For black belts and longtime friends Marcos Estrada Sr. and Edgar Figueroa, opening Valor Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t just about creating a place to train. It was about building a movement, one centered on confidence, courage, and community.
Located at 11321 W. 159th St. in Orland Park, Valor Jiu-Jitsu officially opened its doors on Sept. 11. The gym offers classes for all ages and skill levels, from absolute beginners to experienced competitors.
Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that originated in Japan and evolved through Brazilian practice, focuses on grappling and ground fighting. Practitioners learn how to use leverage, technique, and strategy to defend themselves against larger opponents, making it both a self-defense system and a full-body workout.
“We picked Orland Park because this is our neighborhood,” said Figueroa, who lives just blocks away. “I literally live three blocks away, and Caputo’s, which is right next door, is my grocery store. The location is perfect being close to the Sportsplex and all the traffic on the main road.”
Estrada, a Lemont resident and 20-year Marine Corps veteran, brings his military discipline and leadership to the mats. The gym is veteran-owned and operated, offering discounts for members of the military and law enforcement.
Valor Jiu-Jitsu runs seven days a week and features four distinct age group programs designed to grow with students as they develop. The “Infantry” program, for ages 3 to 5, meets twice a week and focuses on helping kids take instruction and understand basic movement. The “Little Operators” program, for ages 6 to 10, meets five days a week and begins teaching fundamental Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
Older youth can join the “SWAT” program, short for Submission, Wrestling, Advanced Techniques, designed for ages 11 to 14. It focuses on higher-level skills and competitive readiness. Adults can choose between a self-defense or sport-based program, both focused on practical training and personal growth.
“We’re slowly growing our membership,” Figueroa said. “We’ve had people come in who were just walking or driving by to check it out and ended up joining.”
Estrada and Figueroa first trained together at Uflacker Academy near the Midway area of Chicago from 2011 to 2019.
Their shared passion for martial arts and teaching others led them to launch Valor Jiu-Jitsu together, with a mission to make the discipline accessible and empowering for families across the southwest suburbs.
“The main benefit of Jiu-Jitsu is learning real-world self-defense,” Figueroa said. “We take pride in bringing people up slowly. We don’t want to throw them into the fire. We help them get acclimated to sparring situations in small increments, introducing different levels of techniques.”
For those looking to strengthen both body and mind, Valor Jiu-Jitsu offers a welcoming, disciplined environment where members can train with purpose and with valor.
For more information or to join, visit www.valorjj.com
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