Brazil-021 School of Jiu-Jitsu Chicago

Brazil-021 School of Jiu-Jitsu sits in West Town on Chicago Avenue between Washtenaw and Talman, a purpose-built BJJ academy founded by Professor Andre "Negao" Terencio and Professor Hannette Staack - both world-champion black belts whose lineage traces directly to Rio de Janeiro (the 021 in the name is Rio's telephone area code). The Kids Jiu-Jitsu program is built for ages 4 through 12, with age-bracketed classes so smaller or newer students train with peers their own size and pace. Curriculum follows the IBJJF children's path - kids begin at white belt and progress through grey, yellow, orange, and green belts specific to the 4-to-15 age range, earning stripes for technical proficiency and consistency rather than raw strength. Classes focus on technique-first learning: positional escapes, takedowns scaled to body weight, guard retention, and short submission chains drilled until they become automatic. Beyond the mat skills, instructors stress the resilience built by losing a roll and getting back up, mutual respect with every training partner, and the focused attention required to chain three or four positions in sequence. Families come from Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, and the West Loop, drawn by the world-champion-led instruction and the academy's reputation as one of the most competition-credentialed BJJ programs in the city. Gi rentals are available for trial classes, and intro lessons let families see whether the structure fits before signing up.