Carlson Gracie Downtown Chicago

Wrestleben

Wrestleben

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The new and improved Carlson Gracie school has been announced in Downtown Chicago. They will have 5 BJJ black belts teaching, along with the best MMA, boxing, and Muay Thai coaches in the area. It's going to be truly amazing!


Chicago Loop location officially announced featuring Carlson Gracie Jr.!

August 29th, 2011

Chicago, Illinois (IL) -- Carlson Gracie Team MMA - Chicago is set to open this month in a big way! News of the long awaited Chicago Loop school was officially released today and good things absolutely come to those who wait. From big name instructors to a perfect location, this school is the culmination of the resurgence of the Carlson Gracie Team through the Chicagoland area in the past two years.

The big name instructors tagged to head up classes at the new school feature many regulars to the Team MMA gyms. However, one name in particular stands out amongst the rest. Carlson Gracie Jr. will be instructing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes at the new location in addition to Black Belts Isaac Riggs, Marcus Larrieu and Jason Sullins. With Jeff Neal also in the mix teaching MMA, the number of legitimate black belt level BJJ instructors at the academy will be no less than five!

When asked about the Jiu-Jitsu talent level at the Chicago Academy, Coach and Black Belt Jason Sullins remarked 'Many Jiu-Jitsu schools in the area struggle to have even one legitimate black belt instructor actively teaching their students. However, our schools have always taken pride on the high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction that we provide. With that said, to have five legitimate black belt instructors in one school including the master himself... unbelievable! Why would you want to train anywhere else?'

The big name instructors do not only comprise of BJJ aces. Carlson Gracie Team MMA - Chicago has striking covered as well. Boxing Instruction will be given by both the former Featherweight Champion of the World Angel Manfredi and Gustavo Pique who rose to prominence as a star of the Cuban National Boxing Team. Muay Thai will also be offered under the guidance of International Muay Thai Champion Lukasz Banach! As if those credentials were not enough the striking staff will be rounded off with Coach Steve Colon who currently holds over 500 coaching victories in MMA including 20 amateur champions as well as UFC level fighters!

Finally, those who want to tie all the disciplines together in a solid MMA game will have the guidance of Jeff Neal who in addition to having a second degree black belt, has logged over 800 coaching victories in MMA, Sport Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing. Add Steve Colon to MMA list and the duo has accounted for well over 1000 victories. When you are talking about a school that has Jeff Neal and Steve Colon as a 'finally' you know there is an unbelievable deep talent pool of coaching as their combined credentials are unrivaled in the Chicagoland area!

Coach and Second Degree Black Belt Jeff Neal commented, 'What an unbelievable line up of coaches we are fortunate to have under one roof. I have always taken pride in our coaching staff. But this lineup for this school is easily one of the best ever assembled in the area. I am happy to be a part of it and I can't even imagine the accomplishments this school will achieve in the coming years.'

Carlson Gracie Team MMA - Chicago will open at 17 N. Wabash in the heart of the Chicago Loop. The central location makes transportation to and from the gym extremely easy and accessible with the CTA providing direct access at the front door to many of its lines and service routes. In addition Carlson Gracie Team MMA - Chicago has also partnered up with a local parking facility operator to allow students coming in from the suburbs convenient consistent and affordable access rates! In addition, with the famed Tilted Kilt Restaurant and Pub only two floors down, members are going to find this building hard to leave!

Membership Advisers have been getting inquiries leading up to the announcement and as of today can start signing members up for memberships that will start upon the facilities doors opening and classes being run. Don't delay and use the contact form on the left side of the page to start this spectacular opportunity to train under Chicagoland's most accomplished coaching staff!
 
Wrestleben said:
When asked about the Jiu-Jitsu talent level at the Chicago Academy, Coach and Black Belt Jason Sullins remarked 'Many Jiu-Jitsu schools in the area struggle to have even one legitimate black belt instructor actively teaching their students.
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This is kind of a bullshit statement. :rolleyes:

Still, good for Carlson's federation and good for Chicago. Best of luck!
 
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ILGrappler said:
This is kind of a bullshit statement. :rolleyes:

Still, good for Carlson's federation and good for Chicago. Best of luck!
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I drive down to Chicago every so often to ramp up training for tournaments. Every time I've been to Carlson's there has been at least 2 black belts there, and I'm usually there on their slow day. I've worked with all of their bjj instructors and have been worked over by each of them, you definitely can't go wrong with this school.

*I am biased being in the affiliation, but my opinion is honest, and don't mean it as disrespect to any other Chicago schools.
 
Jdonw said:
I drive down to Chicago every so often to ramp up training for tournaments. Every time I've been to Carlson's there has been at least 2 black belts there, and I'm usually there on their slow day. I've worked with all of their bjj instructors and have been worked over by each of them, you definitely can't go wrong with this school.

*I am biased being in the affiliation, but my opinion is honest, and don't mean it as disrespect to any other Chicago schools.
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I suppose if taken in the light that most schools will only have one or two black belts on staff at all and inevitably there will be days where a brown teaches, then the statement is okay. I still find it suspect.
 
I had a bad experience at that Carlsons BJJ place.

This was back in the late 90's or so and I quit after 3 months.

Basically I felt the training there was not very good despite having so many high belts.

AS I remember we did hard core cardio drills the first 20-30 min of class then the head instructor would only show 1-2 techniqes and then you would roll for the next 20-30 min. Having 2 beginners roll usually does not work out well. Always the bigger and stronger one ones as neither have any technique or anything.

I felt that I learned zero after 3 months and quit out of frustration. What I did learn was how to tap fast and I never got injured at all. I am a good tapper.

Plus the classes were massive with 50 people or more. Maybe things have changed but it was a terrible experience for me.
 
dgold44 said:
I had a bad experience at that Carlsons BJJ place.

This was back in the late 90's or so and I quit after 3 months.

Basically I felt the training there was not very good despite having so many high belts.

AS I remember we did hard core cardio drills the first 20-30 min of class then the head instructor would only show 1-2 techniqes and then you would roll for the next 20-30 min. Having 2 beginners roll usually does not work out well. Always the bigger and stronger one ones as neither have any technique or anything.

I felt that I learned zero after 3 months and quit out of frustration. What I did learn was how to tap fast and I never got injured at all. I am a good tapper.

Plus the classes were massive with 50 people or more. Maybe things have changed but it was a terrible experience for me.
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Where do you train now?

The cardio portion depends on the instructor, I'm a fan of medium-hard cardio personally. My experience includes more like 3-4 techniques on the same general topic. Basically the class structure was like any other gym I have ever trained at.
 
It is true that most Chicago schools have only one or two black belts, and most of those black belts trained at Carlson's at one time or another. That being said, Carlson's has been around 15+ years, while most of the other schools have popped up within the last five.

Also, while Jay (me) is the only BJJ black belt who teaches at Valko, I teach seven days a week, usually twice a day.

Regardless, good luck with the new location, sounds awesome. I'm glad to see Jeff back downtown and Marcus getting a teaching position. Jason and Jeff have done great things for the Carlson brand name over the years and I wish you guys success!
 
dgold44 said:
I felt that I learned zero after 3 months and quit out of frustration. What I did learn was how to tap fast and I never got injured at all. I am a good tapper.
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Well, then you did, in fact, learn something didn’t ya?

PS: DGold, in another thread you state that you did BJJ 10 years ago in Michigan and quit because a “spaz” injured you. Now you say you did it in Chicago? Either your geography needs help, your memory is impaired or you are full of shit.
 
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Reports are coming in of bulldog attacks on Endor. Ewoks are in a state of chaos.
 
tilted kilt? that's like one block away from gracie barra loop

btw i love tilted kilt!
 
to Mick.

Well good memory I did BJJ First in Chicago in the late 90's then in Detroit in the early 2000's. Neither experience worked out well so I am hoping my 3rd one will be the right one. I think I was at both places for only 3 months if i remember.

One thing for sure my next time I am going to really research the place before I join.


I am now out West and been doing Krav and Muay Thai. I have not gone back to any type of grappling since 2002 or so. I will re-try again.
 
dgold44 said:
I had a bad experience at that Carlsons BJJ place.

This was back in the late 90's or so and I quit after 3 months.

Basically I felt the training there was not very good despite having so many high belts.

AS I remember we did hard core cardio drills the first 20-30 min of class then the head instructor would only show 1-2 techniqes and then you would roll for the next 20-30 min. Having 2 beginners roll usually does not work out well. Always the bigger and stronger one ones as neither have any technique or anything.

I felt that I learned zero after 3 months and quit out of frustration. What I did learn was how to tap fast and I never got injured at all. I am a good tapper.

Plus the classes were massive with 50 people or more. Maybe things have changed but it was a terrible experience for me.
Click to expand...

Every time i have trained at a Carlson gym in Chicago, i have picked up some new detail or move that has helped my game. It is hard for me to comprehend that you learned nothing in the 3 months you trained there. Has it ever crossed your mind that you may be the problem not the gym?
 
Wrestleben said:
Membership Advisers have been getting inquiries leading up to the announcement and as of today can start signing members up for memberships that will start upon the facilities doors opening and classes being run. Don't delay and use the contact form on the left side of the page to start this spectacular opportunity to train under Chicagoland's most accomplished coaching staff!
Click to expand...

Anytime I read something like this, all I can think of are "hard sell" heath clubs.
 
abbybjj said:
every time i have trained at a carlson gym in chicago, i have picked up some new detail or move that has helped my game. it is hard for me to comprehend that you learned nothing in the 3 months you trained there. Has it ever crossed your mind that you may be the problem not the gym?
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+1.
 
I was in carlson gracie london yesterday. first session of the day at lunchtime, 4 black belts.
every session throughout the day there were atleast 2 black belts, even the No-Gi classes.

I can't imagine anywhere with a better atmosphere.
 
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