Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in West Haven, CT

“As a woman with no martial arts background, I was very nervous about trying out jiu-jitsu, but it's been about 4 months and coming to Dandelion has been one of the best decisions of my life.”

“Dandelion is a great place for learning Jiu Jitsu! My son has been attending for 3 months now and his strength and skills have improved so much. Coach Pete is very patient with the athletes, assisting with proper form and keeping the kids moving the whole time.”

“James and the other coaches are amazing teachers (as they are professionally trained educators and black belts) and are able to help nervous beginners get comfortable with jui-jitzu or sharpen the skills of an experienced higher belt. The culture is extremely positive and helpful. Everyone in the gym wants to help others succeed. No egos.”

“My daughter just started at Dandelion Jiu-Jitsu. She has truly found a new passion. It is all she talks about. The coach is incredibly hands-on, patient, and truly involved with the kids. … Here, they do wonders with having your child moving and learning new concepts while being engaged for the entire session.”

“Dandelion is perfect. I’m brand new to jiu-jitsu and the trainers breakdown every single movement down step by step. The environment is very beginner friendly, in fact everyone helps everyone grow and develop. I wouldn’t rather train in any other gym!”

“I’ve shared the mats with James Cook, Ed.D for over a decade. … Dandelion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is teaching quality Jiu-Jitsu in a welcoming environment, whether your goal is self-defense, fitness, competition, or personal growth. Whatever your reason for starting, you’re in good hands with James & his coaches.”

“My daughters started jiu-jitsu about a month ago and they absolutely love it. Instructors take their time to teach and explain every move that they’re learning. I love that at the end every kid is to high five every student whether or not they practiced together and say “good job.” This place is amazing. Highly recommend it for kids.”

“An incredible establishment to start, or continue, your jiu jitsu journey. Both James and Gabe are great instructors as well as mentors. The community they have built at Dandelion is second to none, everyone there is very welcoming. … Whether you are looking to train at a fast pace in preparation for competition, or just looking for a new hobby, this is the place for you.”

“I originally came in just to watch and see what the gym was about, but one of the guys encouraged me to actually get involved and start training. That meant a lot to me because it immediately showed me the type of environment this place has. … Everyone was welcoming, encouraging, and willing to help, which made it easy to feel comfortable even as a new guy.”

“I was staying in New Haven for work and came across Dandelion Jiu Jitsu. I was able to drop in for their early morning Gi Jiu Jitsu class that was ran by James. The instruction was fantastic and the rolls that followed were great. The hospitality from the entire crew was awesome from start to finish.”

“I first heard about Dandelion a while back from a friend and my first class I automatically felt welcomed. I have a martial arts background but I have not trained anywhere that feels so family oriented and genuine .”

“I’ve been training for close to 20yrs, and been to a ton of gyms in the military and travels. Popped into this cool dojo on a road trip, knew James a bit, never met Gabe. They were both more than accommodating! … Had a great roll with Gabe. I highly recommend this spot to train all the time or pop in on a whim.”