A Martial Arts School on a Mission
In addition to our traditional youth martial arts programs, we provide classes tailored for neurodiverse youth and their friends who may need a bit more support than typically offered in mainstream martial arts schools.
By joining us at Bel Air, your kids not only learn martial arts with coaches who are passionate about teaching young ones but also help support a great cause.
Bel Air’s Mission: Inspire youth to reach their greatest potential through high-quality martial arts training in a safe, family-oriented environment where respect is fostered, resilience is practiced, and connections are built.
BOOK A TRIAL CLASS
1.
Fill out the student form for us to better understand your child’s individual needs and goals
2.
Choose between these two options
- 1-on-1
- Free Trial Class
Set your child up for success with a private introductory class. Required for the Little Kids (5-6yo) and Panda neurodiverse youth programs.
For students who are comfortable participating in sports activities or already have a friend training with us.
3.
We will reach out to you to confirm your booking and let you know what to expect.
For any questions, please contact us at alex@teambelair.com or (872) 216-4535.
Deandra Verest
My son who is neurodivergent had an amazing experience at Bel Air. The coaches worked so well with him over the years to help him thrive in a non judgmental and positive atmosphere. I am so grateful for coach Alex and his team!
Brad Hudson
My son enrolled here a few months ago and watching his progress has been incredible. The instructors have a great rapport with the kids, balancing discipline with encouragement. Beyond physical skills, the class emphasizes important values like respect, discipline, and... Read more
Courtney B Wrubel
Alex and his staff at Bel Air have done an excellent job of working with the students at Lawrence Hall. The pacing of the instruction and the structure of the program have provided our students with a well-rounded experience. Working with a special needs student population... Read more
Tony Lee
We’ve had our kids at Bel Air for over 2 years.
This is a kids focused school, not an adults’ program that offers kids classes. This structure makes it a good experience for kids and parents. All the coaches know how to work with kids. Coach Alex communicates well with the... Read more
Edward Webb
Best kids Martial Arts classes I've seen. Great coaches that really care and want to be doing what they do .
Only one in the city, that I know of, that offers classes tailored to neurodivergent kids. It's helped my daughter really grow and gain confidence.
corry walsh
Alex has a true gift for working with kids and is one of the most thoughtful and generous people I have ever met. It has been fun watching my two kids have fun, get better at jiu jitsu, and increase their confidence at the same time. I would highly recommend Bel Air to any... Read more
Metropolitan Schoolhouse
Our school has greatly enjoyed having Bel Air Martial Arts as a part of our Movement program this past year. Even with our population of diverse learners in grades K-12, the Bel Air team kept our students engaged and interested. Many had not experienced any martial arts... Read more
James R.
I'm writing this while our ADHD/ASD son participates in a Saturday Minecraft party organized by Coach Alex and Coach Vince for about a dozen students. The... Read more
Erin Friedlieb
Coach Alex and his team are amazing. They have helped my foster children gain confidence, a variety of skills, and respect. They have worked with their individual needs and focused on allowing them to grow at their own pace. Coach Alex and his team are patient, caring, and... Read more
Rachel Rozen
I have collaborated with Alex for years and cannot recommend Alex and Bel Air Jiu Jitsu enough. Not only are Alex and his team skilled and run engaging and interactive classes, but they are incredibly patient and understanding of all the kids, their abilities, and are able to... Read more
C D
An ideal place for children, but they also have adult classes that are great as well. The Muay Thai trainers are internationally renowned competitors who have trained at the top gyms around the city. The advantage here is that with the smaller class sizes you get a lot more... Read more
Kelly Stone
Beautiful, clean and friendly environment run by seasoned instructors. They are excellent with kids and focus on the neurodiverse community. I would highly recommend.
Cari Hulings
I'm so happy we found BelAir! My son has been training there for the last seven months. Alex and all of the coaches are great. Alex is intentional about putting kids in the right class. The coaches meet the kids where they are and get everyone working hard and feeling part of... Read more
Raymond H.
It's awesome what Bel-Air has accomplished in a short amount of time. In addition to the kids classes, his adult program is great because all his... Read more
Paul Toro
A absolutely awesome place for training and good for the kids wanting to learn.
Anosh Parvazi
So glad I found this academy!
Besides the fact that the professors have great education, they’re fantastic people to talk to on and off the mat!
Highly recommended for everyone from debutant, kids, women and all the way up to elite competitors... Read more
Andy Hoang
Alex is a dedicated and talented instructor with a deep understanding of the needs of children and how jiu-jitsu and Lego building can help build the skills that will help them to thrive.
Caroline K.
Belair has been such a positive impact to my son. To find a facility that caters and is patient for kids that have different ways of learning has made us... Read more
Sarah Colella
We couldn't be happier with our experience at Bel Air Jiu-Jitsu. My 9 year old has always had a very difficult time participating in group classes and sports. Alex and his coaches do a wonderful job of offering structure, high expectations and the support needed to meet them... Read more
Sarah C.
We couldn't be happier with our experience at Bel Air Jiu-Jitsu. My 9 year old has always had a very difficult time participating in group classes and... Read more
Ashley Ganski
Bel Air did a specialized summer camp program for our Quantum LEEP Academy Summer Trooper and Junior Trooper camps this summer. We primarily serve a euro diverse population and Alex and his team did an incredible job working with our troopers! He was able to scale the classes,... Read more
Kimberly L. Johnson
Bel Air has continued to grow as a valuable therapeutic resource in the community but more specifically within the disability community. They have over 30 students at their facility on a weekly basis and teach jiu jitsu at multiple therapeutic schools. They recently were... Read more
Kimi Matsumura
I love the work that Alex and his team are doing. This is such a great program for kids of varying abilities. Definitely recommend!
Milah Rahim
My staff and I have had the pleasure of sending a group of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder on several occasions to Bel Air Learning Center. We took videos of their sessions to send to their parents. The families were so impressed that they signed up for... Read more
Kristyn Chapas Caliendo
We’re really happily surprised at how well our 5 year old with attention and sensory challenges is responding to this program. Coach Alex and his team are patient, thoughtful and engaged with the kids they work with. The communication with parents is great and it really feels... Read more
Rita Kahle-Rice
We're very pleased with all that Bel Air Learning Center has provided for our son. He has been practicing jiu-jitsu there for over a year. Alex and his team are amazing and very dedicated. Alex takes the time to learn about the needs of each child so that he's better able to... Read more
Laura Fillenwarth
Alex and the teachers at Bel Air Learning center are great. I am the Program Director at KEEN Chicago, a free sports and recreation program for kids with disabilities. Bel Air Learning Center has facilitated two events for our athletes, one attending our Back to School Bash... Read more
Rochelle C Zee
If your child has special needs, and you are interested in finding an extracurricular activity that will be beneficial AND be able to accommodate his/her needs, look no further. I feel so fortunate that a place like Bel-Air Learning Center exists. My older son has been taking... Read more
Ipiña Rossa Hernandez
100% recomendable . A very humble and generous instructor with the kids, he has the ability to see trough each kid’s needs and strong points. My grandson is a student here and very grateful we found this place.
Argelia Cristiano
My son has been practicing jiu jitsu for a couple of months now and I am truly impressed of his progress. For those parents with special needs kids I would truly recommend this place it is beyond awesome and the staff and their dedication it’s impressive.
Shanthi Rodomar
One of the best things that could have happened to my 5 year old. He loves jiujitsu. And Alex is brilliant and exceptionally patient with him. Go BJJ!!!!!
PROGRAMS
JIU-JITSU
Kids learn effective self-defense skills and develop their fitness and coordination. We pride ourselves on the individualized attention we give our students and the positive impact we have in their lives. They will build life skills such as perseverance, self-confidence, focus, emotional intelligence, and teamwork while we reinforce positive values and good character.
MUAY THAI STRIKING
Kids in our Muay Thai program will practice drilling the fundamentals techniques of Muay Thai on heavy bags, pads, and collaborate drills in a safe and supportive environment. They will learn the basic offense & defense techniques while building their cardio, strength, and endurance. Muay Thai will arm your child not only with the skills to defend themselves through punches and kicks but also a discernment for when to use them. Program reserved for approved students.
WHY BEL AIR
- Small Class Sizes: With only 8–12 students per class and a coach-to-student ratio of 1:2 to 1:6, your child receives the individualized attention and support necessary to learn quickly.
- Youth-focused Jiu-Jitsu school: With four age group classes (5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-16 yo), your child learns and builds friendships with teammates around the same age.
- Caring Staff: With passionate and consistent coaches, your child’s progress is better monitored.
- Inclusive Learning Environment: Our experience teaching kids who need extra support and collaboration with their parents makes our gym a special place for many kids who haven’t found success elsewhere.
- Clear promotion system: Regular skill testing and access to video tutorials encourage students to develop discipline and maintain consistent effort.
- Striking Classes for Older Kids: We offer Muay Thai/Striking classes for kids aged 7+ and MMA training for teens aged 12+.
- Competition program: Students can join our competition team and participate in tournaments.
- Modern and Clean Facility: Train in a welcoming, state-of-the-art space with convenient parking
- Family-Oriented Community: We are a family-owned school, not a franchise, and we foster a supportive, engaged community.
- Enrichment Activities: We host Parents’ Night Out, Day Camps, Workshops, and more.
