High level BJJ instructor and very friendly environment. Could not recommend this place enough.

I just took my 5 year old here yesterday to the kids class to introduce him to jiu jitsu. Mike commands the class very well, and expects the kids and parents to be respectful. I was really impressed by some of the older kids and the techniques they already knew. They have been well taught.If you are looking for a place for your child to goof around and be told how great they are, this probably isnt the place for you.

The open mat session I attended today was very eye opening. Which should be your experience with every Brazilian Ju-jutsu session. All the practionerrs were very helpful and gave insightful tips and lessons. The gym was clean and a fun learning experience. I highly recommend this Dojo!!

BJJ LIFESTYLE Academy is one of the best Jiujitsu gyms out there. I am a Navy veteran and BJJ LIFESTYLE Academy save my life. I deal with PTSD, I contacted Coach Mike he gave me a free week. It was the best thing that I could ever have started. I am now a purple belt under Coach Mike. BJJ LIFESTYLE has an incredible kids program, Has an incredible beginners program, it also has and amazing competition class and a great class for all levels from beginning to advance. If you are looking for a gym to start off or a gym to continue your jujitsu path I would highly recommend reaching out trying out a class and joining BJJ LIFESTYLE Academy.

5/5 stars. The coach and staff are amazing and professional. Highly recommend.

Was a great gym to roll at i have rolled in a couple different gyms but this one has got to be one of my favorites great teacher and lessons with a good roll afterwards

I did the first week amazing everyone was accepting and helpful and friendly definitely going back thank u

Recently been going through a tough time with stress of sick father and personal things in my life. This place has brought me peace and love. All the people are great. Coach mike is a no nonsense guy that helps not only in martial arts but bettering yourself. Affordable and great for the mind body and soul. Vick

Best BJJ Coach out there. You could travel 1,000 miles in any direction and any Jiu Jistu guy would know about Coach Mike a.k.a. Brazilian Mike. Theres a reason we place first at every tourney.

We are very happy that we found Mike and his school when we moved here. My son wanted to try a new sport and we needed something that would teach him to open up and not be afraid. Mike has taken the time to show my son how to perform techniques as well as not be afraid of his opponent, which is HUGE for my emotional son. We like the school and coaches and how they take the time needed to show the kids the moves and still re-enforce confidence in the kids so we also signed up our younger son as well! We recommend this school to anyone looking to try BJJ!

What an amazing studio! The facilities are great and the people were wonderful. I am a white belt from out of state and I was made to feel right at home. The instructor Mike is a class act, I will be bring my children to his classes when they come to Illinois. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I have studied martial arts for nearly 35 years and trained and competed all over the world. The owner and head instructor at Lifestyle BJJ is incredible! He will absolutely help you achieve your personal goals: self-defense, weight loss, or competition. The people at this gym are really friendly and easy going. Check it out, you wont be disappointed.

Great facility with a world class instructor and great group of training partners. I highly recommend this place!

Excellent gym! Ive been going to this gym about two months and I absolutely love it. As a petite female I can say that I feel welcomed and completely comfortable. Everyone is really friendly and encouraging and the coaching is top-notch. The jiu-jitsu is a really great workout and a really really fun! I definitely recommend it to anyone interested regardless of size, gender and experience.

I have trained at some really good gyms around the world. Mikes place ranks right up there with the best. The word that best describes that gym is RESPECT. You get that from the first time you walk in. You feel respected, and you know that it is expected from you.Exceptionally high level instruction, from a really talented black belt, in every class. Professor Mike teaches and trains hard.This is a gym where you and your kids can safely train without the threat or risk of thuggery where guys come in off the street and try to hurt someone. Mike runs a family-friendly operation where theres something for everyone: kids, adults, recreational, competitive, fitness...its all in there.

Mike is a wondeful teacher. He takes his time to explain drills thoroughly and gives his students time to drill each move untill they can achieve it. For a white belt like me, it can be intimidating to visit other schools when traveling. But Id recommend BJJ Lifestyle Academy to anyone living in the St. Louis or just visiting.

I trained with Mike and the team a few years back for quite awhile and I have to say it is an amazing place to train. Ive been fortunate to get to train at many places all over the country and can honestly tell you there isnt a whole lot better than Mikes gym. It is a comfortable atmosphere where everyone has a good time and almost feels like family. Mike has a good set up too where you can get what you want out of the gym, if you are looking to train hard and win medals or fights you can do it (the teams record speaks to this) or if you are looking to just catch a few workouts a week to stay in shape you can do that as well. I hope to get back over and train with the team in the near future.

My experience at BJJ Lifestyle Academy has been great. I used to train at a gym 5 minutes from my house, and now I drive an hour one way to train with Mike, and the other great students there. I knew after my first class that this was the gym for me. Ive been there ever since, two years and counting.

Mike is absolutely one of the best BJJ Professors in the area. I have black belts in 4 different Martial Arts and Mike is top notch. Extremely professional, he brings in top level BJJ Blacks belt in internationally to help his student excel in BJJ..If you want to learn the true form of BJJ this is the place..

From the moment I stepped into this gym I was astounded with the atmosphere. Coach Mike makes his learning environment fun without compromising his professionalism. He breaks down each drill so that even newer members like myself can get a full understanding of not just the drill, but why it is completed in the way that he shows. Like with any physical sport injuries are bound to happen and when they do Coach takes the time to check to see how you are doing and keeps a level of care for each of his students from what I have seen.

As a lifelong wrestler, I have always been interested in jiu jitsu. Naturally, I did my research to find the best dojo in the area and ended up at BJJ Lifestyle Academy. It didn’t take long for me to feel that I was part of a tight knit family driven towards self improvement, not only in the sport but in all areas of my life. Great, ego free atmosphere for all ages and walks of life to learn and grow in the art of jiu jitsu. Highly recommend.

Great coach , great atmosphere and you will learn a lot how to defend yourself. To gain respect you need to gain it , the formation as a human in bjj is very important in here they have a great focus on that. Great facilities, best martial arts place in town

This is a legit BJJ school run by a great black belt. I trained on a Friday night when he did a Q&A. In the Q&A the instructor offered each student the opportunity to ask a question and he would answer it, offering his opinion and instruction on how to improve. I asked about kimura from half guard and was offered some different ways to work that move. There was a good range of questions from basic all the way to takedowns.If was a fun evening and I enjoyed training. I look forward to training there when I am in town again.

Been going here about a 1.5 years. Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Plenty of people willing to help you improve, and the best coaching in the area!

Tried it while visiting my folks. Awesome facility, great instructor, super friendly guys over there. If youre interested, give these guys a shot!

Jiu-jitsu is really fun and you should try it out. BJJ Lifestyle Academy is a great place to learn it. they also offer a one free week trial. Go check it out.

An excellent place to train. Everyone is incredibly friendly, and the instructor is very knowledgeable and is also an effective teacher/coach.

We have been a part of Coach Mikes BJJ family for over 3 years. My kids train at both the Belleville and South County schools. They always look forward to seeing their friends in class and learning new techniques. Coach Mike is great with all the kids and breaks down even the most complex moves into something the children can understand. Your childs safety is his first concern. This means he only teaches what is in the IBJJF rule book. You absolutely cannot find more authentic BJJ instruction anywhere else in the area and you definitely would not find a school where the kids classes are taught by a World Champion black belt at this price.

Active duty militay member on TDY looking to train at a St. Louis area school. The professor was welcoming and knowledgeable. I plan on visiting again if back in the area.

I started training here about a year ago after receiving my blue belt in Germany and I was looking to continue my bjj journey. It was a perfect fit. Great Intrusctor, great students, awesome atmosphere. A place im definitely proud to be a part of.

I am not sure how people can say that they chose the right school on their first attempt to training Brazilian Jui- Jitsu; I can. From the first day of walking into this academy until now (a little over 2 years) it has been like a close-nit family. Many things that start off great tend to fall off and be as great.This does not apply to BJJ Lifestyle Academy. At the very least we all have become closer to one another. There is no belittling because of skill level or anything of the sort. The head coach runs an organized, yet fun academy. It is obvious that his great methods and ways have rubbed off on everyone. We all continue to get better and that is because iron sharpens iron. I do want to give a huge thank you to coach Mike Rethmeyer for his endless support of all the students.

This place is one of the best bjj schools in the area. Ive trained at other schools and none compare to the instruction and family oriented school. Mike takes individual interest with everyone helping them be the best they can be, never holding anything back. He doesnt have an ego and trains right along side of you daily. He brings top Brazilians in monthly to expose different games to everyone. If you like to come and learn in a high level environment from people who actually understand mma and bjj without the tough guy attitude this is your place.

You will not find a better or more welcoming gym in the St. Louis area. Everyone that trains here treats each other with respect and they help one another to build a stronger team. The focus is not only on training but the lifestyle that comes along with it. Ive trained under Mike Rethmeyer since 2007 and he has a vast knowledge of not only BJJ but all aspects that compile into MMA. If youre looking to try something new or get back into training this is the place for you. No matter your race, religion, gender, or skill level everyone is welcome to come be part of the BJJ Lifestyle family. Oss!

I was introduced to bjj a decade ago in the Joliet area. Bjj seemed to be the best fit for my past experience ( wrestling) and my current job as a state trooper. As a control and arrest tactic instructor for my department, bjj goes hand in hand with staying on the cutting edge of self defense. Mike is an outstanding coach, he explains the intricacies and ideas behind the techniques that he shows. This enables me to go back during my classes at work and spread the knowledge that he has given me to my coworkers. I urge anyone that has had an interest in checking out bjj to check out Belleville Bjj lifestyle academy. It the best.

This school was recommended to me by my first jujitsu instructor when I moved to Belleville because of the amount of talent this school produced. After seeing the way the coach taught I knew I was in the best place. I have trained with UFC fighters, belator fighters, UFC vets and can say with 11 years of experience this school is amazing. To find a place like this in belleville is actually crazy. Look up mike and his accomplished record along with his students and you will know this is a school for the serious as well as the family. My kids train here, I train here and i totally recommend it.

If you are considering or looking for a place to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Metro East area you would be hard-pressed to find a place better than the BJJ Lifestyle Academy in Belleville, IL. Mike Rethmeyer is an amazing instructor. Both his adult and childrens programs are top-notch and the level of instruction cannot be matched in the Metro East / StL area. My son started training with Mike when he was 12 years and had an absolute blast while learning this amazing martial art from Mike. Mike is, among dozens of other titles, the 2016 IBJJF Pan-American Gold medal winner in the Ultra Heavyweight Master 1 Division. The level of instruction one receives from this Black Belt (second degree) is unparalleled in our area. Mike trains with his students each class; not only teaching, but participates and instructs during all drills and rolling sessions. If you are new to BJJ or are a practitioner of the art and have relocated, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you did not check out Mike Rethmeyer and his BJJ Lifestyle Academy!!!

In 2007 I wanted to start BJJ so I checked out a couple of gyms around the area. I chose This school because I liked his method of training and the amount of time he spent helping me. I was the smallest guy in my class at the time so I really had to use technique to survive. We trained in both Gi and nogi. I was skeptical of the Gi at first but then I realized its like fighting with my military uniform on, same moves apply. Brazilian Mike highly encouraged technique and he especially didnt sugar coat the class because of my small size. Rather I became better technically and stronger mentally. The warm up is tough but doable. Instruction followed warmup and we drilled the technique over and over again. After drills we went live rolling which was horrible at first because everyone there was more skilled. But in due time I found my own style and I started winning. The other guys usually go at your pace so you can learn when rolling, each with their own style. however if your ego gets hurt because a small guy is beating you expect to get a lesson. Coach is good for weeding out those who dont respect the class. It was tough and I didnt expect myself to go as long as I did but it was well worth the time and money. For the new guys, it may seem what you learn isnt working but it will come if you just stick with it. It sucks I had to leave the state but it was an awesome experience. I cant wait to rep the school when I get a chance at army combatives.

Mike runs a great jiu-jitsu academy. He drills the basics into you and is also training the latest innovative techniques.He brings in top talent from Brazil to keep the flow of ideas between his school and other Nova Uniao schools in brazil. He is always willing to help his students achieve more and has helped my jiujitsu grow tremendously.

When i found out i was moving to Scott AFB, I asked my BJJ family in Biloxi for any recommendations where to train. They pointed me to BJJ lifestyle saying its the best school out there. After settling in, I finally got my foot in the door. I have to say at my very first class with Coach Mike I new I was at the right place.. i knew this was where I wanted to continue my journey. His instruction is very detailed and methodical. He teaches world class techniques. What i love most about Coach Mike is he has a plethora of knowledge that he shares willingly to all his students equally. He is passionate about the art. Selfless when teaching... even if only one student shows up at the 530am session. He truely is a mentor and wants the very best for his students. Youre not just joining a world class team but more impotantly becoming part of a family. Im so glad I found this school and Coach Mike. This is truely a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school at its finest. Osssss.

I did not get enough time training under coach Mike Rethmeyer at BJJ Lifestyle Academy! I would absolutely still be training there today if I did not have to relocate for college. I would describe this gym as extremely student focused, and Coachs style even moreso. Every member seemed like they wanted to assist each other member in any way possible, creating a strong bond within the group of teammates. It quickly became evident that you can only get out what you put in to a program such as this. I felt that Mike Rethmeyer pushed me to succeed, and motivated me to put as much effort forth as I could. He has successfully created and cultivated an environment in which a diverse (in every sense of the word) group of students can return home after drilling their first, fiftieth, or five hundredth time feeling like theyve learned or honed their skills - and improved themselves and their team. Whether you are looking for BJJ, no-gi, self-defense, wrestling, striking, or MMA, I would whole-heartedly recommend you drop by to check out BJJ Lifestyle Academy. OSS!

This is one of the best Jiu-Jitsu gyms in the midwest. Mike Rethmeyer is a phenomenal Nova Uniao Black Belt and Instructor. Not only does he have countless years of experience he even brings in world class athletes from Brazil to train with us. I have known him for a while, and even moved from another state to train with him. He has helped me improve tremendously with my Jiu-Jitsu and have developed so much more since training with him. He is a great guy, humble, and very down to earth. The gym is great has a ton of mat space, a ring for MMA, and even workout equipment. It is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym, but still offers MMA, Kickboxing, and Wrestling. Its a great environment with great people. If you want to train at a legit martial arts school BJJ Lifestyle is the way to go.

This is a world class Jiu-Jitsu school taught by multiple Gracie National Champion and Arnold Classic Gracie World Champion, multiple Chicago Open Black Belt Champion and 3 time IBJJF Pan Am Medalist, Brazilian Mike Rethmeyer. He has trained multiple World and Pan Am Champions. The quality of the instruction is top notch. We frequently have other World, and Pan Am Champions from Brazil who come to train and teach due to our affiliation with Nova Uniao.This is one of the very few schools where the black belt instructor teaches all the classes. Try getting a black belt to come in for a 5:30 am class.My final thoughts are: top notch instruction; friendly, family atmosphere; and an instructor who TRULY cares about his students.

Chill place.Good people.

Very welcoming