Posts by driftingmarlin24

Hey everyone,

Asking a potentially stupid question here, but hey...

Is there a BJJ club in the States that actually has a beginner group or some kind of academy specifically for recreational folks?

I hit up a few training sessions (about a month total) at some local gyms—keeping them nameless—and I almost lost my mind because they’d jump straight into sparring after warmups. Even when I managed to get a decent position, I had zero clue what to do next...

I'm not really a "learn it yourself" type of guy either. My job is pretty demanding and I've got a family to look after, so I can't exactly spend all day on YouTube watching Brazilian pros...

Thanks in advance for any help, and feel free to roast me if you think BJJ is just one of those things you're supposed to learn by trial and error...

Shoot me a DM if you have leads, I'm open to any recommendations...

bluecyclist18 said:I’ve been feeling this itch lately to pick up some kind of martial arts training for fun. I was pretty active in sports for about ten years or so, though I haven't really been hitting the gym in a year now. I've been bouncing around the idea of which discipline to dive into, but I'm stuck on where to start. I know, instead of overthinking it, I could just show up at a local gym and see what sticks, but let's just say my current schedule hasn't exactly made that easy.
I’ve never actually done any combat sports before. I'm 23, and my work schedule keeps me busy during the mornings and afternoons. Honestly, MMA is what really catches my eye; I’ve been watching a lot of it lately, and it seems like the most well-rounded choice since you get both the stand-up and the ground game. That said, I'm not looking to kill myself in training like a maniac—this is purely recreational for me, mostly for my own health and just to shake up my lifestyle.
So, does anyone have recommendations on where I should go to try out some classes? I’m living on the East Side of Chicago.
Feel free to chime in if you have any advice. Is MMA a good entry point for a beginner? I'd love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions you might have.
Thanks!

Maybe Google "Cromma Gym" and check them out. Might be close to you. They do way more kickboxing than grappling, but go ahead and see if you vibe with it.

There are plenty of casual people there too, so you'll fit right in. The coach is awesome. A bit further away, but in the industrial district you've got Guerilla Athletics, which are cool and super cheap. You also have Cro Ryu Jiu Jitsu, which is similar to MMA and really interesting. That one's in the Fourth Ward.

Anyway, hope that gives you something to look into...