I visited HeadNod HQ last week and was very impressed with the high level of instruction, friendly students and the clean facilities (including the bathroom). I highly recommend to anyone starting their BJJ journey or visitors passing through.
- Middle Aged- Hobbyist- Black Belt.
Sabo is the best with the kiddos for the classes!! If you're looking for a great outlet for your child to learn good self-defense, this is the place to be! 10/10. Thanks for making it a great experience for them and us parents watching!
HeadNod HQ has been wonderful for my daughter!! The instructors are ALL wonderful, they have a fitness center too that is awesome!! Wholesome business always will get a 5 star review from me!! 10/10
HeadNod HQ has been wonderful for my daughter!! The instructors are ALL wonderful, they have a fitness center too that is awesome!! Wholesome business always will get a 5 star review from me!! 10/10
Absolutely great place and staff that makes you feel like family. Wish I had more time and money to dedicate to these great people. Definitely going back when I’m able to
I have been training here for over half a decade and this is like my second home! When I started I was 240 pounds. I now weigh 180 at a way healthier weight and also got introduced to some weightlifting at this gym. I’ve made lifelong friends and I look forward to every Sunday open mat we have !!! Best gym in the STL area by far and a fun hobby to help get in shape, get stronger and learn how to defend yourself at the same time.
I trained here last winter as a beginner to BJJ. Steve, Josh, Emily and the entire training staff at HeadNodHQ are the best! The atmosphere is great and the trainers will take time with you one on one to work on various moves. If you are looking to get off the couch and get moving again, this is the place for you!
I had my first Headnod experience today. It did not disappoint to say the least!!
The competition classes on Sunday cultivate an amazing atmosphere. There is a ton of knowledge and experience on the mats. Everyone is willing to help each other get better, while humbling you from time to time lol.
Josh has created an amazing culture and atmosphere that separates his gym from others in the area.
If you’re in the area, please make sure to stop by and check It out!!
Steve and Josh are great instructors, and very friendly. This gym is an amazing facility, and the team is very friendly. I highly recommend anyone to come try the place out.
This is the place to learn bjj! Instructors are about you getting the best experience and the other grapplers at Headnod are friendly and want to help you advance.
Fun group of people with a deep knowledge of the art of Jiujitsu. The past 4 years have molded me into a better human being. If you're considering, stop considering and just sign up.
The team is great at HeadNodHQ. Their placement in tournaments should attest to their skill levels. But the down-to-earth instruction without ego is the best part of the place.
Headnod is a great local BJJ gym! Training here has been really fun. The instructors are great and it has been a very welcoming environment. Great for beginner, advanced, or kids bjj!
Wow, what a great place. I had been contemplating doing BJJ for quite some time, and wasn't sure where to start. I had considered a few gyms in the area, but my closest friends that did BJJ all went here. So, I gave them a shot. HeadNodHQ was a pleasant surprise. Everyone from students to instructors have been very friendly, and are supportive of me being a new student. I am messaged regularly, and was given two free weeks to try out. I feel very comfortable here and plan on being here for a long time.
Enrolled my teenage son over a year ago and it has been one of the best decisions we made. Great role models in the teaching staff and students. They truly care about the sport and the well being of the students!! Highly Recommend HeadNodHQ
Starting Jiu jitsu has been the best and least expected addition to my adult life. I’ve been training at HeadNod for 4 years and it’s completely changed my life. I’ve far surpassed every fitness goal I’ve ever had and made an incredible group of friends while doing so.
HeadNod has an incredibly laid back and friendly atmosphere and some of the best coaching in the nation.
If you’re looking for self defense, a great work out, or to be a world class competitor you can find it all at HeadNod.
This gym is a fantastic place to learn BJJ. The instructor Josh is very knowledgeable and have a curriculum that makes sense. I would highly recommend this gym to anyone who wants to increase their confidence, fitness, bjj skill and make great friends. Best local gym in the area no doubt.
The instructors are friendly, funny, & relatable, not intimidating at all. My son absolutely loves taking Jiu-Jitsu at Headnod. His confidence has sky rocketed since joining & he has really come out of his shell. 11/10 recommend.
HeadnodHQ is a great gym to start practicing jiu jitsu. It is very welcoming to beginners, they have beginner classes 3 times a week that is as close to 1 on 1 coaching as you can get at a large gym for no extra cost. The people and coaches friendly and provide both a competitive and relaxed environment.
I trained at HeadNod for about 8 months before I moved out of state. Coming in with little experience was scary but I always felt welcome and taken care of. The entire gym is one big community and they do a great job of making everyone feel like they belong. The training program is top notch and very efficient as well. I miss this gym and it’s atmosphere as there are not places many like it.
I’ve been doing BJJ at Headnod HQ for approximately 7 years. I’ve found this gym to be a great place for the average Joe to lose weight, learn self-defense, and interact with fun people.
For the competitor, Headnod HQ offers a great atmosphere to build skill and even has specific competition classes.
Headnod HQ has great instructors that are extremely knowledgeable and will expand any persons ability in the art no matter the skill level.
Dropped in on a gi class on Saturday. Students and instructor were very welcoming. Nice class structure. Tough, technical, and safe rolls. Highly recommended if you're in the area.
I tried out a few schools in the Southern IL area before going to HeadNodHQ. It is a highly recommendable school to learn and practice jiu-jitsu. The competition from classmates is highly motivating, which makes it an overall awesome environment. Plus they played some Rebelution during sparring once and that was awesome
We're a couple of weeks in and our daughter is loving it:
- welcoming gym atmosphere
- excellent communication (automated system helps you through the onboarding process, and the gym owner is very accessible via text/email)
- solid price for the amount and level of training (pre-teen/teen and adults have at least one training option every day of the week)
- class levels for kids, pre-teens/teens and adults
- class commonly includes technique overview and a lot of hands on practice/competition with other students
- some advanced students help run the kids' classes
- other parents are very friendly and happy to discuss their experiences
- very accommodating as to lending us equipment until we were able to purchase our own
Some additional observations:
- things move super fast at the pre-teen/teen level as there's somewhat of an assumption that you know how to tap out of a submission, know various BJJ/martial arts terms and concepts, and know what's expected of you as a student at the gym (we did some research ahead of time and introduced our daughter to some concepts but it could be intimidating to those completely unfamiliar with BJJ)
- classes can vary widely in how many students might attend on a given night, which can lead to 1 instructor working with 3 up to14+ people; a really full class can be tough for new BJJ practitioners as they likely need more directive guidance.
- the sparring part of each class is a double edged sword. Its a great opportunity for the kids to get hands on experience in a semi-competitive situation. On the other hand, if the inexperienced students regularly pair up they don't learn as much as if they paired up with a more advanced student. The advanced students rightfully want their time with similarly skilled classmates so they can test themselves - but there's something to be said about mastery coming from the ability to teach another. An 8-10 year old will not likely seek out and gain a pairing with a 15 year old who is mainly looking for other similarly skilled students. Perhaps a bit more coordinated rotation so newer students can get some additional time with more skilled students could yield benefits for all.
All that being said, we've been pleasantly surprised with HeadNodHQ. We never thought such high quality BJJ training could be had this close to home and at such an affordable price.
Amazing atmosphere had a great time. Everyone was very nice and supportive and could tell everyone wants to see you succeed great for all levels. Highly recommend!
I have been training jujitsu for about 5yrs and at 55 am one of the oldest guys in the gym. This is a great sport for any age. Everyone at the gym is very respectful and great to train with. The classes are fun and the mood is kept light. All the instructors are very knowledgeable and always willing to help you with anything your having an issue with.
I can’t say enough good things about this gym. It can be very intimidating and scary going into a martial arts gym for the first time and two years ago I did just that and it turned out to be the best decision of my life. The two head coaches are incredible people and all the people that train there are very welcoming and inviting. It’s an amazing environment to better yourself and change your life too.
This gym is a fantastic place to learn BJJ. The instructors Steve and Josh are down to earth people and easy to get along with. They are both very knowledgeable and have a curriculum that makes sense. I would highly recommend this gym to anyone who wants to increase their confidence, fitness, bjj skill and make great friends.
When I decided to quit powerlifting a few years ago I needed to find a heart healthy, competitive alternative, so I started training jiu jitsu. I walk into Headnod, not knowing anyone, and everyone was very welcoming and eager to help and offer advice. Josh and Steve and the other coaches have a ton of experience and knowledge to pass to their students. Awesome gym!! #mulletlife
I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at HeadNodHq 3-4 years ago and my life has changed tremendously. I’ve made a ton of new friends and learned a sport I didn’t know I was going to fall in love with instantly. Jiu jitsu is now apart of my everyday life and it’s changed my life for the better. I started at 230 pounds and now I weigh 160. I love this gym and the environment it brings. It’s so laid back there. Give this gym a try!
Great gym. Josh, Steve, and Christian are all awesome instructors....they have classes for all age groups. My 12 year old started going a couple months ago and was super nervous about even starting to roll at all. Now, she's amped to compete in the fuji tournament in October. I've seen her improve from not knowing the difference between shooting and sprawling to now being able to escape armbars and rear naked chokes from kids twice her size. All the instructors....and other adults on team headnod....are great with the kids and give them all the advice they need to succeed in bjj. If you or your kids want a good way to stay in shape and learn bjj, this is a great gym to help you accomplish your goals.
