This class is wonderful! My grandson has become more confident and has opened up with just a month of classes. Its great to see him interacting with the other students and adults who are helpful, encouraging and polite. Highly recommend!

While I have nothing bad to say about both the instructors and community, you have to pay an additional 2 months worth of membership fees upon canceling your membership; a scammy business practice. Be sure to carefully assess the agreement you are getting youself into. Dont sign unless you are SURE you are agreeing to a month-to-month membership that you can get out of risk free whenever you please. If said risk cannot be mitigated and the contractual agreement they present is long-term but paid in monthly installments, go elsewhere!

Love my experience at Gracie-Barra Brazilian Jujitsu in Urbana, IL! Quality training with a great Instructor! Excellent program that allows you to fully understand and track your progression from class to class. Great rates and special offers for beginners, law enforcement and military personnel. Highly recommended!

Best place in CU to train BJJ. I encourage everyone to come try it out. Get in better shape and also learn to defend yourself and your family.

Its not every day you find a martial arts studio that feels like a safe and welcoming place for women. Professor Josh and Coach Rob give excellent, clear instructions and are always watching to ensure students are understanding the techniques and practicing safely.The fitness classes offer excellent challenges to your athleticism and are somehow also actually a lot of fun. The gym and equipment are always fastidiously clean.If youd rather practice remotely, their online classes are some of the best Ive ever taken. They give as much care for ease and effectiveness of engagement for remote students as they do for in-person trainees.All around a fantastic gym with a stellar group of people.

Ive been a student here for more than 5 years, because of the excellent instruction from Professor Josh and the family atmosphere. An amazing mix of people here to enjoy a fun hobby and competitors who want intense training.Definitely a fun environment with something for everyone.

GB Champaign has been outstanding on all levels and has made such an impact on our nine-year-old. He is learning a functional martial-art and building a self-confidence that extends beyond the mat. Through his journey, I have started training as well, and at 46 I have lost 25+ lbs and felt better than I have in over 20 years. Instruction is world-class and meets all students where they are in skill. Very safe and welcoming environment.

Amazing and fun atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and becomes family. Training sessions for both Barra Fit and CKM are well put together and enthusiastic!

This school has been awesome. I’ve been out of anything super physical for 20 years and I couldn’t be happier with this fun, supportive, and safe environment. I’ve learned tons of new stuff that is fun to do as a sport and gets me in shape. The added benefit of the Gracie Barra system is the real world utility of learning a combat sport from the family responsible for creating it as a form of self defense. Thanks Professor Josh, Coach Rob, and the awesome advanced belt practitioners that have made class so much fun!

Its coming up on 2 years since I started training at this school. My only regret is not being able to say that it has been longer than that! Like many, I had wanted to start training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for years and kept putting it off. Dont make the same mistake. If youve been thinking about it, theres no benefit to not starting sooner. Try a free class and see for yourself what youre missing. Professor Josh is an excellent and committed instructor. The schedule of classes is accommodating of different working hours, and the people you will train with are always friendly and helpful.

Josh is extremely professional and an absolute monster jiu jitsu coach.

Great instructors always willing to explain things and show more examples. Always a fun, challenging, and rewarding experience every time I go.

Great instruction in both reality based self-defense and grappling. If you are here reading this, don’t wait any longer. Take the first step and come in and do it!

Great dojo! The instructor is warm, loving, and professional. I truly enjoyed every class.

Ive been training here for about 3 weeks now and its been great so far. There are so many options to train if your schedule is unpredictable. The people that train there are very helpful and the training curriculum is definitely legit. Ive gotten a lot better since training here and look forward to progressing even further.

I trained at Gracie Barra BJJ last night. It was my first time at the school. I was treated like family the minute I walked in the door. I had a great workout with very professional instruction and very friendly training partners. The students were skilled and respective to ensure no one got injured. I attended the advance class and was very impressed with the instruction and skills of the attendees. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for professional instruction within a friendly family like environment.

Professor Josh is a awesome teacher. Patient, Knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. I recommend anyone wanting to learn CKM or Jiu-Jitsu let Professor Josh be your teacher.

I entered as a random from the street but Josh, Vanesa and their students were/are all very welcoming and informative. I had a great time this past few weeks and plan to start full time soon.

Great school, Great Professor and Great Community. I am new to town and just started attending. Professor Josh is an excellent instructor and takes his time with his classes. Highly recommend

The gym is very clean and well run. Professor josh is very experienced and knowledgeable. Everyone is very welcoming and more than happy to help a newcomer learn the ropes.

I had a great time at Gracie Barra Champaign. Unfortunately I had to move away shortly after joining, but I recommend this gym to my friends up there still. I would 100% go again

Super kid friendly. The whole family can practice.

If youve ever thought about taking self-defense, Muay Thai, or Brazilian jiu jitsu classes, I highly recommend trying a class at GB Champaign.I started in the summer of last year with intro BJJ classes, and I was hooked right away. I started the Muay Thai program shortly after that, and now I train BJJ 4x a week and Muay Thai 3x a week. I look forward to those days where I know I will be training, especially in no gi BJJ.Professor Josh has been grappling since he was basically a toddler, and he is an excellent instructor. He always makes sure that people understand both the technique and the principles behind the techniques. He truly cares about his students, both on and off the mat.Coach Zac brings more than two decades of muay thai experience to GB, and it shows in his classes. He breaks down techniques to their smallest detail, and his patience with students of all levels makes him an excellent coach.All of the students are extremely friendly, and I have made several life-long friends even after only a few months of training. Everyone rolls with everyone at GB Champaign, and everyone does it with a smile.5/5 Stars. Would highly recommend.

Love the jiu jitzu class. I really learned a lot of, very much, applicable combat and self defense skills. They also have a great variety of other martial arts you can learn there, in which the instructor is very well-versed in all of them. If you get the unlimited package, you have full access to all of the activities that available there; which is amazing if you have a busy schedule.

First and foremost, the atmosphere is incredibly genuine and friendly. Professor Josh, Coach Rob and Coach Zack are all phenomenal instructors.I’ve been coming to Gracie Barra since the fall of 2019 and absolutely love it. I can’t articulate what I love about training jiu-jitsu, just like I can’t articulate what it’s like to be a father. This is something you will have to try in order to fully understand. The training isn’t grueling nor is it easy. Your natural attributes will play a factor into your progression but I feel that anyone can do this; just keep showing up. Although, additional gym time isn’t necessary, jiu-jitsu has motivated me to start strength training and cardio training on my own. Since starting in the fall, I’ve lost 10 pounds and lowered my resting heart rate from 63 beats per minute to 53 beats per minute. I highly encourage everyone to try this. Give it a few months of really trying. This won’t be easy but it will be incredibly rewarding.My stats:5’11” 238lb 40yr old manPrevious injuries: fractured foot (2 surgeries), fractured arm, fractured hip, bad knees, bad back, torn shoulder.All the excuses not to come but I still show up ready to train. My only regret was not starting sooner! See you on the mats 🤙🏽

The exercise is great, very challenging, and yet the atmosphere very friendly. We are encouraged to do what we can, but not to get hurt or break our toys. We are comrades learning/improving our physical skills together, and although we learn by trying out moves and sometimes not getting them at first, there is no shame in not being the best or not yet being able to perform something that is difficult. I like that everyone seems comfortable and relaxed even as we focus very intently on what we are practicing.

Prof Josh is a great instructor and the business is understanding and willing to break up payments to make it easier to afford for college students like me!

Great instructor. Great experience. Everyone is supportive and encouraging. A superb gym to train at. Ive had a wonderful time there.

Great school. Excellent BJJ and Muay Thai classes.

Wouldnt go-not very flexible about membership and seem to be interested in getting your money. My son went for a couple of months and when we asked for a refund for the last month ($97) they wouldnt refund it! Going to find another gym that is more flexible!

Very efficient, great lesson planning, and demands discipline. A short warm up is performed at the start of every practice followed by rolls and falls, followed by the lesson. Lessons included self defense first some days followed by sport application, some days were focused entirely on sport applications of techniques. Overall, a well-run dojo with quality control. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good workout, wants to learn BJJ for fun, or wants to compete.

I have been training at Gracie Barra for about 6 months now and I must say that it has been one of the best athletic experiences in my life. It is a lot more than just a gym, everybody treats each other like family. I would recommend this palce to any and everyone looking to pick up valuable self defense skill. It also is a great workout!

Great mats. Good for any age and physical shape. Very friendly environment.Coach Josh is a highly professional instructor and an excellent teacher.Attending Gracie Barra Champaign was one of those rare unquestionably right decisions I made in my life.

Gracie Barra Champaign is an excellent place to train BJJ and to exercise w/ Barra Fit. The Muay Thai classes are phenomenal also. Professor Josh and other instructors are terrific teachers.

Amazing BJJ school, great atmosphere and great people. Professor Josh is a very good instructor.

My son has been studying for half a year in the kids class, and Ive been very impressed with the level of instruction. They manage to make it challenging, effective and fun all at the same time. Highly recommend.

My whole family has been training at Gracie Barra Champaign for three months now. We are treated like family there. The coaches provide outstanding, professional instruction. My four kids are always asking when the next day is that we get to go train - they absolutely love the kids class. We are so lucky to have a BJJ gym of this caliber nearby.

I have been training BJJ at Gracie Barra Champaign for the past 18 months and I just love every minute of it.Professor Josh is an awesome instructor, the staff is very friendly and the everyone are very friendly.

I dont think these guys need a review from me to show how good they are, but Id like to put in my two cents anyway. Ive trained in multiple arts for years (mma) and strict jiu jitsu off and on throughout 10 year span of time. I couldnt dedicate a membership as I am moving to a different state after finishing at UIUC, but the owner gave me multiple opportunities to come in and train for free. He was willing to work with me and my girlfriend to accommodate our needs for training within reason. Everyone I trained with there was extremely friendly and accommodating when it came to learning new techniques, drills, and rolling. This was long winded, but I wanted to give insight on my full experience. If anyone is new to the art, consider going here first.

Class availability is fantastic, Josh is very knowledgeable, and the Gracie Barra family is very welcoming. I would highly recommend.

Great training would definitely go back

Awesome group sessions and an even better instructor.

Josh is great!

Great workout, great people, great hobby. Strongly recommend for anyone interested in BJJ, be it for fitness, sport, or self-defense.

Good gym but they make you buy their uniform and you cant wear your own. In some martial arts, this isnt a big issue, but in bjj where you gis are expensive and you need to wash your gi after each practice. So you need several gis if you want to train multiple times a week, otherwise youll be stuck doing laundry a lot...

I was in town for the week and brought my gi, luckily I found this place. The students were as friendly as the coaches. I was greeted with open arms, and the class very well structured. Great training and world class technique at this place!

I go to GB Champaign for the Commando Krav Maga classes. Since my first class, I was hooked. The instructors are patient, knowledgeable, and able to adapt their teaching styles to best suit their students needs. I learn something new each class, and look forward to each one!

I have trained with Josh he is an amazing intructor with a great deal of knowledge, not only great at BJJ but also Commando Krav Maga.

Ive gone to a few different BJJ places, and this is one of the best. Very friendly community and would love to visit again.

Morally and Athletically sound! A great investment in your children or your own health and safety!

I attended a Commando Krav Maga seminar ranran Josh. Josh provided professional, comprehensive, and individualized instruction in CKM. In addition to what can be expected at a seminar, all the staff at Gracie Barra helped welcome me to the city, and provided an overall experience of outstanding hospitality. Weather you come to this establishment for CKM or jujitsu I can guarantee you will learn and better yourself in the process.

I got the chance to train GBC when I visited from Montreal and let me tell you that they made me feel like at home. Great instructors, friendly environment and great bjj vibe.

The instructor thinks there is a muscle that connects your hand to your shoulder for movement. Rude staff, girl my age calling me kid (Im 25)

Great group of people who work with you until you really understand the form. Really glad I found these guys.

Great fitness, practical teachings and Amazing people. Worth your time.

Instructors are knowledgeable, disciplined and great motivators! Facility is clean and modern.

Keeping it real with reality based self-defense, Commando Krav Maga and keeping it playful with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Im so glad that coach Josh is here with his instructors in the Champaign-Urbana IL area. They believe in team, encouragement, hardwork, and the standards to teach with excellent skill and their students to train hard are very high. I cant wait to train for many years to come.

I met the current owner of the gym, Josh Cadenbach, in September 2013, which was right when he took over the Dragonz Lair MMA gym in Champaign on 1st Street. At the time, he was a two-stripe blue belt with a strong background in wrestling. Along with Coach Josh, there were several other instructors that taught Muy Thai, MMA, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Fast forward to May 2016, my time at school and GB Champaign had come to an end. I left as a two-stripe blue belt. Coach Josh now has a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and at least a level two teaching certification in Commando Krav Maga. This is a testament to his dedication to BJJ and his school. Coach Josh continues to expand his BJJ knowledge by regularly traveling to various GB gyms around Illinois, such as the ones in Springfield and Downers Grove. He delegates some of the teaching to his purple belts as well. I really enjoyed training at GB Champaign over the 2.5 years that I spent there. Its a smaller gym with a great atmosphere and a lot of friendly people that share a common goal: to get better at BJJ. Theres a handful of people that consistently show up to training, but the gym continues to grow. There is a handful of blue belts and a couple of purple belts that help out the more inexperienced people. In my final months at the gym, I noticed many new people signing up, and the school has grown every year since I joined. My only regret that I didnt sign up sooner! Classes offered at the school include BJJ Fundamentals Class, BJJ Advanced Class, No-Gi BJJ, Competition Class, and the Commando Krav Maga Classes. Coach Josh has done very well with this school and he really cares about the development of students. Hes just an awesome guy and he works really hard. Check this place out, you definitely wont regret it!

Josh, is an outstanding instructor. My son is only 13 years old. He has a background in Kung fu, but moving him over to Brazilian jujitsu, and Krav maga, was a great move.He comes out of class excited and worn out everytime.If you are an adult or have children you want to instill security and confidence in.The place to be is Gracie Barra.

Great instructor immense amounts of knowledge

Thank you.