I've decided to get off my lazy ass, and start doing BJJ. I've narrowed my choices to 2 schools. What's your opinion UG?
School 1 Torres Martial Arts. Carlson Jr. blackbelt. About 12 minutes to the school door to door. Great teacher and all round good guy. Lots of mat space and competitive students.
School 2 Andre Maneco BJJ. 2nd degree Carlson Jr. blackbelt.
Taught at Team Carlson Gracie (Chicago & California from 2005-2009. Taught at Torres Martial Arts from 2009-2012. About an hour drive, with Chicago traffic. Have to look for parking spot, but seems there are enough available. He's also starting his own association. Decent amount of mat space, although the gym is still under construction.
www.andremanecobjj.com
Opinions are wanted.. Thanks UG.
lol 12 mins for the win
What if any benefits do you see from 5x more driving time to get to the second place? If you have never trained before, or have no alliances to either instructor. It seems like the answer is clear. Both instructors sound legit and both sound like they have a similar program.
Unless something is important about the second place, choose the closer one 
Both of your opinions is what I was thinking. Maybe just getting in when the school is smaller, and getting more attention when the classes are smaller. Also I've taken a few classes at Torres before and a couple of the higher belts looked like "What the fuck are you doing here, this is our school". But I also have read threads about where the blues and above feel like as a new white belt, you're not going to last anyway, so they don't bother to learn your name until you've been there at least 6 months. That might just be the case there.
closer for sure, but if you are unsure the try both school for an intro class and see which you like better. if you like the second school 45 minutes each way more then go with that one. i know that if i had the choice i wouldnt even check out school number two.
Torres'.
the distance alone clinches it.
I might go to a place if it was a difference of 15 min or less (e.g. if maneco was only 30min away and torres 15 min).
it's a slam dunk to go to the closer school if both have BB and a good amount of folks to roll with.
Miguel's. I am biased as Miguel is an old friend and training partner of mine, but even if he wasn't with the distance you can not beat Miguel's in your place. Maneco is definitely a beast as well but with the traffic alone getting there consistently will be brutal.
Only drive further if the instruction and group of students is significantly better.
Torres! I thonk you might have been there on an off day or something. Because everytime ive driven an hour and a half and dropped in to take a class there the other students have been nothing but extremly nice and engaging. Miguel is an amazingly technical and passionate teacher. And turk his new instructor is very energenic and knowledgeable. Totally worth it imho. Neat detail: the very bjjprofessor who posts on this forum is a purple belt under miguel.
train at Torres and then do a monthly drop-in at maneco's.
both being Carlson jr. bb's, it's all in the family and you get to switch it up here and there.
If you're going to Maneco's, you might as well drive 10 more minutes and go to Carlson Jr's.
Serafin - Miguel's. I am biased as Miguel is an old friend and training partner of mine, but even if he wasn't with the distance you can not beat Miguel's in your place. Maneco is definitely a beast as well but with the traffic alone getting there consistently will be brutal.
Jeff, thanks for your opinion. If you school wasn't so damn far up north, I would have checked it out, too.
PayItForward - train at Torres and then do a monthly drop-in at maneco's.
both being Carlson jr. bb's, it's all in the family and you get to switch it up here and there.
I don't think either one is associated with Jr. any more. I could be wrong about Miguel, though.
rebelyell - Torres! I thonk you might have been there on an off day or something. Because everytime ive driven an hour and a half and dropped in to take a class there the other students have been nothing but extremly nice and engaging. Miguel is an amazingly technical and passionate teacher. And turk his new instructor is very energenic and knowledgeable. Totally worth it imho. Neat detail: the very bjjprofessor who posts on this forum is a purple belt under miguel.
Turk???? Yeah I know BJJ prof. (Brendan) trains there. And believe me, what I said about higher belts looking like WTF, Brendan was there, and it sure wasn't him. Thanks rebel for your opinion.
as a no nothing white belt, u will benefit at any gym u start at. in this instance, the benefit of having a bb so close is a great start.
get a good grounding there, keep at it for a good 12 months. hopefully earn a blue belt.
then u can expand ur horizons and try out the other gym(s)
in ur bjj journey, u will come across many opportunities to train at differnt places. take advantage of them, but try and develop a good relationship at a "home" gym.
If you ever happen to be up near Evanston always feel free to stop by and train any time
Serafin - If you ever happen to be up near Evanston always feel free to stop by and train any time
Thanks, bro.
Here is my opinion for what it is worth. The convenience of 12 minutes will more likely help you to stay with your training then driving an hour would. Having to drive an hour will allow plenty of excuses for not training. Why would you even debate between the two? Why did you settle on Maneco and not look at people like Jay Valko, Pete the Greek, Carlson Jr, the Redzovic's, etc if you were thinking of driving into Chicago?