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Gracie Barra Downers Grove

4.9 ★★★★★ 189 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Downers Grove, Illinois

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fight team

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • 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
  • Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule gbdownersgrove.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 630-964-1414

Hours

Monday 9 am–9 pm
Tuesday 10 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 9 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 10 am–2 pm
Sunday 11:30 am–1:30 pm

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at Gracie Barra Downers Grove, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 3 mentions

“Luckily, the beginners classes are tailored to help you learn the fundamentals in a safe, friendly environment.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

🧒 Kids Muay Thai 9 mentions

“Upon walking in, we were greeted by Coach Vince with a smile and a handshake that put to rest any anxiety my son may have had.”

All gyms that run kids muay thai →

🛡️ Self-Defense 4 mentions

“All of the coaches are professional and provide the highest standards for BJJ, self-defense, and kickboxing.”

All gyms that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Gracie Barra Downers Grove — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing

“All of the coaches are professional and provide the highest standards for BJJ, self-defense, and kickboxing.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) 10 mentions

“Even though joining a new BJJ gym can often be nerve-racking, everyone here has been extremely friendly and welcoming from Day 1.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu (bjj) →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 189 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 6 mentions

“The professors and coaches here are amazing and really helpful, especially Coach Vince he is the best.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 10 mentions

“Professor Carlos and Professor Pedro provide such a welcoming environment and truly believe in and have pride for the Gracie Barra name.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 18 mentions

“Professor Carlos and Professor Pedro provide such a welcoming environment and truly believe in and have pride for the Gracie Barra name.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“The instructors are top-notch - they are patient, highly knowledgeable, and pay close attention to detail to make sure students are learning the right way.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 2 mentions

“I feel more confident and am in better shape than I was 4 months ago, as well (the classes are great for cardio and WAY more fun than killing time on a treadmill).”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 6 mentions

“Five Stars – Great Gym and Great People I visited from Dundee, Scotland, and was made to feel incredibly welcome by both the instructors and students.”

From the reviews

I switched from the WL location to DG because of work. Since day 1 I have felt so welcomed at DG. The professors and coaches here are amazing and really helpful, especially Coach Vince he is the best. Everyone I train with are super friendly and wants you to succeed and that combination is hard to find.

★★★★★ — Vishnu, Oct 2023

Professor Carlos and Professor Pedro provide such a welcoming environment and truly believe in and have pride for the Gracie Barra name. All of the coaches are professional and provide the highest standards for BJJ, self-defense, and kickboxing. BEST decision we have made in our fitness and wellness journey.

★★★★★ — Sarah, Jan 2021

My boys are members of the new lenox gracie barra and they love it and they attended summer camp at the downers grove this year and begged for more . The coaches are amazing professors are amazing we have visited here for a few activities and they always want to return ,but what are family loves the most is i dont…

★★★★★ — Sheral, Jul 2020

Started training at Gracie Barra Downers Grove three months ago and have absolutely loved it. All the coaches/professors have made the experience memorable and productive. I feel like I've learned so much in the past three months and I'm excited to begin competing a couple months from now.

★★★★★ — Christian, Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 189 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Gracie Barra Downers Grove

Gracie Barra Downers Grove comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first muay thai class at Gracie Barra Downers Grove

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.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Gracie Barra Downers Grove

152 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL60515

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.