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Carlson Gracie MMA

4.7 ★★★★★ 34 Google reviews · Kickboxing gym in North Aurora, Illinois

Kickboxing gym Beginners welcome Kids & teens Cardio kickboxing Competition team

Plan your first class

  • Beginner-friendly all fitness levels welcome, including total beginners — no experience needed, and you get in shape by training, not before
  • Cardio kickboxing classes high-energy cardio kickboxing on the bags and pads — a fun, sweaty workout built for fitness and weight loss, at your own pace
  • Kids & teen classes kids and teen kickboxing classes — built around confidence, focus, and fun
  • Sparring sparring and partner work for members who want it — always optional, eased in gradually, with the coach controlling the contact
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves in the ring — amateur kickboxing, muay thai, or K-1
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule carlsongracie-mma.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 630-945-6383

Hours

Monday 9 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am–8:30 pm
Wednesday 9 am–9 pm
Thursday 6:30 am–8:30 pm
Friday 6–7:30 pm
Saturday 9 am–12 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays and class-schedule changes — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Kickboxing classes on the schedule at Carlson Gracie MMA, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🔥 Cardio Kickboxing 2 mentions

“This is a great place for law enforcement to learn self defense, and it's also a great place for the casual person to get a great workout and learn some new tricks.”

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🧒 Kids Kickboxing 4 mentions

“My kids have been training for 1 1/2 years and love it here!”

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🌱 Beginners 5 mentions

“They have a great way of breaking down techniques and making them easy to understand, which is really helpful for beginners like me.”

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🤜 Sparring 2 mentions

“I love the classes consisting of technique training and then the optional striking sparring and BJJ rolling.”

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🦵 Muay Thai 5 mentions

“I personally owe Lorenzo Clark the head Muay Thai coach everything and has made my passion for Muay Thai even stronger has been a mentor and a and gone above and beyond as a coach.”

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🥊 Boxing 8 mentions

“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”

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Other martial arts here

Kickboxing gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Carlson Gracie MMA — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Muay Thai 5 mentions

“I personally owe Lorenzo Clark the head Muay Thai coach everything and has made my passion for Muay Thai even stronger has been a mentor and a and gone above and beyond as a coach.”

Other gyms that also teach muay thai →

🥊 Boxing 8 mentions

“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🏟️ MMA 7 mentions

“Jeff and Brian are the best in the business at getting fighters ready for battle in both jiu jitsu and mma.”

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🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 19 mentions

“I highly recommend if you want to either learn for the first time or advance your traing in BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing, mma or all the above come to this gym you won't regret it.”

Other gyms that also teach brazilian jiu-jitsu →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”

Other gyms that also teach self-defense →

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 muay thai, boxing, or MMA alongside your kickboxing, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 34 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, motivating coaching 6 mentions

“Had the privilege to roll with a purple belt and the instructor (black belt) Had great technical rolls with both guys.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 6 mentions

“They have a great way of breaking down techniques and making them easy to understand, which is really helpful for beginners like me.”

💦 killer cardio workout 3 mentions

“Best place to learn self defense, the instructors here are top level with many years of experience in BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and conditioning stop by and check them out!”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 4 mentions

“Gym is nice and clean, big mat, plenty of bags for boxing, and a really good group of members.”

🤝 friendly, family gym 8 mentions

“This gym is more than just a place to come and get a work out it's a family and I've been accepted and treated amazing since I've joined.”

From the reviews

Carlson Gracie Aurora is the best place to train in. I personally owe all my gratitude and respect to this place for not only giving me a place to train but teaching me how to stay dedicated to all my goals. Jeff Neal is such an amazing coach with a very vast knowledge of MMA, boxing and Brazilian ju jitsu.

★★★★★ — Tyler, Feb 2023

Carlson Gracie North Aurora is an exceptional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym with a team of knowledgeable and experienced instructors, including Brian Bishop and Jeff Neal. Both of them are highly skilled and dedicated to helping their students reach their full potential.

★★★★★ — John, Jan 2023

I’ve been a member of this gym for 5+ years so I’m obviously very happy with it. I love the classes consisting of technique training and then the optional striking sparring and BJJ rolling. The people are great as well. MMA people are kind, hard working, and very helpful.

★★★★★ — Rick, Feb 2023

Been taking my 7 year old son for boxing and jujitsu for about a month now. Brain and Pearson are awesome with kids. Gym is nice and clean, big mat, plenty of bags for boxing, and a really good group of members. Price was excellent also!!!

★★★★★ — Matt, Mar 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 34 reviews →

New to kickboxing? Start at Carlson Gracie MMA

Carlson Gracie MMA comes up as a beginner-friendly gym, going by their listing and members’ reviews. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners class is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or coordinated to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale every drill to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable gyms build the basics (stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads and bags) first, and any contact eases in gradually under a coach's control. Third, all fitness 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 kickboxing class at Carlson Gracie MMA

Nervous about walking into a kickboxing 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 — stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads or a heavy bag — not hard sparring. Go at your own pace and rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: comfortable athletic clothes you can move and sweat in, and supportive trainers. What to bring: water, and hand wraps and gloves if you have them — many gyms lend loaner gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves and wraps (and shin guards once you start sparring). Sparring is optional and eases in gradually, once your basics 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.

Kickboxing is a contact sport. Warm up, pace yourself, 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 Carlson Gracie MMA

190 Butterfield Rd, North Aurora, IL60542

Get directions

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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.