West La Jiu Jitsu

Training at West LA Jiu Jitsu has been an incredible experience. From day one, everyone from the coaches to the students make me feel welcome. The community here is one of the most positive and supportive I’ve ever been part of. Whether you’re completely new to jiu jitsu or have years of experience, people are always willing to help, roll, and share advice without ego. Coach Dennis is an exceptional instructor. He has an amazing ability to break down complex techniques into clear, practical steps, and he pays close attention to every student’s progress. His classes are structured, challenging, and always engaging, with a perfect balance of learning and live training. You can tell he truly cares about helping each person improve. The overall vibe at West LA Jiu Jitsu is what really sets it apart it feels more like a family than a gym. Every class leaves me feeling motivated, challenged, and grateful to be part of such a great group of people.

I’m a 29F, 11 years of Jiu Jitsu experience, and a survivor of DV and SA. I trained for many years at another school and one day realized it was time to leave because the culture didn’t align with my experiences as a survivor. I started my journey to find a new school, but the next place I tried had the same issues. Jiu Jitsu culture can be hard for women, especially when they come to it because of experiences like SA or DV. For a long time, I felt like a nomad trying to find a home until one day I walked into WLJJ. I was determined to find somewhere I could train—walking the path of Jiu Jitsu is my lifetime purpose. I had a lot of anxiety after trying other places and being unsuccessful in finding the culture I was seeking. I’m happy to report I finally found a home in WLJJ: a place that respects women, feels like family, has good coaches, respects if people are sick, welcomes beginners, doesn’t encourage training injured, can joke around but never bullies, and encourages others. Not only do I trust my training partners, but I also trust my coaches. Finding a gym with a really good instructor and great ethics is like finding a needle in a haystack in LA. If you come to WLJJ, you won’t have to worry about any of those cultural issues that haunt some schools. You’ll have a great experience with helpful partners and an instructor who always has his finger on the pulse. Sometimes in BJJ your coach has to know what you can do even when you don’t—and encourage you to think yourself capable. They do that here. Other times, they have to know what you can’t do. As a short person, I’ve found that people don’t always show me moves that work for my body. I’ve had instructors tell me I was doing it incorrectly, only to adjust my body and realize, “Oh, you can’t—you’re too short.” (Many women are around my height of 5'2, so this also translates to “I don’t know how to adjust this move for women.”) That’s a theme I’ve seen often. Head coach Dennis takes a different approach. He asks what we feel and why something isn’t working. He doesn’t dismiss it—he explores it. Once he shrugged and joked, “I don’t think this will be your strongest move, guys,” to me and a fellow shortie. We both laughed in relief. It was refreshing having a coach not try to force Jiu Jitsu as a one-size-fits-all. Afterward, he showed us how to adjust and then switch to a slightly different move. Instead of forcing it, he built our confidence and gave us an alternative. That’s the hallmark of a good coach. Dennis is also encouraging to new students, gives compliments when they’re earned, takes time to listen, and goes out of his way for his students. He attends almost every competition, even if he’s not competing himself—a big green flag in this sport. I’m very protective of women in Jiu Jitsu; I don’t want them to face the same challenges I had to. I have no fear of sending women here. I’d recommend everyone train here, but especially women and children. Women often handle more household duties, so if you’re the mom bringing your child, know that coaches will always take your questions and concerns seriously. Dennis coaches his own son and the kids’ classes and is always available to parents. I’ve had the privilege to train here for a year now, and I can happily say my search ended when I walked through the door. If you’re nearby or share experiences like my own, don’t hesitate to join.

Fun community of jiu jitsu enthusiasts- a lot of families but also produces a lot of competitors. And they are renovating an already large space to accommodate more students.

Our kids started training at West LA Jiu Jitsu in January, and the growth we’ve seen in them has been incredible. They went from having zero knowledge of jiu jitsu to developing real skill, confidence, and passion for the sport. They’re now competing and beg to go train every day! The transformation in their discipline, strength, and self-assurance has been amazing to watch. The classes are challenging yet perfectly tailored to their level, and the coaches are incredibly attentive. We’ve tried a few other gyms and the instruction here is hands down the best. Coach Dennis is inspiring and encouraging. He somehow manages to give each student individual attention, making every class feel like a private lesson. The sense of community is another huge plus — everyone is positive, supportive, and genuinely wants to see each other succeed. Now our whole family trains together. The adult's classes are phenomenal and we have made so many friends. As a woman, I was definitely nervous to try such a hands-on combative sport, but the people here have been so supportive. There is a great community of women that train here daily. I don't know why I sat on the fence for so long. My husband lost 30 pounds in the first few months of training so that was a plus too! West LA Jiu Jitsu has truly become a second home for us. We’re so grateful for this amazing team, and the welcoming, motivating environment they’ve created. If you are looking for a place to learn Jiu Jitsu, (for self-defense, competition training, or just to get in shape), your search stops here.