, making it a great place to train and grow. The classes are well-structured, focusing on technique, drilling, and live rolling, which has dramatically improved my kids skills and confidence on the mat.What really stands out is the attention to detail and the personalized feedback from the coaches. They genuinely care about your progress and make sure you understand the techniques being taught. The facilities are clean, and the atmosphere is always positive. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to start or continue their BJJ journey!

Branko Popovic

I have been training for a number of years and at a few different gyms in the Midwest and on the West Coast, this one definitely ranks up there as one of the most welcoming with a great atmosphere and people.

Very friendly to total beginners and people that have trained before. The instructor, Ramses, does a great job breaking down techniques and running classes. Also a nice mix of Gi and No Gi training. I would definitely recommend the gym to anyone who is interested in Jiu Jitsu.

Tricia Sbertoli

My boys have been members at Living Art for a few years now. They have learned so much in that time. They are proud to have earned promotions via stripes and belts. This place isn’t a promotion factory though; the kids earning it are putting in the work.

Coach Ramses is great. He makes the classes fun but has excellent control. The kids are not only learning BJJ but also to respect authority and their partners. Sometimes a larger or more skilled kid has to go against a smaller partner. Coach always encourages the bigger kid to both go gentle and challenge the smaller kid.

Coach Ramses comes to the competitions and cheers the kids on. The other families are great too. We’ve made social connections for both the kids and ourselves.

Mark Baluyut

I have visited Living Art BJJ a couple times when I was in town and had a great experience training there. Prof. Ramses is one of the most knowledgeable and skilled Jiujitsu teachers and practitioners in Illinois.

The facility is clean and safe. There is lots of mat space to train.

The class is structured so that students will get the most Jiujitsu instruction out of it. All of his students felt very comfortable and respectful towards one another. It is great for any beginner or seasoned practitioner. Ramses’ instruction is clear, concise, and extremely effective.

Lastly, I was able to observe his kids program. If you’re in the area with children, you need to bring them to Living Art BJJ. The kids were having fun while effectively learning and applying Jiujitsu. It was so impressive to see how much they knew. The kids were also very well behaved and were being taught discipline in the process through assertive teaching methods.

I will definitely continue to come back whenever I’m in the area. This is an amazing gym.

Derick guerra

I came here to train from out of state on a work trip so I could stay sharp in grappling . I’ve crossed trained many places in the past but living arts has got to be one of my favorite places . Had the privilege of training under coach Ramses and It was quite the experience for me . Very well spoken , very meticulous , and straight to the point . Coach Ramses is able to explain literally every detail as to why even the smallest moves in a sequence are important . Which is what you want in a coach especially when you’re starting out in training . In the past it was so easy for me to get lost in a lesson or to drill a move wrong even though I would be able to get the submissions being taught .this in turn can create bad habits that at the highest level (or any level ) would have me exposed . Coach Ramses was able to spot all the holes in my game and explained thoroughly what I can do to improve . With Very light hearted , and creative methods for teaching groups of all ages , The coach and the students here just made it so easy to get comfortable ; it felt like I’ve trained there for years
Everyone at the gym was so kind and also very insightful . As the saying goes :”iron sharpens iron “ and at living art the students all had a broad list of moves that will contribute to my game in the future .
Thanks again to coach Ramses and his students for giving me the privilege to cross train with them . I’m so grateful to have ever met such wonderful people and I hope to cross paths with them again someday .
My name is Derick Guerra I train out in suwanee Georgia . And I would highly recommend living arts jujitsu for any belt rank at any age to come give this one a go . OSS

Dave Smietanski

Awesome place to train! Coach Rams is awesome and the school has a great culture that is second to none. If you’ve been looking to get into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, look no further! This is the place to be! 10/10 recommend for all ages!

Kyri Sierra

My first grader has been attending lessons for more than a year with wonderful results. Coach Ramses has excellent management of the co-ed class and all students are held to high standards. The skills he teaches are age appropriate and the class is well structured. Character traits like self-discipline, hard work, sportsmanship and accountability are a part of the lessons which has been transformative for my boy. We feel part of a community at Living Art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.