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Dragon's Den Self Defense Academy
5 ★★★★★ 53 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Katy, Texas
Affiliated academy — reviews and the gym's own info point to a recognized BJJ lineage or affiliation (think Gracie Barra, 10th Planet, Renzo Gracie, Alliance, Atos or Checkmat). If lineage matters to you, ask which affiliation the academy belongs to and under whom the head instructor earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule dragonsdensda.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 281-818-2035
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8 pm |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I did a self defense class with Mark and I enjoyed it , he is very experienced, knowledgeable and you want to be in a class with someone with that caliber .”
“Mark is an amazing instructor with a diverse background in self defense and definitely the type of school for all skill levels .”
Other martial arts here
What members say
“Always a fun class with Professor Mark! He does a great job of making everyone feel welcome, and finds a way to make you laugh and smile even while sweating!”
“I highly recommend Mark as an instructor for all your self-defense classes or education to keep you and your family safe.”
“He does a great job of making everyone feel welcome, and finds a way to make you laugh and smile even while sweating!”
From the reviews
Mark Dong came and taught a self defense class for myself and staff and we had a blastttt! Mark is an amazing instructor. We are definitely going to do a refresher a few times a year.
Mr. Mark Dong is an excellent instructor when it comes to self defense and weapons. He is an expert in a wide range of martial arts and demonstrates proficient knowledge on pretty much every weapon you can think of.
Always a fun class with Professor Mark! He does a great job of making everyone feel welcome, and finds a way to make you laugh and smile even while sweating!
I took an LTC class with Mark. It was a small group which made it easy to interact and ask questions. Mark used practical examples and a common sense approach to illustrate potential decision making scenarios.
New to BJJ? Start at Dragon's Den Self Defense Academy
Dragon's Den Self Defense Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at Dragon's Den Self Defense Academy
Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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