Clean gym, friendly people, great jiu jitsu. Whats not to like? I dropped into Rio Jiu Jitsu while in Chicago for work. The vibe is extremely friendly and supportive. The talent was top-notch and I learned a lot. Drop in and support them!

Highly knowledgeable instruction for sure BUT Pete has an ugly side. After seeing him scream at a student and belittling him in front of the entire class for at least 10 minutes, I never went back. It was a really shameful display. Anyone in a teaching position of power like that needs to be able to check their energy.

Rio is a great place to train. The instructors are knowledgeable and care about their students learning, not just filling classes. Many of the upper belts are willing to show you techniques, even during open rolling time, and there is a general atmosphere of everyone being on the same journey to improve.

Great atmosphere accompanied by even better people! Truly a place to learn and get in shape, come on down!

Proud to say my wife, two boys and I are all members of Pete the Greeks Rio Jiu Jitsu. Great instruction for kids and adults and a great community. A practical martial art for men, women, and children of all ages. Clean facility and friendly staff.

Been training at RIO Jiu Jitsu for about a year and half and couldn’t be happier! Pete The Greek and the whole team are top notch instructors. It’s quickly become my second home and the team is like family now. I highly recommend this academy for any looking to learn and train BJJ! Wristlock The World!

Pete the Greek’s experience and knowledge has helped both my son and myself experience personal growth and betterment. Jiu jitsu offers a great practice of mindfulness and competence in controlling one’s own body—as well as someone else’s.

My kids have been training at Rio for 2.5 years and have gained so much confidence! They have a blast training, and Im happy theyre getting real world skills for protecting themselves. I decided to join 1.5 years ago, and Im hooked! Its a great community, and the people I train with have really helped me grow my skills and my confidence!

Hands the best jiu jitsu school in the city

Pete and his students were very welcoming and knowledgeable. Great atmosphere with guys who really know what they’re doing. I highly recommend this group to any Jiu Jitsu beginner or veteran alike.

I’ve been training at Rio Jiu Jitsu in Chicago for the last 5 years, everyone on the team and the instructor, Pete The Greek, have made me feel like family since day one. I tell everyone that’s interested in learning a martial art or anyone interested in grappling and Jiu jitsu to try our school out, you will not be disappointed! I’ve learned a tremendous amount these last couple years and can’t see myself training anywhere else! Come give Rio a try and always wristlock the world!

Petes the best. Great people clean facilities. Kids have a ton of fun. Highly recommend for both new students and experienced.

I came here for a Saturday open mat. The new facility is very nice, with a huge high quality (supple enough to do judo & wrestling on) mat area and showers. Very clean! Quite a few black and brown belts around. I came with my left hand wrapped up but the guys went easy on me so I was still able to get some nice rolls in.

During my travels to Chicago for work, I got the opportunity to visit RIO and I had a blast. Pete the Greek has a unique teaching style and makes sure you get it. The facility is clean and organized and the people are friendly and welcoming. I can’t wait to go back again!

Ive been going to Rio for about a year now and it has made a tremendous impact in my life. The amount of knowledge and methods of teaching that Pete and the instructors have is phenomenal for kids, teens and adults. A welcoming atmosphere that I will enjoy for years to come.

Definitely an unknown gem that I feel lucky enough to have found. I lost a good amount of weight coming here. Pete is a top notch instructor and an awesome team atmosphere. I did join to only shed a few pounds but now it has become a lifestyle. I do recommend this place to anyone asks me where to train. Compared to most places in price, one of the least money hungry places you can ever find.

I have beet training there for 2 years. I lost weight and feel great. When I first started I was a bit hesitant to train due to a back injury but though the warm ups and stretches that Pete (owner) taught me I can now have full range and also gained extreme flexibility. It as made a big positive impact in my life and also my 2 children ( 9 Mike, 7 Lucy) . They both love it and it has really increased their confidence. Its a perfect environment for learning about a healthy life style and functional martial arts.

I have been training with Rio Jiu Jitsu over a year now and have learned so much, This gym offers so much technique and culture that you cannot find in any other gym, The class schedules are the best because they offer day and night classes.This will always be my home gym no matter how far I travel. The instructors provide actual attention and mentorship.You will Progress in this gym!

Pete and his bjj community at Rio are a great bunch of guys and girls. I started about 8 months ago with no experience of any kind, and its been a fantastic experience. Pete is a great teacher who always explaining things in an easy way to see and understand, but I also learn so much from the other students who are always eager to help. The culture is a lot of fun, and Im really glad to have found them. I highly recommend checking it out.

I was super fat (obese) and had no confidence when I started. Now I’m a physical specimen who is ready to take on all challenges brought my way. PTG and the gang are a really good group of supportive people who only want to see each other succeed. #WristlockTheWorld

One of the best schools or if not the best school I have been in in the past 20 years clean good people the best instructor and all the other instructors are great definitely I recommend this school for everybody

Pete The Greek and the students at Rio Jiu Jitsu have made a big difference in my life for the last 7 years. It took time, persistence and Pete The Greek. He recent built an amazing new gym with one of the biggest mat space in the Midwest. The atmosphere is friendly, constructive and he is very careful about who he allows to be a student at Rio.

I train here along with my sons, aged 7 and 10. Pete The Greek is a black belts black belt. If you really want to learn jiu jitsu, both with the gi and nogi, then this is the place. Pete has an encyclopedic knowledge of the art of grappling which he gladly shares with his students. Plus, the mats are very clean, which is important and not as common as it should be. If you are interested in getting good, then this is the place.

I have trained at a handful of different MMA schools and Jiu Jitsu Academies throughout the country and I have to say that Rio Jiu Jitsu is one of the best schools Ive been to. Pete (the owner and head instructor) has a very unique teaching style and it reflects in his students. He has a great group of people who are talented and welcoming to newcomers. From beginners to advanced athletes, this is a great school.

The instructors here are eager to teach whatever your skill level may be and they will give you an amazing workout. Pete the Greek is extremely knowledgable. This is the best place around for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Kids class is great, the coaches are awesome especially Coach Remy, he is tough on the kids but they learn a lot from him.

Very friendly clean environment with a good supportive atmosphere. Defiantly would recommend.

Pete The Greek is not only a legend in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community, he runs a first class facility with programs catering to all ages and physical capabilities. Here you will learn practical self defense skills while training the body through a full body workout, in a supportive, friendly, and clean environment. My experiences at PTG’s has consistently been A-class. I can’t recommend this enough to anyone looking to get a new hobby, get in shape, make new friends, or all of the above. Pete is one of my heroes in jiu jitsu and in life.

The best jiu-jitsu gym in Chicagoland. Great atmosphere, very knowledgeable instructors, super friendly teammates. Definitely stop by if you are in the town.

Build self confidence, and learn the most effective martial art there is. Make friends and get in shape.

The kids program is awesome, they have a great way of teaching Jiu Jitsu for kids thats fun and exciting. This is the best kids program for Jiu Jitsu in Chicago.

I cant thank the Rio bjj academy enough for making me feel at home and like family during my visit there. I was in town on business and asked one of my professors in NYC at Marcelo Garcia Academy where i should go if i find some time to train in Chicago. Without hesitation my professor mentioned rio and Pete the greek. I arrived, and they embraced me as if I had returned from being away. The environment was friendly, the group was funny, and the techniques covered was awesome. They even went out of their way to loan me a gi and belt ( i didnt bring anything because i didnt think that i would have time to train on the trip). Just know that if any of you are ever in new york, you have a place to come train where we will extend that family vibe just the same as you did. thanks again!

Pete the Greek made us feel at home and showed my wife and I some great wristlocks. Will our place to go when chi-town. #wristlocktheworld

Ive been training here since December of last year and am proud to call Rio home. Ive lost 30lbs since I started, my conditioning has improved tenfold and Im continuing to make incremental progress in my BJJ journey all thanks to the team at Rio. Pete The Greek is very well known and respected around the world and his lineage speaks for itself. The instruction is top notch, and all the head coaches and senior belts are extremely experienced (many compete and place regularly), knowledgeable and most importantly dedicated to ensuring that we are receiving the very best training, including seminars from Eddie Cummings, Rigan Machado and Paul Schreiner to name a few. The kids program is very active and the instructors also hold frequent womens self defense seminars. The cleanliness of the academy is well maintained and the training environment is always friendly and welcoming. Unparalleled camaraderie with training partners who roll safe and arent there to break anyone off. Coaches ALWAYS stress safety first and closely monitor all drilling and sparring to ensure that no one is putting themselves or their training partners in danger. The best time to start is now, dont wait, come check out Rio Jiu Jitsu Academy!

Good

Nice guys, tough drills and a beautiful academy. I will be back to train next time Im in Chicago.

Ive been training with Pete the Greek at Rio Bjj for three and a half years. I think his experience, his humor, and his wisdom make him the best instructor, and Sensei that Ive had. Rio Bjj is a great environment to learn for beginners and for advanced bjj practitioners. There is lots of mat space and lots of experienced people that are friendly and willing to help.

I wanted to take up a martial art of some kind for awhile and after doing some research, I figured Id give Jiu Jitsu a try. (Hence, the research being rewatching UFC 1 for the first time in nearly 20 years.) Figured itd be possibly a great way to get in shape and lose some weight. I did some more research on BJJ instructors in the Chicagoland area. What intrigued me about Pete the Greek was not just his fantastic background in regards to BJJ and to the areas hes traveled to, but his loyalty to the people that trained him such as Carlson Gracie. So what the hey, I went to try a free class.Everyone was very down to earth and welcoming. Great vibe all around. What I thought was fantastic was how everyone tries to help each other out with or without asking. Basically, a great group of people over there when it comes down to it. Pete encourages a great yet positive team environment. He has an encyclopedic mind when it comes to BJJ. Not only is Pete great at what he does with many accomplishments, but is one of the most down to earth and approachable people Ive ever met. That in itself can inspire one to be a better person.Ive been training at Rio Jiu Jitsu now for close to a year and a half. Im in the best shape of my life. I went from weighing close to 320 and slimmed down to around 245. No joke. There was a period in my life that seemed impossible. Im more in shape at 35 than when I was at 21. Heck, I even feel younger now than I did when I was 21. Ironically, the weight loss is the not main reason that has me coming back but the sport of Brazillian Jiu Jitsu in itself that Pete along with everyone at Rio has opened my eyes to.So if youre interested in either shedding some pounds, Im definitely evidence that it could be possible at Rio. If you want to learn some very effective self-defense in a great environment, definitely call for a free class.

Pete is one of the greatest trainers