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Freeport Martial Arts Academy, a 5,000-square-foot martial arts training facility, opened in Freeport, Illinois, in October 2022, bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling to the Freeport community.

Since then, our crew has grown to over 50 members, including men, women, and kids, who love training together and growing as individuals and as a team.

Freeport Martial Arts is a Gracie Allegiance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu affiliate and offers a variety of martial arts programs in Freeport for adults, teens, and kids ages 5-12, including:

• Adults Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) & Submission Wrestling
• Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) & Submission Wrestling
• Women’s Self-Defense

Since its founding in October 2022, Freeport Martial Arts has become Freeport’s grappling headquarters and the largest martial arts academy in Stephenson County.

Try One Week Free

Experience our community firsthand with a free week of classes.

Enter your name, phone number, email address, and program of interest to start your Jiu-Jitsu Journey.

We will contact you soon to book your first class. We look forward to training with you!

Professor John Garvens is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and the owner and head instructor of Freeport Martial Arts. He is the only International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation-certified black belt in Freeport and Stephenson County.

Professor Adem Redzovic is a Fourth-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and the owner and head instructor of the Downtown Jiu Jitsu Club in Chicago, Illinois; Professor Clark Gracie is a Fourth-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, son of Ninth-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Red Belt Carley Gracie, the founder of the Gracie Allegiance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team, and the owner and head instructor of the Clark Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in San Diego, California.

John grew up in Freeport and graduated from Freeport High School in May 2003 and from Illinois State University in May 2007. A military veteran, John served in the United States Army Reserve from March 2004 through March 2016.

John lives in Freeport, Illinois, with his dogs, Summer and Winston, and is the owner and principal architect at Garvens Consulting, a Salesforce consulting firm. Outside of running his businesses and training, he enjoys reading, writing, and performing music in regional concert bands and jazz bands.

Thomas Foydel is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt who instructs and trains at Freeport Martial Arts. In 2018, he began training under Jeff Serafin and has trained under Alan Stockman and John Garvens since 2022.

Thomas has also trained in boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, MMA, and taekwondo. His main hustle is software engineering, and his hobbies include gardening, music, and hiking

Summer has been our loyal gym dog since Freeport Martial Arts opened in October 2022. She loves jiu-jitsu and wrestling, but she gets most excited when we play chase. Summer sleeps on her bed when she is not grappling or zooming around the gym.

Start your Jiu-Jitsu Journey

Try One Week Free

Try one free week of classes! Bring a friend, family member, significant other, or someone else to double the fun.

Under 18? Your parent or legal guardian must: (1) complete your member application; and (2) attend your first day of training.

Questions? Please contact us and ask!