Home › Illinois › North Aurora › Carlson Gracie MMA
Carlson Gracie MMA
4.7 ★★★★★ 34 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in North Aurora, Illinois
Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.
Plan your first class
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Fitness & conditioning muay thai fitness and cardio classes — a serious workout you can do without ever having to spar
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule carlsongracie-mma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (630) 945-6383
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 6–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“They have a great way of breaking down techniques and making them easy to understand, which is really helpful for beginners like me.”
“My kids have been training for 1 1/2 years and love it here!”
“I love the classes consisting of technique training and then the optional striking sparring and BJJ rolling.”
“Together we explored the idea of putting Wing Chun fighters in vale tudo competition and successfully put one of them in the ring a number of years ago.”
“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”
“This is a great place for law enforcement to learn self defense, and it's also a great place for the casual person to get a great workout and learn some new tricks.”
Other martial arts here
“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”
“I highly recommend if you want to either learn for the first time or advance your traing in BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing, mma or all the above come to this gym you won't regret it.”
“Jeff and Brian are the best in the business at getting fighters ready for battle in both jiu jitsu and mma.”
What members say
“Jeff Neal is such an amazing coach with a very vast knowledge of MMA, boxing and Brazilian ju jitsu.”
“They have a great way of breaking down techniques and making them easy to understand, which is really helpful for beginners like me.”
“This gym is more than just a place to come and get a work out it's a family and I've been accepted and treated amazing since I've joined.”
“They have a great way of breaking down techniques and making them easy to understand, which is really helpful for beginners like me.”
“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”
“I love the classes consisting of technique training and then the optional striking sparring and BJJ rolling.”
From the reviews
Carlson Gracie Aurora is the best place to train in. I personally owe all my gratitude and respect to this place for not only giving me a place to train but teaching me how to stay dedicated to all my goals. Jeff Neal is such an amazing coach with a very vast knowledge of MMA, boxing and Brazilian ju jitsu.
Carlson Gracie North Aurora is an exceptional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym with a team of knowledgeable and experienced instructors, including Brian Bishop and Jeff Neal. Both of them are highly skilled and dedicated to helping their students reach their full potential.
I’ve been a member of this gym for 5+ years so I’m obviously very happy with it. I love the classes consisting of technique training and then the optional striking sparring and BJJ rolling. The people are great as well. MMA people are kind, hard working, and very helpful.
I have known Professor Jeff Neal for over 20 years and have a great deal of respect for him as both a martial artist and a teacher. I first met Jeff when he was a student at my Wing Chun school in Chicago's Old Town in the early 90s. He was a good, conscientious student and did well both training and sparring.
New to muay thai? Start at Carlson Gracie MMA
Carlson Gracie MMA comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at Carlson Gracie MMA
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More muay thai gyms near North Aurora
Dominion MMA
4.9 ★★★★★ 273 reviews
FIT & FIGHT GYM
5 ★★★★★ 55 reviews
🥊 Free trial class — check their site
Rocky's Dojo & Gym Inc
5 ★★★★★ 27 reviews