Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the fastest growing martial art today. Four of five UFC champions hold black belts in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Submission and ground-fighting skills are a must for self-defense, mixed martial arts (UFC style) fighting, and a huge part of being a complete martial artist.
The number of martial arts schools offering Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) in the Chicago area has ballooned over the last few years from three or four to over a dozen. With such high demand and so many choices of schools, why choose to train at the Valko Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy?
Our goal is simple: happy, ever-improving BJJ practitioners. In order to reach that goal we have to have quality INSTRUCTION, TRAINING PHILOSOPHY, and ACADEMY.
Instruction: Head instructors Jay Valko and Andre Terencio have been training in and teaching BJJ for almost 25 years combined. Both are black belts in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Jay Valko has a competition record that is on par with the best in the Chicagoland area, holding numerous titles in both gi and no-gi competition. Jay has also trained with many jiu-jitsu and MMA fighters including Stephan Bonnar and Miguel Torres. While teaching has become his main priority, Jay still competes on a regular basis. Andre ‘Negao’ Terencio has coached and trained some of the best BJJ practitioners in the world today, including four time world Champion Hannette Stack.
In addition to BJJ, Valko Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy offers Boxing and Wrestling instruction. Boxing coach Mark Allen is a Chicago Golden Gloves champion and has an MMA record of 5-1. He is also a blue belt in BJJ. Mark stresses the importance of a good foundation in the art of boxing. Footwork, body movement and proper punching techniques are all taught every Thursday night. Wrestling coach Chad Surles has over twenty years of grappling experience. He is an accomplished wrestler and jiu-jitsu practitioner. Chad teaches wrestling throws and takedowns every Thursday night after Mark’s boxing class.
PHILOSOPHY: The philosophy behind the training at Valko BJJ Academy is that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can and will improve. All classes are beginner friendly and all students are encouraged to help each other to learn and grow as a team. The progress of the student is of the utmost importance at Valko BJJ Academy. The teaching method is simple and effective; one position is started at the beginning of the week and is expanded on for the rest of the week and often the week after. A student attending class on a somewhat regular basis can expect to learn basic techniques from any given position, expand on those techniques throughout the week, and drill these techniques until the student has a very solid grasp of what can and cannot be done from various positions.
Since progress of the student is top priority, a curriculum has been devised for white belts to reach blue belts. This curriculum can be thought of as a road map for advancement. Promotion is not based on time put in or amount of money spent, or some abstract idea of who deserves what. Ability to apply the techniques and to understand how and when these techniques work is the criteria for advancement.
ACADEMY: Valko Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy is located at 401 W. Ontario, inside the Symmetry Center in the heart of Chicago. Students of Jiu-jitsu need a clean, safe, and friendly environment in which to train. The mats at Valko BJJ are sanitized everyday, gym includes showers and sauna.
Your first class is free. We understand the importance of new students to be comfortable and confident in our academy, so a free trial class is available to anyone interested. New students do not need to sign a contract and there is no start up fee. Payments are handled one of three ways; collected monthly, in six-month increments, or in ten-class packages. Gis, rashguards, and shorts are available within the academy.
