We love Pica Pau! My 5 year old son has been in the young kids program and is really loving it. He was nervous to try something new and "tough", but the instructor has been consistently supportive, kind, and patient. I can already see his confidence blooming! Tam let us try out a few classes to make sure he liked it before committing financially, and has flexible pricing. Overall everyone has been very understanding and transparent. If you're on the fence, take this as a sign to just try it! read more

I have been a member of Pica Pau for 10 months now because I became interested in their striking classes (a mix of boxing and Muay Thai). I'm 39 and have never been athletic in my entire life and was just over 300lbs back when I joined. I joined after my first class, even though they were more than generous in offering me more time to check the place out. I joined because it was immediately clear that the mantra-mission statement of "Train Hard, Be Kind" is fostered in and is alive in every single person at this gym and I wanted very much to be a part of it. Nowhere is this spirit more alive than in Aaron and Tam - the captains of this ship - and all the instructors across Pica Pau's deep and diverse weekly schedule. In the striking classes you will find no better coach than Ulysses and no better group of training partners. There is space for everyone of every skill level here. Everyone has the same expectation - train hard, be kind. BJJ is a challenge I am continuing to work at, but what has never been a challenge is feeling like I didn't belong. I've never seen a single person hesitate to help anyone who needs it. I have never seen, or even heard gossip of, the kinds of toxicity that multiple YouTube videos will tell you exists across the vast expanse of jiu jitsu gyms. The expectation and mission of "Train Hard, Be Kind" could not describe the culture better and it's infused in everything about Pica Pau. This place will rise to meet all the effort and drive you are willing to bring to it. It's an amazing ride being a part of Pica Pau. 5 out of 5 stars, no notes, would train at again. read more

Pica Pau is a great place to learn jiu jitsu, not only because of the great instruction, but the whole vibe of the gym and members. It can be intimidating to jump into a sport like jiu jitsu but Tam and Aaron, the owners of the gym, will answer questions and make sure you feel welcome on their mats. read more

I'm very new to the sport of jiu jitsu. I've been coming to pica pau for the last few weeks and have been really enjoying it! Aaron is natural instructor with very clear knowledge. The facility is clean and professional. Everyone who shows seem friendly and inviting. I've not only learned a lot from Aaron but also taking fun pointers from my peers! I look forward to continuing my journey at this location. I'd recommend it to anyone who's been on the fence like i was. If you make the jump to showing up, i guarantee you'll enjoy your time here read more

If your looking for a technical gym to learn Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and tough competition this is your place! If you're looking to train casually, they're good here too! Definitely give it a shot and meet Aaron and Tam, theyre very nice people who can accommodate your needs and keep they place nice and clean! Highly recommended! read more

I've trained with Aaron and Tam for 7 years. Their commitment to the students and love of the sport are apparent in their welcoming nature to both paying customers and those visiting from all over. If you want to train, come on in. They have something for everyone. Kids: check, experienced fighters who want to compete: check, casual hobbyist: check, older white belts: check, active women's group: check, people looking to lose weight: check. If you are new, they even have "White belt week" every month to show the basics and answer those questions you never wanted to ask in front of anyone. I highly recommend Pica Pau and encourage you to check it out. read more

This school rocks. Pica Pau is the best choice by far, in my opinion, for high quality, Brazilian Jiu jitsu instruction and training in the Chicagoland area. I've trained at and visited many many gyms in the 14 years I've been training bjj and pica pau has some things that set it apart: First, Aaron is an actual encyclopedia of grappling and an excellent instructor. The guy is a wizard on the mats and his technical knowledge is on a different level. He's a black belt's black belt. And the proof of this is the unusually large amounts of black belts that take his classes and learn from him, that speaks for itself. Not only that but he's a really good human being and he cares about his students and their progress. Secondly, the vibe in the gym is so welcoming and whether you are a high level competitor or you just want to learn something new or get in shape or whatever you will be welcomed and you will learn. There are professional fighters and elite competitors there and there are teachers and computer programmers there too. And they are all beasts to be honest. Everyone is so nice but they are also all very skilled and technical grapplers as well. And finally the facility itself is awesome, very clean and organized and they keep the bathrooms stocked with defense wipes, nail clippers/ files, hygiene products etc and that's because Tam (the other owner) rocks and because of her touch it is unlike any other gym I have ever been to. They take good care of their members and guests, anyone is welcome to visit. And if you are looking for somewhere to train, you would be making a big mistake if you don't go check them out. read more

Don't trust your kids with these instructors. Their ego's were bruised when I easily landed double blast takedowns (100% legal at all belt levels in all tournaments) on Aaron and Sal--both black belts. (I am a white belt) Ironically, they then both responded to that adversity by trying to submit me when I completely stopped (followed the rules) when the bell rang at the end of the round. I lectured them both and they did apologize in person (probably were embarrassed by both the takedown and lecture) but still a serious breach of safety from the instructors who are supposed to be in charge of safety. I never broke one single rule at Pica Pau, unlike the instructors in Charge of student safety. The owner Aaron responded to this same review on Facebook with a number of immature and unprofessional comments. At one point he tried to insult my reading skills/reading comprehension. He is obviously trying to discredit my character to cover up the borderline/actual legal assault he and other instructor did to me when they continued to attack a defenseless opponent that followed the rules and stopped when the bell rang. Now Aaron's new response on Yelp here is to claim that I could have "fatally injured" him with a double blast takedown. It was simply executed well and he didn't like being shown up at his own school when I took him down. His ego kicked in when the bell then rang for the round and I stopped and he decided to lock in a guillotine and take advantage of a defenseless opponent. He avoids directly admitting that both he and his other black belt instructor did the same identical actions to me when I was defenseless and stopped when the round ended. Another stretch of a story Aaron gives is how I "picked a fight the next day" with a member of his. I would imagine this refers to the live round when I went against a brown belt my exact weight (215) and we both went very hard for takedowns against each other that neither of us landed. It was a very aggressive and physical round, and he actually thanked me for the hard work and commented on how rare it is to go against an opponent that provides him that physical type of practice. Don't blame me for using the Blast Double takedown that won me round after round in the King of the Ring drill and in live rounds. Teach your guys how to stop it or counter it. I have 0 wrestling experience in my life and had about 6 months of very casual Jiu Jitsu training when I was at your school. Notice how Aaron entirely avoids addressing how both he and his other instructor DID blatantly assault me after the bell rang at the end of the round. His instructor Sal screamed out "Because you're an asshole!" (Again, these guys shouldn't be around kids..) when I asked him WHY he was attacking me after the round was stopped. He was pissed i went right over and through him and beat him at his own drill the previous round. The only reason I showed back up to the gym the next day was to get an apology from Aaron in person--I had no intention of joining. I offered to join only to initiate the obvious conversation that was overdue--what his instructor did to me the day before. Aaron backed Sal and found no problem with what happened. The instructor Sal (300+ pounds) had 90 some pounds on me and wrestled in college and had 2 chances to go against me in the takedown drill and lost both times in the drill he was running. Sal said nothing when I landed the 100% Legal double blast takedown, although he looked shocked and embarrassed. He knew he got beat fairly but probably never in that way. Also, no specifics from Aaron for how I could have "fatally injured" him--although It was probably not fun to be on the receiving end of a very physical takedown. I have been a special education teacher for over 12 years and I can say with certainty that these instructors should not be responsible for the supervision and safety of children. read more