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HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
5 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Glen Carbon, Illinois
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 (ages 4–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- 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 headnodhq.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 314-282-5433
Hours
| Monday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 11 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Ron Eon does a great job of breaking it down for everyone to follow along from 20 year black belts to the first timer.”
“If you are in the Edwardsville area I highly recommend this gym for Adults and kids alike”
“Usually the class structure is 30 min drilling and positional sparring, followed by 30 minutes of live rolling.”
“If you’re looking to join a gym to compete or just for fun this is the place for you.”
Other martial arts here
“Incredibly welcoming place and super laid back, on top of that Headnod has the some highest level of instruction and skill of any jiu jitsu gym in the region”
What members say
“The instructor John is an amazing coach who I’ve known for years training martial arts together and the community he’s built and the camaraderie is a 10/10.”
“Incredibly welcoming place and super laid back, on top of that Headnod has the some highest level of instruction and skill of any jiu jitsu gym in the region”
“Incredibly welcoming place and super laid back, on top of that Headnod has the some highest level of instruction and skill of any jiu jitsu gym in the region”
“Classes are well structured and run, using learning techniques to help you improve faster like designated winner and positional sparing.”
“Usually the class structure is 30 min drilling and positional sparring, followed by 30 minutes of live rolling.”
From the reviews
This gym reignited my daughter’s love for BJJ! We’ve been training for 8 years, and my daughter had started to lose her passion for the sport—until she came to Coach John’s gym. The environment here is fun, safe, and incredibly welcoming.
Great jiu jitsu gym with a welcoming and progressive atmosphere. Classes are well structured and run, using learning techniques to help you improve faster like designated winner and positional sparing. Usually the class structure is 30 min drilling and positional sparring, followed by 30 minutes of live rolling.
Headnod Edwardsville is an incredible place to train! The coach, John, creates a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers and visitors, making it easy to feel comfortable right away. His instruction is top-notch, clear, detailed, and with plenty of time to drill the techniques until they stick.
I’ve had the pleasure of training here since they’ve opened. The instructor John is an amazing coach who I’ve known for years training martial arts together and the community he’s built and the camaraderie is a 10/10.
New to muay thai? Start at HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville 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.
Your first muay thai class at HeadNod - American Jiu Jitsu - Edwardsville
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.
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