Rave Reviews From Our Students’ Parents

We moved to the area over the summer and had to leave our previous gym. We were nervous about finding another gym for ourselves and our children. Luckily we found Dragon Gym Mainline! We couldn't ask for better instructors (Tom and Joey are AMAZING), a cleaner gym and an overall wonderful family atmosphere. If you are looking for a place for you (jiu jitsu) or your child (taekwondo and/or jiu jitsu) to get into martial arts I would highly recommend Dragon Gym Mainline. You will not be disappointed.

Tara Bannon

One of the many things that we love about the DG program is that the boys and girls are together. All of the girls who are in with my boys are incredibly strong, intelligent, and capable both on and off the mat. It gives both sides the chance to integrate and appreciate the opposite sex without there ever being mention that they are doing so. Quite often we separate boys and girls not realizing that in doing so we may be implying that one is “better” than the other because of their gender. While on the mat with girls my boys are learning that each person is an individual with their own strengths and weaknesses- not that boys or girls are better just because they are boys or girls. And because of the social environment at DG the kids really recognize that my boys can be great cooks in the kitchen and a girl can rock their favorite video game- the gender stereotypes seem to be left at the door- who could ask for anything more! **Shout out to Hazel who regularly inspires my boys to try there best by constantly driving them with her natural strength and force. Our household is bummed that you are moving and will definitely be keeping in touch!**

Fran Munoz

My daughter started classes two months ago and learning so much. The instructors are dedicated, kind and engaged.  

Tim Thomas

Best instructors out there. Have had my son training at dragon gym for years. Has made a great improvement in him as a person as well as skills

Ed Goodman

From Kia's dad, Steven:  Kia Rowell made his 8th grade presentation on the importance of having a Passion, something that you love to do in your life. He shares his journey with Taekwondo here. He mentions trying TKD several years ago at a different gym, and then shares his DG journey. Thank you Chris Taylor, Lonnie Beck, Somnath Sikdar, Kyle McKee, Joey Losito,  Lindsay Bayne, Evan Wiggins, Pablo Camargo, and Jamila Paksima Rowell and all of the DG families for your incredible support and encouragement along the way! Wishing everyone well at tomorrow's tournament too. Go DG! 

Steven Rowell

"Hi, my name is Laura. My daughter is three years old, and her name is Lydia. She just started the early skills class here at Dragon Gym. And I can not say how wonderful it has been with her, in three short classes she's worked on focus and discipline. She loves coming here and earning her stripes. Every instructor she has had has been so encouraging. And I think especially at three that's so important to get her interested and motivated. She can't wait to get her uniform on. She can't wait to come to class. She already knows most of the instructors by name. And just really enjoys everything. I am a former teacher, and as a former teacher, I can't stress the importance of focus and discipline, the exact things they work on here at Dragon Gym. I think in terms of the lesson plans that really stand out, I really like the attention to detail. Like if instructor asks something and the response is not with 'yes sir', it's making sure that they say 'yes sir', every time. That consistency is so important, in the classroom. And not only my classroom, but in the Dragon Gym classroom. So that's one thing that I've noticed. The other thing I love the way that the instructors speak to the students, it's on their level, and it's with such encouragement. And, you know, such love that they talk to them. There's always high fives and good jobs. Even if they're not the best at the activity, they always make sure that everyone feels like they've done a good job. I have been recommending this program to my friends and my family because I think outside of school, it's really important for students to have, or young kids to have an outlet. And I think that Dragon Gym encourages such a sense of community. I've seen online the congratulations for the black belts, and there was just a barbecue, and summer camp is running right now. And everyone seems to know each other, and just really create a sense of a family community, along with the skills that they encourage, and the disciplines that they're teaching."

Laura W., DG Mom & Former Teacher

Rachel S.: I'm Rachel Suplee, and this is Larry Suplee, and we're parents here at Dragon Gym. And the reason why we got [our son] Will started, almost two years ago, was because he needed a little bit of discipline, to learn more respect, and to work better with other kids his own age. He's an only child, and this was a great opportunity for him to learn how to share and wait patiently and listen, and it's worked wonders for him. He's better in school, he's more respectful to his teachers, his peers, he's learned to help others, he's learned to talk to others, he's learned to really respect the older kids, and he wants to be a Junior Instructor one day, and that's his goal now. Larry S.: Really, one of our favorite things about Dragon Gym really is the structure, and really the instructors really make the program with their patience, tolerance, and really meeting all the kids sort of where they are to help them achieve their goals and really working with small goals to help them achieve and really feel as though they are growing.

Rachel S. & Larry S., DG Parents

I have two boys at DG, currently, [at] Dragon Gym Berwyn. One is seven, one is nine; so they started when they were six and eight. And it started out with my older son who's really gregarious but needs to home it a little bit. He needs a little more focus and a little less pride, and he has found that. He has really become much more humble, not as aggressive. He really sees a whole picture now and I find it, sometimes it's nice, that he can just leave it on the mat. So that's been really great for Luis. But then we also have Hondo who started out at six, really shy. Not anti-social but just shy, quiet. And now, I mean, he puts himself out there like never before and I can see he's actually grown, physically; grown up. He stands taller, he assesses his situation, and he knows he can handle it; whereas before, he was kinda small and meek and timid and now, he's got it and he knows he's got DG behind him. For both boys it's been nice. For me, when it comes down to it, if we have any behavioral issues, anything like that, at school, anywhere else, not even here on the mat, I know I have the support of DG. So if it comes down to it I can say, Luis was rotten to his brother today and the guys will keep an eye on it and kind of see, you know, will kinda keep them separate a little bit, and at the same time not separate them so much that they're making it a vibe. They're kind of gently putting them back together. For me, as mom, that's amazing. And the fact that my two year old can run around here and feel right at home to break down and reassess the waters and everything else, again, as a mom, I always feel welcome here. On my best days, on my worst days, DG has been awesome to us.

Hi everybody, my name is Chris Taylor. I'm from the Dragon Gym. I'm one of the owners. I've been teaching here, and I've been involved with the Dragon Gym, for over 21 years. And in that time, I've seen a lot of things come and go. A few years ago, we were introduced to the Skillz [Age-Specific Martial Arts] Program, and it really took off in our school. We really love a lot of aspects of it. When we decided to start the early program, I didn't see so much viability in that, because of the age of the kids, it's hard to get a lot of results from them. Well, my son, who's four now, started the program. He's been doing it now for three or four months (he started when he was three). In that time, I've seen a surprising level of influence from Lindsay and Joe. Shockingly. He's around the gym all the time, and I'm seeing direct influence from them around the house, you know, he's doing class moves, he's crawling, he's running, he's jumping, he's punching, he knows his blocks. And I'll be honest with you, with all the experience that I've had throughout the years, I'm still quite impressed. If you have a kid that's in the age range, the three to four age range, which is our early program, think about it. It's something that there's a much more tangible result than what even our best marketing team can demonstrate. I'm really impressed with them. So I think that you guys will be impressed as well.

Chris Taylor, DG Owner & Head Instructor

Hi, I'm Stephanie Winegar and our son Mitchell is in the Extreme Class here at DG. He also has started [classes in] the kid's jiu-jitsu program, which he thoroughly loves, and [he's a part of the] junior instructor program, so he has been here several nights a week, some Saturdays, and he loves it. He never complains about coming, he's so excited. It's helped him with his leadership, and his confidence was always there, but it's helped put some things in place. So we really love it here, highly recommend it for everybody. My husband and I did try a kettleball class last night since we're here so much and trying to just get even more involved. We love Dragon Gym and highly recommend it and all the staff.

Stephanie W, DG mom