Teen/Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in New Lenox, IL

The staff are highly skilled and fully committed to your learning. The curriculum is diverse and exposes the learner to different facets of combat (knife, gun defense, hand to hand, ground assault etc). The instructors really went the extra mile to create an atmosphere where all students are respected and encouraged, coming in as a beginner in my adult life felt intimidating at first, but the culture of the school is such that you are consistently given mutual support by the staff to set you up for success.

The focus on principals over technique has turned self-defense from a casual interest into somewhat an obsession. The instructors are knowledgeable, experienced, passionate, funny, and know when push you to your limits, and when to be nice. The community at this school is amazing, there are great people here who will motivate you to be your best self, and give you company during the hard parts of your of training. In conclusion, I will keep training here as long as this school exists. It has bettered me as person and increased my confidence immensely.

What makes American Drengr different from traditional martial arts schools?
Most schools focus on trophies, belt ranks, or flashy choreography. At American Drengr, we are self-defense first. We don't pretend that sport competition and real-world violence are the same thing.
Our approach is defined by two distinct pillars:

For Adults: We train for the reality of violence. This includes situational awareness, de-escalation, and functional physical skills that actually work under the "adrenal dump" of a real-life encounter. The goal is to make you harder to hurt, harder to manipulate, and harder to freeze.

For Children: We don't just "water down" adult moves. Our staff is trained in child development, which informs every part of our curriculum. We teach practical, age-appropriate self-defense designed to build genuinely confident and capable children who can recognize boundaries and respond effectively to threats.

Whether for a child or an adult, we move past the "mysticism" of martial arts to focus on one thing: practical personal protection.
Is American Drengr for beginners?
Yes. Most people don't walk through our doors feeling confident or skilled. They arrive unsure, out of shape, nervous, or flat-out intimidated. That is completely normal.

We don't expect you to know how to fight before you get here. We only expect three things:

Show up.
Be coachable.
Put in the work.

Our environment is professional and ego-free. Whether you’re a total novice or haven't broken a sweat in years, our job is to meet you where you are and give you the tools to handle "hard things." We ensure beginners have the space to learn the fundamentals safely, while providing separate advanced classes for students to grow into as they sharpen their skills and move toward mastery.
What happens during my first class?
Your first class is designed to challenge you, not confuse you. We aren't interested in throwing random techniques at you just to "smoke" you or make you tired. We want you to leave with a clear understanding of a useful skill.

When you walk in, you can expect:

Structure: A clear, professional lesson plan—not a chaotic free-for-all.
Active Coaching: Direct feedback to ensure you're performing techniques correctly and safely.
Manageable Pressure: We introduce stress in doses you can handle so you actually learn to function, rather than just reacting blindly.
Practical Takeaways: You will leave your first session feeling like you’ve started building a real foundation for personal protection.