Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts

Hope you are doing Well Ed Mendoza. Jamie Alford holds no grdges. Seriously– catch me on FB when you feel like it.

My 8 year old son just joined, and wants to go to every class! He simply can not get enough! Everyone we have encountered has been professional, as well as courteous. My biggest concern was my son feeling comfortable, as he can be very shy, but my concerns were quickly put to rest as he can not get enough of Degerberg academy! I would certainly recommend the academy to anyone of any age! While I personally take any classes, I have observed the adult classes, and I am thinking I may sign up myself. If anything, come check it out, I’m sure after you do, you will be sold!!!

Speaking from the perspective of a trial BJJ class: I really enjoyed my experience. The manager whom I had the most interaction with (his name slips my mind) was the perfect blend of professional and accommodating. As far as pricing goes, it is very close to what other combat schools are at in the area. My only gripe (to be honest it doesn’t bother me but the shy should be aware) the men’s «locker» room was more of a closet with no actual lockers. The class was small, the facilities were cozy, and the equipment seemed to be satisfactory. I hope to go back again once my schedule allows.

Nearly thirteen years of training and I still love this place. I’m never bored with the litany of styles offered. Lately, I have been training in the Degerberg Blend, jiu jitsu and silat. The Blend is Master Degerberg’s blend of styles. They include kali, savate, wrestling, boxing, muay thai, karate, wing chun, jiu jitsu, and on. It’s a complete system in that its practitioners become proficient in all ranges from weapons to grappling. The jiu jitsu classes are under Robson Moura’s styling, which focuses on grappling with the gi. The classes, even the warm-​ups, are challenging and the techniques pull no punches either. Lucilla’s silat class elevates one’s training to a higher level by focusing on finding power in your core. With subtle weight shifts a smaller person can learn to level a larger opponent. All said, I love this place and would recommend it to anyone.

I recently started taking a Burmese-​influenced Yoga class here and am loving it. My Husband has studied mixed martial arts and worked here for years. Hands down, a solid group of good people, great trainers and teachers. A great kids and young adult program. No frills, no attitudes, just good, honest training. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!

I’ve been a member of Degerberg Academy since 2007 and my experience there has been nothing less than life-​changing. I’m a blue belt in their Blend system (stand-​up boxing kicking and weapons) and Jiu Jitsu which is my current healthy obsession.
When I showed up I was excited and to be honest a little intimidated because I didn’t know anyone but that quickly evaporated because of how friendly and welcoming the teachers and fellow students are. Some of my favorite instructors are Bill, Greg, Mike, Lacey and Rita. These folks are the real deal — very dedicated and passionate about their art form and most have been practicing for over 20 years.
I’ve gotten great friendships, confidence, self-​esteem and a form of exercise that I absolutely love to do more than almost anything else. Before Degerberg I was doing yoga but it’s just so boring honestly. I love the interaction and physicality of martial arts. I’m a very very direct person and training at Degerberg has taught me that’s ok even valuable in my business and social life.
The school is more like a family than a business. My brother started bringing my two little nephews for classes there in 2008 and the older one has progressed over the years to a brown belt. I was bullied as a kid and seeing them growing up there and interacting with others makes me happy beyond words. These two kids are virtually bully-​proof and already know how to blend respect with friendship.
The school’s owner Fred and director Danny have both been incredibly kind and friendly to me over the years. I’m their official photographer too and have nothing but great things to say. There really isn’t another school in Chicago as real deal old school authentic as Degerberg.

Wow! They read my review about the lack of coat racks and Bam! They installed a ton of new coat racks. Not only did the improvement make it so much easier to get in and out of the dojo but it also looks really really nice. Thanks Danny! You rock!!!

I really love Degeberg Academy, they have the best instructors and most awesome location.

I have read some disappointing reviews here, D.A.M.A. Is the best place to study martial arts for anybody, the great Master Degeberg developed a blend talking the best and most efficient techniques from every efficient system out there, if you cam there only for one year got your orange belt and quite than you gonna have a bad review, if you stayed there and found people you can learn from the best, found good training/​sparring partners who became your friends, than and only than you are getting something out of it.
If you are looking to learn how to defend yourself or looking to become a professional MMA fighter Degerberg blend is for you! Also a great place for kids not just to learn how to fight, but also to develop self confidence and discipline, promise you will see changes in every aspect of kid’s life.

I’ve been a member of Degerberg Academy for 2 and a half years and it has completely changed my life. It is what YOU make of it and what you accept from the amazing, encouraging instructors and fellow students.
I joined to learn self defense and gain confidence. I gained both of those things and a lot more… I have accomplished things that I never thought I would do. I thought I was little wimpy girl and was nervous when I started, at a friend’s suggestion. I no longer feel like a little wimpy girl!
The specialy classes are indeed fantastic– I took Muay Thai for 9 months and BJJ for the last year or so. They also offer specialy in Kali, Jun Fan, Savate, yoga, straight up boxing/​sparring, cardio 100% effort classes/​boot camps, and many more I’m sure I’m fogetting.
The kids classes have transformed many little ones, too. «Ninja Turtles» are offered for kids 3 – 6 and «Kids» classes are offered for those up to 12. After that, it’s on to «Teens.» Kids will meet new friends and will learn discipline and respect above all– oh, and will smile and have a TON of fun!
World famous martial arts instructors come in for seminars often. Degerberg offers opportunities that you might not get anywhere else. Master Degerberg has earned the repect of many in the community and has aquired many exceptional martial artists as friends over the years.
The school will take care of you and you’ll become part of a family. You’ll gain support, encouragement, camaraderie, and confidence if you let it happen (meaning, let it transform you and don’t worry about your promotions or a «belt factory,» which it’s not. I’ve worked my ass of for every promotion).

*warning: it’s been a few years since practicing there, so I might be out of date*
The specialty classes are fantastic.
I was an amateur thai and kickboxer and resumed training (Muay Thai and boxing) at Degerberg and transitioned to MT and submission grappling.
It’s been a few years since I’ve practiced, so things may have changed
Ed Kress is a fantastic teacher. He’s comfortable at instructing all levels.
He is also excellent at teaching «the stuff the Gracies don’t». His pancration class is excellent.
friendly atmosphere. kid friendly. fighter friendly. clean locker rooms!

I don’t like this place. It’s located in Lincoln Square, and parking is absolutely hard to find on a weeknight.
The facility is quite outdated: dirty, never cleaned, and smelly.
There is an fee of $ 19.99 for a trial period — they give you a uniform, and you get to check out one of their classes. If you don’t like it, you can leave. But if you sign up for classes, you’re locked in for one year at over $ 180 a month! What a scam!
Plus, you have to bow to the Sensei’s picture (grandmaster) three times upon entering the facility, and bow to your teachers continuously — without talking, and must walk backwards, not with one’s back towards them. I find these bowing actions totally unacceptable. As an Asian myself, I bow to NO ONE — not even my parents. I only bow to people’s pictures whenever the person is dead in my family — out of respect. And no talking? You’ve got to be kidding.
I feel like I’m in a prison camp whenever I enter the dojo. I’m not going here ever again!

I started attending DAMA around 1987, I was 21 years old. I have been a student off and on since then due to work and family. My time there helped not only to teach me self defense but also helped to shape the person I have evolved into 24 years later. To compare the school with the East Bank Club (where I have also been a member) is like comparing apples and carburetors.
During my time at the school I have had the honor of training with some of the best that the Martial Arts world has to offer. I have learned and grown from the instruction of Grandmaster Degerberg, his amazing instructors and some of the finest martial Artists from around the world who have also trained and taught at the school. Many of my fellow students became like members of my family and the bonds we share are still strong over 2 decades later.
In my humble opinion Grandmaster Degerberg’s Blend system is as powerful as it is unique and it is an amazing no nonsense hands on form of Martial Art’s that is useable in the real world. I moved to the Suburbs and tried for years to find a comparable place to learn and train and found only disappointment so I am back again.
The kid’s program is awesome. They teach not only self defense but also repect, personal responsibility and self respect which is the best weapon any child can have in today’s world.
Honestly if you are looking for the finest Martial Art’s training you could ever hope to have call Degerberg and see for yourself!

After reading the reviews on Unilocal,it may seem like a good idea if you decide not to check out the school. WRONG. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s comments but some of the complaints seem to stem from people not understanding what Degerberg is about. Please don’t compare it to a gym because you’re asking to be disappointed. It’s a martial arts academy. Also, at a gym, you’re paying for equipment. At Degerberg you’re paying for something with so much more depth that it changes you as a person.
The pricing that some of these reviews mention is just wrong too and a school is not just a McDojo just because you sign a contract. It has to keep the lights on and its doors open. Be reasonable.
MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts, not just ground-​fighting or Muy Thai. If that’s ALL that you want, you can find it at the school, but the Blend classes are just that, a blend of different martial arts.
As for the «tucked in shirts» complaint, it’s mainly for safety reasons. It lessens the chance of you getting caught in someone’s sweaty shirt.
In addition to that it’s a respect thing. Just like you don’t throw you belt on the floor and you bow on and off the mats, it’s to show respect for your instructors, fellow students and all those who’ve come before and who come after you. We have a uniform, part of it is to tuck your shirt in. If you’re there for the right reasons, does it matter if you have a unisex shirt on?
For the «belt factory» comment. If you talk to the black belts, ask them how long they’ve had some of their different belts. Personally, if the promotions worked like that, I should be about two belts higher than I am. Trust me, you gotta work for it.
There are schools that may be lower in tuition but you have to pay for your belts. When you get your brown III and above, the belts are embroidered over seas at no cost to the student and there aren’t lots of those coming out on a regular basis so it’s gotta cost a pretty penny. In addition to that, the wealth of knowledge that exists here is worth the tuition. The camaraderie amongst the students is priceless. We all encourage each other when we feel like we suck, in martial arts and in life, and we push each other as well.

I trained at Degerberg for about a year, and if it weren’t for moving out of the neighborhood and a huge increase in travel for work, I’d still be there. I went searching for a school that would help me achieve the following: increase physical fitness level and flexibility, develop better mental focus, teach me the various crafts of martial arts, and make me more confident that I can protect myself in tough situations. This school and its instructors gave all of that to me, and so much more.
I enrolled in their Blend I class having absolutely zero martial arts experience. It was such an informative and well balanced class, I really felt it was worth every penny. I also took advantage of the various clinics and special weekly classes they offer (Western boxing, muy thai, kenpo karate) to better develop individual skills. The Blend II class was also fantastic, but catered more toward an experienced student.
The instructors are very passionate about their teaching and even though class size ranged from 5 – 25 students, it’s amazing how much attention you get from the instructor. Any time I was practicing bad form or didn’t understand a concept, I received positive feedback and criticism until I was able to grasp the concept. Every instructor and aide I encountered was excellent, but Danny was truly phenomenal. He always took the student’s well-​being and success very seriously and it showed in the quality of classes he taught. This is also a situation where you get what you put into it. If you just want to show up, go through the motions, and get promoted, it’s possible. But to really get the most benefit, you really have to dedicate yourself to training and class and your rewards will be ten-​fold.
I can’t give Degerberg 5 stars because of a few things. It’s not super clean and the fitness area is a bit outdated. However, it’s not dirty to the point where I ever was ill or grossed out. The weight room/​cardio area utilizes some old fixtures, but it is still functional. Honestly, these two issues never once bothered me, but I’d be doing a disservice to the community if I didn’t mention them.
All in all, I really couldn’t have been happier with my time at Degerberg and I truly hope that I can go back and continue learning when my lifestyle allows.

I’ve officially decided I just can’t go back. So, I’m gonna give my review. This one is long and prob not all that funny or cool. I’m just warning you so you know, k?
I will say that I learned a good deal here right from the start. Ed Mendoza was my instructor and despite his long-​windedness (he knows I love him) he is a great instructor that really cared about his students learning how to ACTUALLY fight vs just getting a good workout like some other instructors. And he also didn’t treat women as fragile creatures, but didn’t single them out either. He’d take in what you could handle and go with that. Male or female. I wish he taught somewhere else as well. He would have been 1 out 2 reasons as to why I would’ve returned. The other would have been the people I would be with in his classes. Overall there was a lot of respect amongst everyone and we got along real well.
Hmmmn, so that’s the good. Betcha want to know now why I won’t be returning. Where to start? My top 7 reasons.
7. It’s dirty and extremely dated. Sorry, had to say it. The women’s locker room is absolutely terrible. It’s super small, stuffy, and just all around not feasible for the amount of women that attend classes there. The lockers are old and many rusted. I think there was an opening in the ceiling over the stalls for the last half of my time there. There are years of dirt above the lockers. And to top it all, one day there was a roach outside the women’s locker room.
6. More dirt. The mats on the top floor are always dirty. I hated having to be barefoot up there. My feet would be visibly dir-​tee after class and I’d have to clean them before putting on my socks. This used to always bother me.
5. The workout area that seemed like a bonus when I signed up, really is not. The treadmills and such are dated. The weights on the other equipment was often split and there wasn’t much room to really workout if more than 4ppl were in there.
4. During the Summer, you get to wear their T-​shirts and your own shorts/​pants in the dojo. This is great since it could get really hot in there, but there is this ridiculous rule that both males and females have to keep their t-​shirts tucked in. Not everyone is comfortable wearing their shirt like that and this isn’t high school. These are grown people kicking, punching, flipping, and they are required to keep their shirt tucked in? Speaking of shirts.. .
3. They only make unisex shirts which really equal «men’s» shirts. You are required to wear their shirt when you’re in there which is fine, but out of all the shirts you sell you can’t offer ones made for the female body? It’s the 2000’s. No excuse for this.
2. You have to sign a year contract. Yep, a whole year commitment. The saving grace is you get a whole year’s worth of time. Say you stop coming for three months out of that year. You still have that three months worth of time to use after your year is up. However, you are still locked into paying for 12 months. Which brings me to the number 1 reason I’m not returning.. .

ready for it?
1. $ 179 a month. That’s how much it costs! Lemme lay this out for you, East Bank Club costs $ 170 a month. $ 120 if you’re between the ages 21 – 25. EAST BANK CLUB COSTS LESS! Factor in the other reasons you just read when you think of this one. Pay $ 179 with all that? And be locked in for a year to all of that? Naw, kid. I can’t do it. I go by logic, and there’s nothing logical about doing that. Nothing.
The people in most classes, great. My instructor, great. But that’s nowhere near enough for me to pay that type of money for what I’m getting overall.

The term is McDojo.. .
Ask yourselves this, why do they require you to sign a contract when most martial arts schools don’t? Because it locks you into paying, even if you quit. Let’s face it, most people try martial arts and decide it’s not for them. You can opt to walk away from here, but they keep taking your money whether you want to or not.
Excellent marketing and wonderful hype.
p. s.,
This place is great at marketing to kids.. . parents beware! Your kids will love it, but you’ll keep paying for it, even when they find something else to enjoy.. .

I have been taking classes here for a few months now, and after having tried a few other kickboxing schools in the city, this is by far the best one.
Pros:
–The instructors give you personal attention and make sure you fully understand, and perform the right moves.
–There is a great sense of comradery and encouragement from the other students and instructors.
— This is by far some of the most intense workouts I have ever done.
4 stars for the classes
Cons:
— The facilities are extremely outdated (the weight room is less than desired, but that’s why I also belong to a gym)
— Although they do constantly clean, it never feels really clean given the constant use and years of wear.
— It is the most expensive of any schools in the city.
2 ½ stars for the facilities

I just started coming here in mid January. I came with a friend, and at the time when I finally decided to come out here, I really regretted mentioning it to my friend four months earlier. I still regretted it two weeks after that. I would get out of work (On North Ave) and look South thinking about how home was south of North Ave, and Degerberg was so far North of both home and work =(
Anyways, my friend lives like three blocks away. He doesn’t care. I told him he would have to kick my ass to get me to go through with the classes I had paid for, and I even lied and said i was going a different day than we usually go, just so I could NOT go without him knowing.
ANYWAYS, This place makes me realize how TRULY LAZY I am, but after being there roughly four weeks, I love it now. I don’t even need my friend to motivate me (er, verbally kick my ass to get out here) anymore.
The blend classes are really a work out, and boxing focuses a lot on details which is nice since blend focuses a lot on speed and messing up the details might be overlooked.
The instructors are all really nice and some are even quite social with you if you’re a student, but others come off as somewhat cold aside from when you need something. I guess what matters is that they’re great at assisting you though.
The BIGGEST downside though is the money. Booooo expenses! I work for a non-​profit, so I really make JUST ENOUGH to cover my bills and a LITTLE fun. This put quite a dent in my wallet for about a month. =(

I recently found an offer through the internet of $ 19.95 for an introductory month for a new boxing student. So I called the Degerberg office and told them I was interested. I also made sure to mention the web coupon on the phone, as it says to do on the website and was assured that that would be my introductory rate. I was told that I would have to come for an introductory class. So I made my appointment, and came.
When I arrived, I was given the introduction, plus what I thought was a free t-​shirt for my troubles. The tour was great. The instructor was helpful; he even showed me some basic boxing moves. The gym looked well equipped. I was sure that this was the place for me.
Then we came back downstairs and started talking details. I told him that I wasn’t sure what my schedule would allow (I am also working full-​time and in an MBA program part-​time), but wanted to try the trial period and see how it fit. I mentioned the $ 19.95 web coupon again, and he said that *since I didn’t have it printed*, he would have to charge me $ 30 just for the trial period (even though there is no mention of having to print the coupon on the website). So I said that was fine, I would just have to look at my schedule, and come back with the coupon in hand.
At this point, I was a little irritated, but still willing to try out the gym. But then the guy told me that since I wasn’t buying anything that day, I would have to pay for the t-​shirt I was given at the beginning.
That’s right — they forced me to pay for a shirt that I was given at the beginning – then sweated in – without the knowledge that I would then have to pay for the shirt if I didn’t join the gym that day. I believe there’s a word for that: it’s called entrapment.
Needless to say, I was definitely going to join Dederberg (if not that day, then at some point), and now I will never step foot in that building again. So enjoy your $ 18.98, Degerberg Academy. I hope it was worth it.

I have been putting off a review of this place for a while now. The reason being that I’ve been a student here for about 10 years. I’ve always enjoyed the classes, there was a time where I would go to a weight training class, the ‘blend’ class and the thai boxing class one night, and then the Silat class as well.
It’s true that classes can vary from instructor to instructor-​even week to week from the same instructor but I always viewed that as a good thing. You can’t always go hard or soft all the time. The instructors are always very caring and attentive-​I was gone for about 4 years and not only did former classmates remember me but instructors as well. One of my first classes back my old white belt teacher stopped in his tracks and said «where have you been? haven’t seen you in a while.»
The facilities are a little run down but they’re always trying to renovate or fix things-​and with such small spaces to work with I give them a lot of credit. The weight room is okay but the place has kettlebells, I have been to many gyms and never seen a kettlebell available at all except here.
The curriculum they teach is a blend of many different styles and is pretty realistic. The basics here is what helped me in the Army’s new hand-​to-​hand system, with many of the core concepts being the same: stick fighting, Muay Thai, boxng. The one thing I will say is that I miss the variety of classes they used to have. On a given day you could choose from their ‘blend’ class, a boxing class, judo, maybe Jun Fan, tai chi, capoeira. I think a lot of the former instructors have left and with it a lot of the small specialty classes have left as well.
While I will say that it is more of a teaching school than a stable for fighters, the school does turn out a few MMA fighters that compete locally and two members of the IFL team frequent the place as well.