We are located inside Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Some GPS systems may direct you to the opposite end of the mall. The easiest way to get to us is to enter the parking lot off of Vine Street, and enter the mall entrance doors to the right of Common Ground Food Co-op. If you have trouble finding us, give us a call at 630-557-6323.

We offer new potential members two weeks of free trial classes! Schedule your first trial class here or contact us using the contact form.

Please treat everyone at the school, regardless of rank, with respect and kindness. We do not tolerate "ego training" and expect everyone to always display good sportsmanship. If you're new to the BJJ scene and/or unsure about certain etiquette, don't hesitate to ask Coach Mike or any of the color belts. For the health and safety of our members, please do not come to class if you are feeling sick. Additionally, shoes are required whenever you are in the locker rooms in order to keep the mats clean. The complete outline of our rules & policies will be provided for everyone to sign on their first day of class.

We clean the mats and punching bags after each night of class. We use several different disinfecting solutions, all of which have EPA-registered labels that indicate their effectiveness against a variety of bacteria and viruses, including staphylococcus (the bacteria that causes staph infections) and COVID-19. We also expect our students to wash their clothes and their uniforms, including their belts, after each class to ensure a sanitary training environment. We encourage students to take advantage of our shower facilities after class as well.

All of our classes are co-ed, with the exception of our women's only self-defense program and our weekly women-only BJJ class. If you do not feel comfortable training with the opposite gender, please let us know so that we can ensure that you are partnered up with someone you can be comfortable with.

We encourage you to cross train! You are never required to ask permission to compete or train anywhere else. We believe cross training helps build the martial arts community as well as improve your own personal skills. The same applies for visiting members of a different school. We would love for you to join us while you're in town. You're welcome to wear your own gi (we don't have rules about visitor's gis). Please contact us if you are planning to drop in.

Yes! We have spacious locker/shower rooms for men and women. We also provide towel service and soap/shampoo.

If you wish to cancel your contract, you may do so with 30 days’ notice, signing via electronic communication to mike.cubjj@gmail.com. By signing you understand that a cancellation of any monthly agreement must be made 30 days or more before the next monthly withdrawal/charge date or for six month paid-in-full memberships, or they will automatically be switched to a monthly membership for the highest tier with respect to Adult or Youth membership. Furthermore, you understand that failure to do so will result in your account being charged and no refund will be given. Furthermore, you understand that withdrawing automatic transactions can take up to 15 business days to process and revoking this agreement may still result in any pending ACH or credit card payments to continue to process. I agree that cancellation of my membership outside of the initial five-day grace period will not result in a refund. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand this Buyers’ Right to cancel and that I may receive a signed copy of my contract if requested.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art, self-defense, and combat sport system that focuses on grappling and ground fighting. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves or another against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint locks and chokeholds to defeat the opponent. There is no punching, kicking, biting, etc. Such behavior, especially with children, will not be tolerated and may result in removal from class. If you're an adult interested in learning to strike, you should try our Cardio Kickboxing class. It will teach you fundamental striking skills while giving you a great workout!

For gi classes, you will wear a gi (which we will provide for you during your trial period), compression shirt or tight t-shirt, and a well-fitted sports bra (for women). We also recommend bringing sandals and a water bottle. For your first no-gi class you will need a compression shirt or tight-fitting shirt, well-fitted sports bra (for women), and athletic or compression shorts/tights. If possible, please avoid wearing loose shorts, boxer shorts, tank tops, or anything with thin straps or pockets. If this will be your first class with us, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of class so you can fill out a waiver form and get changed. Other considerations: Please trim your finger and toe nails so they are short and neat. Long hair should be braided or placed in a tight ponytail or bun. As a courtesy to your training partners, please come in clean and free of odors.

Belt promotions will be awarded based on a combination of factors including: class/open mat attendance, knowledge of techniques, competition performance, and behavior/attitude.

Absolutely not! At CU Jiu Jitsu, you will not be pressured to compete; many of our students are hobbyists. However, if you are interested in competing, we will support you as much as possible which includes coaching at local tournaments.

Everyone! At CU Jiu Jitsu we strive to make it our goal that people of all ages, sizes, genders, and physical ability to participate and succeed equally. For those with disabilities, we will work with you to create adaptations for BJJ to the best of our ability. We teach children as young as 5 years old. Teens aged 13 and up will be placed in our adult classes.

BJJ is just as much a mentally stimulating activity as it is physically stimulating. Children enrolled in our BJJ classes gain self-confidence, body awareness, social etiquette skills, discipline, and ability for self-defense. As part of their class warm-ups, they will build muscle through doing exercises such as squats and jumping jacks as well as increase their flexibility through stretching. Respect for others is a large part of BJJ culture, and your kids will learn that with us. Our kids learn to bow to their training partners, bow as they enter or exit the mat, and bow after every competitive match to their opponents. This act of bowing is a show of respect and gratitude to the space in which they are training in and to those who help them get better.

Our Cardio Kickboxing (CKB) class is designed for adults who want to get a great workout while utilizing real stand-up combat techniques. This structured workout class will get your heart rate elevated as well as teach you the foundation of striking and kicking. Our CKB students love this program because it takes the boring out of exercise and as an added bonus, it's a great way to take out your frustrations!

You may wear whatever clothing you feel comfortable working out in. Keep in mind that this class involves a lot of movement such as kicking, striking, jumping, etc. Most people like to wear athletic tops and athletic shorts or leggings. We have loaner gloves for those who do not have them, but we highly encourage members to purchase their own. Please trim your finger and toe nails so they are short and neat. As a courtesy to your training partners, please come in clean and free of odors.

Our women's self-defense program is a 4-week course that is designed for the complete beginner who has little to no experience. It is an introductory level class that will cover fundamental self-defense concepts and basic skills. You will learn how to use your body efficiently against someone bigger and stronger than you and increase your chances of surviving an attack. You do not have to be an enrolled member with us in order to take this class. It is open to all women and girls ages 15 and up. Due to the time commitment that it takes to plan and run this program, registration is $30 per person. However, if you have financial constraints, limited scholarships are available. To apply, please email kelly.cubjj@gmail.com with a letter stating your financial need. If you are a current paying member of CU Jiu Jitsu, your registration fee for this program is waived.

To ensure that everyone is getting the most benefit out of their classes, we are requiring prior registration for the program and limiting the number of participants to 16 per course. Several courses will run throughout the year so don't worry if you don't get into the upcoming one! Registration can be found on our homepage. If you have never taken a class with us before, we ask that you come in a few minutes early to fill out a waiver. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes that you can move around in, which is typically a fitted t-shirt, sports bra, and leggings. If you have long hair, you may want to put it up in a ponytail, braid, or bun.