We offer world-class level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction for individuals, families, and Law Enforcement officials of Evanston, and our School is a reference for character development, self-defense, martial art, fitness, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for the communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Lakeside.
The Gracie Barra Evanston classes are aligned with the Gracie Barra Program Structure developed by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. to meet specific learning needs from people of different ages, gender, and levels.
Our clean, friendly, and progress-oriented environment allows the students to have a challenging, inspirational, and warm learning and training experience that always make them feel like coming back.
Gracie Barra is for anyone who values discipline, wellness, martial arts, respect, and is looking for a well-balanced lifestyle.
It doesn’t matter if you are a person with no training background that wants to lose weight or learn self-defense, a busy businessperson looking for a stress-relieving activity, a parent searching for something to complement the education of your kids, or an experienced martial artist aiming for the further development of your fighting skills, come to the school.
We are sure you will find our school an exciting and challenging place, that will allow you to achieve your goals.
Our Weekly Schedule
Our Instructors
Professor Marcelo De Souza
ICP4, ICP5, ICP6, ICP6_Revisited, CPR
5th Degree Black Belt. Professor Marcelo De Souza was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He began training in 1994 at the legendary Gracie Barra headquarters in Barra da Tijuca, Brazil under Master Carlos Gracie Jr. and Prof. Marcio Feitosa and was mentored by them to eventually teach at the school. He has …
Coach Luis Henriquez
ICP6_Revisited, CPR
Blue Belt. Coach Luis Henriquez was born in Venezuela and raised in the Dominican Republic. At 4 years old he started playing baseball and grew a love for being active. When he was 15 years old he moved to the US, with a baseball scholarship to finish high school. He continued to play baseball at …
Coach Odysseas
ICP6_Revisited, CPR
Blue Belt. Coach Odysseas’s first exposure to martial arts was through wrestling when he would watch his friends compete in high-school. In early March of 2022 one of his wrestler friends suggested he tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a couple weeks later he walked in Gracie Barra Deerfield and immediately fell in love with the art. …