I came to visit from Los Angeles because one of my instructors suggested I check out this gym while in Chicago. Admittedly it was a little difficult to find because it's in the back of a weight/strength gym. Like ... waaay in the back. So it took me a bit to find it (thank you front desk gym people for helping me). I had no idea that Saturday was a conditioning Saturday. It kicked my ass and felt glorious. The instructor Mike Gnoren that day was extremely patient with me and gave me pointers to help after each roll. I'll probably be back again next summer and look forward to getting my butt kicked in conditioning again! read more

Sent numerous emails and no one ever responds. Also called and left messages-got the number from yelp. Went on their website and tried to find a phone number.....they don't have a number? What kind of place doesn't even have a phone numbet?? read more

I wouldn't recommend. I've trained at a few places (despite being relatively new to the sport) and found this place to be rather disrespectful. I also didn't get much out of it. The classes were way too big for the number of instructors, so I ended up not really learning anything. They also couldn't give me an idea of what my progression looked like, which other gyms in the area could do. What did it for me was- I asked the owner if I could come five minutes late to a class with one of his instructors. He said it was totally okay. When I got to the class, the instructor was pissed off that I was late and the other students were acting really awkward about it. He also got pissed at me because I didn't put my shoes in the right place. It was very passive aggressive and immature. If it's not cool for someone to show up a few minutes late due to work obligations, let them know. Don't say it's okay and then be pissy about it. When I brought this up to the owner he was extremely defensive and not willing to take my feedback. He then went dark on me when I tried to work with him to develop a roadmap. read more

I am a slightly out of shape woman in her 40s and I was terrified to start Jiu-Jitsu. And I am glad I took the jump,nobody likes being a beginner, but at Copa Jiu-Jitsu I feel encouraged and supported along the way. Every day I feel inspired by the people here, there is amazing skill and technique, and some great female practitioners to look up to. I can't say enough good things about the lead instructor Mack and his amazing team. This experience definitely inspired a newfound love of Jiu-Jitsu. If you are a woman looking to begin training this is the place to be. read more

I first met Mack the Knife when we studied BJJ under Carlson Gracie Jr. and Carlson Gracie Sr. at their world headquarters academy, where I continue to train and assist with instruction. Mack has since branched out and established his own academy, Copa BJJ, in the Quads Gym. The most important thing to understand about Copa BJJ is that it emerged from Mack's impulse to hand down something priceless - namely the BJJ approach of the late grandmaster, Carlson Gracie Sr. There are many BJJ instructors who develop their own spin on things, but Mack has gone farther in another direction - making himself a faithful conduit to the teachings of the greatest Vale Tudo fighter and BJJ master of all time. I remember Mack as a fellow obsessed disciple and it is no surprise he has become a dedicated teacher who has prioritized the preservation of our friend Carlson Sr.'s memory and approach to BJJ. Mack is the type who probably grins at the irony of drawing a paycheck because he really teaches out of passion. Mark my words: if you train here, you will get tough. Mack the Knife passes down the real thing and your second best will not be good enough for him, because God knows Carlson Sr. would have called you out for it in front of everybody. Btw, one of the reviews below mentioned a problem with the mats being cleaned. I can tell you I personally have witnessed someone clean the mat after every BJJ practice I have ever visited. read more

Hmmm.... I don't know what Jacob H is talking about. This place is a blast, and the instructor, Mack, is passionate about the sport and diligent about keeping the mats clean. He may be a curmudgeonly, barnacled geezer (in the best sense of the word), but that's part of the charm -- and he won't let you accept second-best from yourself. Seriously, this place is incredibly welcoming and fun. The students are all true ladies and gentlemen, and Mack is an engaging teacher who really knows his stuff. He's got a fatherly -- or big-brotherly -- presence that I really like; but more importantly, he spends a lot of time on the minutia of the moves and the reasoning behind them. An engineer by training, he's the Click and Clack of jiu jitsu -- thorough yet entertaining, especially when the old stories about Carlson Gracie, Sr start popping out. Drop in for a trial session. You'll enjoy yourself, and you'll meet some cool people. Come again, and you'll learn a few things. And the mats will definitely be clean. read more

My husband was participating in this program and I thought this would never be for me until I saw all the ladies on the mat and I figured I would give it a try. It was a life changer. A year later I am twenty pounds lighter and thanks to the careful teaching of Mark "Mack the Knife" Daley I am tougher than I ever thought I could be. The school is very clean and the teaching is second to none. There have been some amazing clinics where other experts have come in to teach. As a female I feel really lucky that there are lots of ladies on the team who are super welcoming because I was a little intimidated at first. Apparently this is very rare to find in most or every school. I started with some of the free self defense classes and worked my way into the more sport oriented Jiu-Jitsu. I still attend the self defense classes because they are awesome and my coworkers like to come too. I highly recommend Copa Jiu-Jitsu for the clean friendly environment and impeccable quality of the techniques and their teaching. Also the conditioning can't be beat. 5 stars for sure! read more

Mark Daley's Copa classes seem mediocore at best. First, his training space is a fairly messy place...not professional at all. I mean, its as if he tried to put the space in order, tried to get things down nice and neat and make more space, but there is always crap laying around, a bit of a clutter to say the least. Once I even remember seeing a used jock strap and wrestling shoes and shorts lying on the mat, all wet with sweat, and then there are always tools on the nearby railing space, a dirty, unorganized desk and used gym equipment and dumbbells around and near the mat area, mirrors that could easily be broken, and a flimsy rope system that is somehow supposed to separate the mat space from the gym itself; total injury hazards! And not even on a single occassion have I ever seen Mark clean the mats with disinfectant...ever! Now, maybe he does clean the mats, who knows, but I have never seen it. Yuck! A huge potential for a staph infection for sure! In general, Mack is not a person that exudes positive energy, doesnt keep his word, and not a person I care to be around and he will use people to get what he wants. I for one am glad I dont have to associate with him any longer. What a bummer this place turned out to be...at least we can head on down to LA Boxing, located between Melrose and Belmont along Broadway, for a great boxing and MMA experience. Happy trails to those who dare. read more

This is a superb martial arts school. Mack is an excellent instructor who knows how to motivate his students. He is passionate about jiu-jitsu and always goes above and beyond to show techniques to his students. As a new student, I found it easy to get comfortable at this school due to the quality of the instructor and my fellow teammates (who will also go out of their way to give you tips and advice). From a business standpoint, this school is run exceptionally well and is very organized. Classes start right on time and frequently go past the cut off time, if you want to get additional training in. Also, Mack and Jim are good about communicating events and other school related activities to the students. I highly recommend taking a class, regardless of skill level or age - you will be hooked on this place! read more

Let me start by saying that I myself am a lifelong martial artist. I have black belts in judo and hapkido. I also trained in muay Thai for about 10 years. I have been to a lot of gyms both here and in Los Angeles. Out of all of them, this is one of the best environments you can train in. The mat is located in the back of Quads Gym, where we all meet to practice. This school is taught by Mack the Knife, legendary BJJ practioner who not only received his black belt from Carlson himself, but also has trained former UFC fighters Miguel Torres and Stephan Bonnar. Mack does not just bark out instructions to his students, he jumps in and demos things himself. He will also make sure to spend time monitoring the people drilling and rolling, coaching them on how to do techniques better. Gi and no Gi classes are both taught. The only warning I want to give everyone is, this is a real dojo. Mack does emphasize fitness and will get your conditioning right, but this school is about learning jiu jitsu the old school way. Classes are about 2 hours long and are not for the faint of heart. You work hard, but you feel great after. I also have never joined a school so welcoming of new comers. When you join this team, it is like joining a family. Lastly, for any ladies reading this review, there are female students here all the time. I know in grappling, some women are not always comfortable rolling with men. Here, that will not be a problem. This may be the most diverse dojo I have ever trained in. In closing, if you are looking for a great workout and REAL martail arts instruction, it is hard to get too much better than this. (This is not cardio boxing at UFC Gym) The best instruction, great classmates, well maintained mat and easy location to get to off of several buses and trains. The most important part is, becoming the best version of you if you want it. Come on down and roll with us! read more

I was in Chicago during the past summer for an internship, and I was looking to learn some sort of self-defense throughout my time in the city. I was planning on learning either Krav Maga or BJJ, as I had taken just a couple of classes in each prior to moving, and I had done a good amount of research that had suggested that these two were really the most effective self-defense systems. BJJ is basically the core of MMA fighting and Krav Maga is an absolutely bad-ass Israeli fighting technique. This time around I wanted to immerse myself within one discipline, and so I started looking at various places to take lessons in and around the city. The first place I looked at was POW! Martial Arts as they had an assortment of classes, including Krav, and they were very highly popular on Yelp. However, it was very expensive (would've came to $499 for the summer) and their customer service was very poor as my emails had been neglected and unanswered. Something about Copa caught my eye through their Yelp reviews and so I emailed them, got a response quite quickly, and then decided to try a class with my cousins (first class is free). After that, I was hooked. They had an 8-week No-Gi Beginner's Program (two 1-hr classes a week) for only $79, and so one of my cousins and I decided to enroll. Honestly... out of all the places I looked at, this kind of pricing was simply unheard of and unbeatable anywhere. Mack Daley, the owner of Copa Jiu-Jitsu, is an engineer and his wife a doctor, so it is apparent he doesn't do this for the money. The best teachers you find will be the ones that teach out of sheer passion, and Mack is one of them. The same goes for Jim, who used to be a middle school teacher and is also part-owner I believe. They are also both patient and very clear, and will go further in depth if you have questions and desire the specifics on every single little thing like I did. There were two instances where I had asked Mack after class for a short synopsis on how to defend myself from a certain position. He would then proceed to briefly show me certain moves on some of the other experienced students, but not only that, come the next class period he had incorporated what I had desired to learn into the lesson. He will gladly teach you what you want to know. There were only 5-10 students enrolled in the Beginner's program and there were usually 1-2 other assistant instructors, so we got a pretty good amount of direct instruction. On the Friday after 4th of July, I had been the only one that showed up, and they basically just taught me whatever I wanted to learn (triangle choke, arm bar, etc). Mack had trained directly under Carlson Gracie for a few years until he passed away, right alongside Carlson Gracie's son. For an older guy, the dude's a beast. For their Beginner's program, they place more emphasis on technique and on the lessons than they did on conditioning, which is exactly what I had wanted. If you start taking their classes outside of the Beginner's program, conditioning is much more emphasized. Besides that, you get a very good amount of conditioning from that sparring itself that usually occurs towards the end of class after getting into the 3rd or 4th week of the program. Also, many of the higher level students have repeatedly placed in BJJ competitions. On their website it'll show a list of all the competitions the team has won and placed in year after year. It's really quite impressive, so if you have some experience in BJJ already as well as the desire to compete and win, this place is definitely worth considering. Since I'm an engineering student and I'm back in school, I don't get time to continue learning BJJ, but I will be continuing my BJJ journey this summer regardless of where I'll be interning at. If I'm back in Chicago again, you can sure as hell bet I'll be back here at Copa fully enrolled in their Gi program. Their environment is friendly and very conducive to learning. They don't condone a macho, "I'm a tough-guy" attitude, so if you are like that then look for a different place to be an imbecilic meat head. read more

Great instructors! Highly recommended for anyone who would like to learn Jiu-Jitsu. They offer a beginners class that's a good way to get started. Or just start coming to the normal class too. read more

So, as everyone else has said, you really can't ask for better jiu jitsu training than this. As far as martial arts training goes, I'm like Johnny Cash. I've been everywhere. In the past 20 years, I've seen the inside of pretty much any kind of traditional dojo/dojang/academy there is. I've trained bjj for the last 3 years with 3 different schools full time, a couple more during times of transition and have traveled to train with some pretty awesome people at some pretty renowned gyms thus far and without a doubt, there's no team as tight-knit, yet welcoming than the one Mack has built here. That above statement? Not hyperbole. From the moment he returned my call about classes (promptly, btw) to my first time on their mats (which are clean as a whistle) to my invite to their Facebook groups (before I'd hopped off my bike at my apartment my first night) I've never felt a trace of attitude or unfriendliness from a single member of the team, assistant instructor or, of course, Mack himself. So here's what's up: If you want to train with a bunch of people who genuinely love each other and bjj and are busting their asses to get great at it, train here. If you want an instructor who is always encouraging, supportive and funny but makes you work, train here. If you are a lady and want a kick-ass group of ladies to train with, train here. If you are a newbie dude and don't mind getting your ass handed to you by said ladies, train here. If you want to hang out and talk about UFC or how awesome all those 50/50 guard videos on youtube are instead of actually training, still train here. Mack will set you straight. read more

Best jiu jitsu school, instructor, and members you could ask for! Cant say enough good things about this program. If you want to learn jiu jitsu for competition or self defense Mack will teach you everything you need to know. He is very passionate about the art and he will work with you on techniques that are appropriate for your skill level. Very intense and fun workout! read more

Mack is really kind, informative, and patient. But he'll also push you to be incredibly physically fit while learning new essential skills for self-defense. Everyone in the gym is supportive and willing to teach you new things. I've only been to five classes, but I have felt included the entire time. This is a gym where you're going to learn a ton without the macho MMA nonsense--they check the ego at the door. read more

I was in town for a weekend and got to drop in on a weekend class. When I got there, the instructor Pat was anticipating having me as a visitor and everyone - from white belts to upper belts - was really friendly and welcoming. Definitely also felt super comfortable rolling with both men and women; I know sometimes that can be a concern for some women, but everyone here was great to work with. Mats were clean (and were being sprayed down when I left). I'll be sure to stop by again next time I'm in town! read more

I'm not a regular member here however I have stopped in to train on a few occasions. I can say that I was welcomed to a friendly environment that included good solid instruction and clean mat space. I have met the head instructor multiple times and he has always been pleasant to me so I don't agree with some of the negative comments on here. I'm only giving four stars simply because of my lack of regular exposure. read more

Similar to the other reviews, I cannot speak highly enough about Mack and the team he has assembled at Copa Jiu Jitsu - Carlson Gracie. Having no BJJ experience was a bit intimidating but upon arrival, I felt welcomed right off the bat and throughout the class, multiple members of his team leaned in to make my first class enjoyable. No matter what level of experience each student had, Mack made sure to both teach and push them - and I could tell the respect that everyone had for Mack. The mat was very clean as was the surrounding areas within Quad's gym. If you are looking to join a team - do not hesitate to take advantage of a free trial class but be ready to be exhausted. The quote I remember most from my first day(which I completely agree with) was "it will be the best time you will ever have getting your a** kicked". I will be back without doubt. read more

Mack is a good a Jiu Jitsu teacher as there is! If you want to learn the Real Jiu Jitsu this is the place for you!

This review comes from someone who started bjj as a fun way to get fit, and soon got completely hooked. Because of my zero experience in martial arts (unless you want to count one year of karate when I was 6 years old), I was very apprehensive and intimidated when I first went for a free class. Team Mack the Knife were so welcoming and got down straight to work, that I never stopped going. Six months later, I can attest that I'm in the best shape of my life yet- the killer cardio routine would blow any Insanity Workout of the water. I have picked up plenty of jiujitsu techniques. Mack is both kind and a determined teacher at the same time. The team mates have been nothing short of awesome! As a newbie I do get owned on the mat, but everyone I've sparred with has always taken time to show me the right technique later. Doesn't matter if you are new to the world of bjj or if you are a veteran and just need a place to train, you cannot go wrong in picking this place. read more

I would be hard pressed to find instructors who cared more about their students succeeding and showed such a passion for their discipline. You can go in here with no experience and everyone will make you feel welcome and begin instantly teaching and offering support in any way. Everyone is humble, kind and respectful of one another and the environment is very constructive and supportive. As well, the price was more then reasonable. read more

As other reviewers have said, Copa BJJ offers outstanding instruction, challenging classes, and a solid, supportive team. The school's new floor offers plenty of space and is always kept clean. The classes generally run 90 minutes to 2 hours, split between conditioning, judo throws, ground technique, and sparring. Mack and the other instructors explain the basics clearly for beginners, and also provide constant pointers and adjustments to help more experienced students improve. I'd highly recommend Copa BJJ to anyone looking to get started in jiu-jitsu or take their jiu-jitsu to the next level. read more

Both of my children, 6 and 4 attend classes here and have learned so much. My daughter is generally not coordinated and I was not hopeful that she would ever participate but she has made substantial progress and loves coming to class. The owner at the front of the gym is not that friendly but he DOES NOT run the Jiu Jitsu so do not get turned off by him. The child to instructor ratio is great. read more

All the coaches are fantastic, starting with the head honcho Coach Mack the Knife. Workouts are tough on Saturdays but you will learn a lot in every class. They wash the mats after every class and there aren't any stinkers in the classes so you don't have to worry about staph infection. If you train here, be prepared to have fun, meet great people, and learn a lot of Brazilian Jiujutsu. read more

I've known Coach Mack for awhile when he was teaching bjj classes at other locations, so he has always come highly recommended. For women, BJJ is very intimidating. But Copa and its instructors make you feel less intimidated. Plus, there is a strong following of women who train here regularly. I recently started training here more consistently and it is an amazing workout, with world class instruction. If you want to learn BJJ this is the place to do it. Also, the kids' classes are great as well. I take my friend's daughter to kids' classes frequently and she loves it. The kids actually learn something rather than some places that just give them a good workout to tire them out. I have never noticed the mats or any of the space for that matter being anything but clean. Overall, it's a great place to train. Prices are reasonable and they have drop in rates as well. Come check them out! read more

I had the opportunity to train under Mack when he was offering no-gi BJJ training at a secondary site. Although my attendance was at times sporadic due to other commitments and some injuries, I saw a significant improvement in my skills and conditioning in the time training under him. He consistently went above and beyond to help me improve. He has a great ability to help each individual learn the techniques and finds a way to make the skills accessible to each student - this is one of the marks of a truly great instructor. He also conducts himself and his school with integrity, and he fosters a sense of community among his team. I have nothing but respect for him and for the quality of the training he provides. His team of instructors is also superb. If you have the chance to train under him, I highly recommend it. Don't hesitate. I have several friends who have taken his beginner course, and others who have also enrolled in his Rua Defesa (self defense) courses and full BJJ programs - and all have raved about the experience. read more