Cohen Brothers Judo Club, Vernon Hills

At Cohen Brothers Judo Club, the belts don't come easy. "Unlike many martial arts schools," says Steve Cohen, who founded the school with his late brother Irwin in 1992, "we give our belts based on one thing only: competition!" When the two Olympic judo champions opened shop, they had one goal: share their contagious passion for the sport with novice combatants of all ages. Over the years, however, the school's goals and curricula have expanded. Today, athletes study other disciplines, such as wrestling and jiujitsu, alongside the specialty subject. Instructors also help students develop discipline and self-confidence.