Stronghold Jiu-Jitsu Academy - Chicago, Illinois

M Thoma

Family! Stronghold Jiu-jitsu Academy is 100% Stronghold Jiu-Jitsu Family. Everyone helps everyone here in every capacity. If someone says they need help with something outside the academy, there are 20 brothers and sisters asking when and where! Professor Luis has created such an awesome learning environment. DO NOT be tentative to join, on your first day, EVERYONE will come up to you, shake your hand, introduce themselves, and welcome you to our Stronghold Jiu_Jitsu Family. Myself and my two boys are part of this family, and we are never leaving this Academy!

Brian MarFlo

Luis, the owner, is an amazing and experienced brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He is an excellent instructor as well as all the other instructors.
In this gym you will find a great and fun atmosphere. No ugly egos at all.
You want to be the best, come train with some of the best in the game. See you on the mat?

Luis Cruz

Been a student for the last several weeks and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Incredible instructors, who are also great at making us inexperienced people comfortable. The environment that they’ve created at stronghold is top notch. From day one I’ve felt like a member of the family, and I never plan on leaving. My kids will soon be students here as well. Much respect to Stronghold, and Professors Luis, Pete, and Chris.

Jack King

This is a great gym. Professor Luis, Pete, Chris and coach Wasa are all amazing bjj practitioners and even better teachers. You truly learn from the best. The gym also offers judo with Sensei Bryan and it is all beginner friendly. The environment at this gym is not like any other place. At the very least, give it a try. It can help you in all aspects of life.

Anthony Velazquez

This is a great place to develop technique and build your self confidence. I've had previous jiu jitsu experience coming from the suburbs. After relocating into the city, I was searching for an academy that provided an ego-free environment to better learn and grow as a person through the practice of this great martial art. The head professor is very kind, genuine and shows through his demeanor how much jiu jitsu can positively impact a person if they simply decide to step on the mats. Try a class, you won't regret it and it just might change your life for the better.

R L

Outstanding Academy.

Professor Luis is a consummate professional. He has skillfully created an atmosphere where you will be both welcomed and challenged.

In addition to the masterful instruction he provides; he has assembled a network of equally skilled and professional fellow professors. This allows for his students to benefit from the experience of multiple perspectives.

Highly recommended, I look forward to training here for years to come.

Kevin Weber

I have been training at Stronghold Academy for 7 months now and the jiu jitsu learning environment that Professor Luis creates will help any student that walks through the doors succeed. If your are looking to get in shape, learn self defense, improve your mental health and train with an amazing group of guys, girls and high level jiu jitsu practitioners then this is the gym to be at. Stronghold Academy has become a very important aspect in my life and I couldn’t be more thankful.

Tha Tha

The moment my husband and I walked through the doors of Stronghold Jiu jitsu academy we felt welcomed. As a Brazilian I was missing my days of training BJJ in Brazil, and with Stronghold I felt like I was back home training in a safe, clean and respectful environment here in the U.S.
The gym is located in a safe area, with plenty of parking, and the most important, the academy is always clean and organized. The academy always smells nice and clean, students are also always clean (no smelling GIs here lol).
Professor Luis, the owner and our main coach makes us all feel at home. He is amazing, very knowledgeable and respectful, but mostly important he is very humble. Also, the other coaches (Chris, Pete, Waza, Bryan) also contribute to our learning process and give us the opportunity to learn different methods.
Jiu-Jitsu has not only made me learn self-defense, but has made me feel more confident, more patience, think more logically and ultimately become less stressed.
The art of training Jiu-Jitsu at Stronghold is an amazing process, every day you get to not only exercise physically but mentally as well. It’s a place where you enter and forget about your problems, it makes you mentally tough while keeping you relaxed, it makes you smile and personally makes me really happy.
And what to say about my team? Well, this is very easy, everyone is very respectful and is always willing to help each other to improve. People treat each other as family, and we know we can trust each other, and train without the fear of being harmed/ injured. While my entire team are savages, they are humble and just great human beings. This is the type of people the school and Professor Luis attracts!
I can easily say stronghold is part of my social support, they are all my friends that have become family.
They also have kids’ classes and as a mom, I can say my kids are very happy. Stronghold has helped them be well behaved, respectful, humble, not bully or be bullied, they learn these things without noticing and more importantly it is done in a fun and safe environment. My kids love coach Mikey, who is amazing with kids and a great person overall.
I have been with Stronghold since they opened up (2y ago) and I highly recommend Stronghold Jiu Jitsu Academy to anyone, of any age, race and gender. Stop thinking about and try it for yourself, you will definitely love it =)