Lion's Den Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — Local services in Homer Glen

I started Jiu-Jitsu at age 51 & haven’t looked back since. I joined Lion’s Den a little over a yr ago & in January 2025, six of my buddies & even some of their kids—came over from our old gym to join me. At first, I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive. Back at our previous facility, we’d been told to be cautious of other gyms because safety & cleanliness weren’t always a priority. So for the first couple of wks, I just sat back, watched the techniques, learned the etiquette, checked out the different age groups & took in the overall vibe.

Right now, we’ve got six black belts on the team, each bringing their own experience, skill-sets & perspective to the mats. What stands out even more is how genuinely friendly & welcoming the coaches are. There’s zero tolerance for ego or entitlement here—it’s all about respect & growth.

The black belt coaches create an environment where everyone feels comfortable, no matter your experience level. They’re patient, willing to work w/ you one-on-one, but also give you the freedom to figure things out at your own pace. They’ll even adjust techniques for anyone dealing w/ mobility or dexterity challenges, which has been huge for me personally.

Watching your own progress is incredibly satisfying—it’s a real confidence boost, especially when it comes through in competition. I’ve had the chance to travel & compete w/ some of the squad, including this past weekend at IBJJF Worlds in Vegas, where Fabian was right there by my side.

For me, team building is everything. United by discipline & driven by passion, we grow stronger together—on the mats & beyond.

It's rare to see a plethora of on schedule training. One of the things I love about Lion’s Den is how many training times there are every day—not to mention all the open mats (even three a day on weekends!). I’ve been blessed to be able to train multiple times a day, seven days a wk, which is rare.

The setup is awesome too: free, convenient parking, a 24-hour fitness center w/ Olympic weights, showers & a sauna. The mats are spotless, & the camaraderie is next-level.

What really sets Lion’s Den apart is it's casusl culture. No ego, no hierarchy, no money-grab seminars or belt promotions—no bowing or you're only allowed to call me professor... just a genuine, (let's train) welcoming environment.

Fabian and Mo are like family, skilled, no BS stand-up dudes. The other black belt coaches—Matt, Higgins, James, Dan, and Troy—are top-notch.

If you’re thinking about trying Jiu-Jitsu, I can’t recommend Lion’s Den enough. I hope to see you on the mats one day—not as an opponent, but as a training partner. Your only regret will be not...

I started training at Lion's Den a month after it opened and it has been one of my greatest decisions.

Before Lion's Den, I was exploring gyms in the chicagoland subarban areas in the winter. They offered a trial class and I enjoyed it, but then came time to sign up. They had annual contacts that couldn't be broken, registration fees, and weird training times. A huge investment for something I didn't know if I'd fully commit to, so I abandoned that and my searching.

Lo and behold, in late april of 2023 I see Lion's Den. We intrigued me was the 24-hour scheduling. It peak my curiosity as to how that's possible. It turns out, Lion's Den is connected to a fitness gym that runs 24-hours with a sauna and showers.

This made me reach and out via email and I recieved a prompt email within hours. I questioned them about fees, contracts, and scheduling and they had everything I was looking for: -One WEEK trial (not a day). -Month-to-Month payments (not annual) so I could cancel whenever and for whatever reason. -No weird registration fees

You simply pay for the monthly membership and come whenever you could. I also train with my little brother so I asked about package deals, to my surprise they had family deals!

It was a no-brainer to give them a go and I haven't regretted it since. The coaches are hard working and accomodating. They offer so many services from striking, to grappling, to self-defense, to traditional Gi, to no Gi, to private lessons.

There is no nonsense drama here and everyone wants to train and get better. Love these guys and everyone that...

If I could give six stars, I absolutely would. Fabian and Mo are outstanding!

A little background - about three years ago, I started my Jiu-jitsu journey with my boys at a “big-name” gym. Unfortunately, the training felt limited, the environment never truly felt like home, and the costs were extremely high.

Since joining Lion’s Den about eight months ago, the experience has been completely different. This gym offers real training - whether your goal is to improve in Jiu-jitsu, striking, or self-defense, this is the place to be.

From day one, Mo made my boys feel comfortable and welcome. He’s easygoing, fantastic with kids, and has created an environment where my sons look forward to training. What once felt like an obligation has become an opportunity for them to grow, improve, and genuinely enjoy themselves.

What stands out most about Lion’s Den is the community - it attracts great people, and that positive energy is felt every time we walk in. On top of that, the amenities are excellent: a locker room, sauna, weight room, massage chair, smoothie bar, and more.

Thank you, Lion’s Den, for creating such an incredible environment for both training and...