Strategic BJJ - Alton

2248 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, USA

5.0 (40 reviews)

Disciplines

Gi MMA Self-Defense

Classes

Adults Classes

Facilities

Mat Space

Culture

Welcoming Environment

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Strategic BJJ is a top-rated Martial Arts School with locations in Alton, Carrollton, and Hardin, IL. We offer Jiu-Jitsu, self defense and fitness classes for all ages and experience levels. In Alton, Carolton, and Hardin, Illinois.

Reviews from Jiu-Jitsu Blog members who have trained at Strategic BJJ - Alton. Member recommendations raise an academy's Jiu-Jitsu Blog Score.

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z CV . x. cdJennifer Pruitt

Amazing!!!! Keith and Natalie are wonderful people with so much heart and truly love what they do!!!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Deanne Stegeman

I loved my experience taking a women's self-defense course at the Alton Strategic BJJ location. A safe space to learn important skills using #Jui Jitsu techniques while having a ton of fun!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Timpani Treat

Best BJJ in the Greater Alton area. Conveniently located to East Alton, Wood River, Bethalto areas. Great nogi bjj, gi bjj, and MMA from MMA professionals and black belts. Very female friendly! Female purple belts and blue belts train here. I have been training here for years.

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Amber Hill

I couldn't have found a better school for my boy to attend. He absolutely loves it here. He loves all the couches and just loves the class in general. If you are looking for a school, you’ve found the best and I highly recommend checking it out! My boy won’t go anywhere else!

Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Chasity Faul

Strategic BJJ in Carrollton has been a huge blessing. Our youngest son started jiu jitsu close to a year ago and the changes we have seen in him are night and day. He struggled with anxiety which on the outside looked like frustration and anger. He had negative self talk and was very hard on himself. Over this last year he has became confident in himself and has developed a focus and drive to be the best version of himself. We have not seen the frustration or negative self talk. He is respectful and has taken an interest in caring for his body. The coaches at BJJ are amazing, they are encouraging and you can see that they love what they do. Coach Natalie has also took on our homeschool group doing a PE class for the kids which has been great. We love our BJJ family

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Erik Branham

Wide variety of places times and instruction. Can't beat it.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Andrew Lucker

Strategic BJJ in Alton has a great team of instructors and community who are supportive and welcoming of new people. I take adult gi and no gi jiu jitsu classes there, and my daughter takes the youth jiu jitsu classes. She loves it. It’s helped me on the job more than I ever would have imagined. Jiu jitsu has also been fun in ways I never would have imagined. I got involved, because I work in acute inpatient psychiatry, and I’ve been attacked on the job more times than I can count. Knowing how to keep myself an others safe has been game changing the health and safety of my patients, coworkers, and myself. I feel much more confident that less harm will occur when violence occurs than before coming to Strategic BJJ. My daughter has a blast playing and drilling with the other kids, working with the coaches, and challenging herself. She especially loved parent night, when she and the other kids’ parents attended class on the mats, and the kids had their parents perform the techniques and drills they had learned. Probably more than anything, I valued the calm, welcoming, not intimidating culture that has been fostered here. Nobody wants to “beat” new people. It’s a matter of building them up and seeing members as part of a team or family. I appreciated that. I had heard horror stories of friends joining martial arts groups before, only to be mentally and physically crushed by meathead instructors. Keith, Natalie, Jon, Corbin, Colin, and the other coaches have been willing to meet us where we are in our journey of learning and growth. I would have left immediately if I felt it was a club or gym that fostered a culture of bullying. Instead, I encourage my daughter to come, and she loves it. Keith and Colin are black belts, and Jon is a brown belt. They and the other coaches raise the standard of what’s expected from the members. You will get the most technical lessons from the most qualified people in the field. For example, I just saw an advertisement on BJJ Fanatics for a video series from a globally known competitor, but where I knew him from was being brought into Strategic BJJ. Questioning joining? They have a free trial class. Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it, that’s cool. I bet you say otherwise though.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Alexxys Rodriguez

My son started Youth Jiu jitsu at Strategic BJJ - Alton around 6 months ago. He started with 1 night a week but enjoyed it so much he attends 2 nights of youth training and is able to participate in the adult class one night as well. He decided last minute to do an upcoming tournament and his coaches and team were more than supportive! The communication throughout signing up, weighing in, days leading up to the event, and during the event was outstanding. I didn't feel nervous or confused at all and am so thankful for Natalie and Keith for guiding my son to take 1st place in his first tournament! Hoping to see his team grow and he continues to be surrounded by such great people!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Stephannie Hultz

"I can’t recommend Strategic BJJ in Alton/Carrollton/Hardin enough! The coaches are amazing. I am over 50 and stepped onto the mat as a complete beginner. I felt welcomed and encouraged and have learned so much. I often come a bit early and watch coach Keith and Natalie engage with the kids class and their patience is remarkable. The kids demonstrate respect and discipline but are genuinely having fun. I highly recommend this gym if you are older, younger or the youngest of BJJ enthusiasts.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Tammy Flowers

Strategic BJJ in all 3 locations is a fantastic place for kids and families! My daughter has been attending the Youth Jiu Jitsu classes, and the improvement in her confidence and skills has been incredible. The coaches are patient, knowledgeable, and truly care about the kids’ progress—not just in Jiu Jitsu but in their overall personal growth. I love that the gym fosters a welcoming and supportive community, making it a great space for both beginners and those with experience. My daughter looks forward to every class, and it’s been amazing to watch her grow stronger, both physically and mentally. If you’re looking for quality Jiu Jitsu, self-defense, or kids’ classes, I highly recommend checking out Strategic BJJ. It’s more than just a gym—it’s a place where kids build confidence, discipline, and friendships!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Katie O'Brien

Strategic BJJ is an amazing place to learn jiu jitsu!! Keith and Natalie run the programs and are super amazing and inclusive. I actually live in Edwardsville and drive 25 mins to learn from them ☺️

Instructors Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
Amie E

Best place for the whole family to train. My kids 13 and 7 love doing jujitsu now, they've made friends and have fun coming here. I highly recommend it, it's a comfortable, friendly environment for anyone.

Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Skylar Southard

Great gym with great coaches and owners.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Teresa Taylor

Loved the gym and the training from Natalie was great!!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Colin Parr

Great instructors, fantastic atmosphere, and even better people.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Sarah W

I attend the morning kickboxing classes here and love it. The trainer, Josh, is knowledgeable, supportive, and makes the class fun, all of which is important since I’m a complete newbie. The gym itself is clean, well-lit, and the equipment is in good shape. Definitely recommend for anyone looking to start kickboxing classes or get support for their fitness goals with a group of awesome, like-minded people.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
Nichole Holzum

I've had the pleasure of meeting (and rolling with) both Keith and his wife, Natalie. These are two of the kindest folks I've met in my jiu jitsu journey in St. Louis. I train at another local gym, but we cross train regularly via the TAC Team Women's program. I don't have kids, so I can't speak to their youth program. However, I would bring my hypothetical children here. Anyone can teach jiu jitsu, but it's important to learn leadership skills along the way. I've seen Keith navigate big personalities with the grace of a ballet dancer. (This is a fun visual if you know the man.) I've learned a few leadership skills myself from the man. Check out Strategic Jiu Jitsu. It's clean, female friendly, kid friendly, and an overall great martial arts school!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 4 years ago
wesley komnick

I've been training under the head instructor for a couple years now. This gym has great vibes, affordable pricing and is affiliated with a lot of great gyms so interacting with other gyms happens all the time.

Instructors Pricing Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Rudy Smith

Top notch training, Coach Keith is great always learned something and my son loved the kids classes. If you are looking to learn BJJ or just have a fun workout I highly recommend Stratgic BJJ.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Jared Coleman

I joined to learn about bjj and the experience has been amazing. The instructor is awesome! Very nice place, clean and very welcoming. They make it easy to keep coming back.

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
John Howell

I have been a team member with SBJJ for over a year and I absolutely love my coaches and teammates. Coach Keith and Coach Jon are not only great Coaches but great people. I couldn't ask for a better environment to improve myself. Whether you are a seasoned vet or a beginner you will feel welcomed to the team and will learn a ton on your journey. The systems are comprehensive and people are amazing. Go check Stratigic BJJ!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago
Rich Sholar

Coach keith and jon are both at the top of my list when it comes to martial arts instructors for adults and children!

Instructors
Posted 6 years ago
Joy Elliott

Had our first women's self-defense training today and it was a great experience. The trainer, Keith, showed us basic level fundamentals today. The pace is excellent for beginners. Like Keith said, you can't learn all the techniques in an hour and a half, so we will be continuing the class every other Sunday. This is something I have always wanted to do and now we have an opportunity in the Alton area for women to learn not just self-defense but confidence. I'm so excited to start my journey at Strategic BJJ and look forward to continuing training!

Instructors Facility Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Mitchell Gaffney

I visited for a night of training, and even though the gym didn't have scheduled hours, they opened up and I was able to come in for a great training session! Keith is an amazing instructor who has dedicated many years to martial arts. If you're looking for a great gym, I highly suggest checking them out!

Instructors Facility Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Isaac Benrubi

I've been training here for about a month and I could not be happier with the experience. The team is very welcoming and helpful and the instructors are very talented, not only in the martial arts, but in the way they can give a breakdown of how a technique works and how you can modify it to fit your particular scenario/body/build. I look forward to training here for a long time! If you're near Alton, IL and want to roll, this is where to do it!

Instructors Facility Location Atmosphere
Posted 6 years ago
Ryan Fry

I've trained with Keith for approximately one year, and his knowledge and passion of the art is inspiring. He will help you excel at your own pace. Jujitsu is good for training the body, good for self defense, and helps relieve stress.

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Nick Volz

Awesome class tons of fun. Very friendly and patient instructor.

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Kristina Thompson

If you are looking for a good program for kids, this is it! Coach Keith is amazing in teaching and working with the kids! We have been in this program with Coach Keith for 9 months and I have seen good changes with my son. The skills that he teaches them can be used in every day life, protecting or defending themselves and making them more confident. You will not find a better program or instructor than Strategic BJJ with Coach Keith!!!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Logan Wayne

New location but same great instruction provided by Keith Steinacher who has years of experience training under some of the best teachers and competitors in the US.

Instructors Location Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Jay K

Great group of guys! I’ve known Keith the instructor for many years and his teaching is next to none. In the 3 weeks I’ve been here the techniques have come together so fast I can’t believe my progress already. Great physical workout and mind challenging martial art! Top notch right here!!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
James Wright

good, knowledgeable coach committed to teaching the art to those interested

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Natalie Steinacher

Wonderful with Kids, Women and Adults. He just loves sharing his love for Jiu Jitsu!

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Dwayne Rightler

Keith, the owner and instructor, really cares about the well being and progress of his students. He is passionate about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and brings many years of experience and training to the table. Not only does he possess a wealth of knowledge, but he has the ability to pass this knowledge along to others, making the content fun, relatable, and attainable. He is also an active student of grappling, always seeking to further his knowledge and proficiency, which then benefits his students as he happily passes on his newfound skills. As a father himself, he is excellent with his younger students, teaching them both technique and discipline. If you're looking for an effective form of self-defense for yourself, or your children, and you are in the Alton area, I cannot recommend Strategic BJJ enough.

Instructors Classes Location Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago
Clint Hargrave

Incredible atmosphere, knowledgeable and friendly instructors and a fun, challenging work out. Highly recommended!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 7 years ago