Connection Rio Jiu-Jitsu Academy

My 8 year old son and his best friend have been coming here for a few months now. As a father, I'm extremely impressed with the family feel and the way in which the instructors work with the young kids. They not only teach BJJ, but they are also making sure the kids have fun and teach them little life lessons, that as a father I appreciate being passed along. If you are a parent looking for a fun and safe environment for your child, look no further. I did a lot of research and am very happy we landed here.

Our Experience at Connection Rio Jiu Jitsu Ever since my daughter began her Jiu Jitsu journey at Connection Rio, I can honestly say this place has been life-changing. Madison started out as a wrestler but also wanted to try Jiu Jitsu, we reached out to connection Rio and was given a free class which was great. Little did we know, the practice days for wrestling and Jiu Jitsu would overlap — so she had to make a tough choice. After that first class, her decision was instant. She looked at me and said, “Dad, I loved Jiu Jitsu. I want to stay.” Since then, her maturity, discipline, confidence, and focus have all grown tremendously — and that’s thanks to the incredible Connection Rio family. From Professor Dennis to all the dedicated, skilled, and patient coaches, they take pride in what they teach and make sure every student truly understands the art of Jiu Jitsu. Watching Madison take ownership of her training and show that level of dedication is something special. Connection Rio isn’t just a gym — it’s a family-oriented, traditional Jiu Jitsu school that genuinely cares. If you’re a parent wondering what to get your kid involved in, I highly recommend Connection Rio. It will positively impact not just your child, but your whole family.

My daughter has been going to this gym for several years now. I would encourage anyone who is looking for an authentic BJJ gym who will teach you everything you need to know and will prepare you for tournaments or just basic self-defense to check this gym out. The owner and instructors are top-tier. We are fortunate to have such a high caliber owner in this area and I highly recommend you take advantage of it. On top of all that knowledge, they are also very friendly and welcoming to all skill levels. I’m so happy a friend of mine suggested this gym because I can’t see my daughter going anywhere else.

Dennis is an absolutely fantastic coach who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in BJJ, MMA, working with both beginners and professional athletes. He's really friendly and will go out of his way to make everybody feel welcome and cultivates an excellent team atmosphere. I would 100% recommend training at this academy.

I do not have vast martial arts experience. I can only speak for the children’s classes. My son attended for 2 1/2 years. His record on SmoothComp is a testament to the Professor’s direct involvement in his training and development. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for he and his clan. We thank you. As for us, our journey carries us onward. Good luck in your future endeavors. Perhaps our paths will bring us together in the future. Until then, we wish you well. Professor Dennis Asche is a bonified living legend. He is listed in the BJJ Hero’s website where he is recognized for a 77 match winning streak! I don’t care who you are, that’s flat bad ass! Many other accolades are listed there as well. I encourage you to check it out for yourselves. You can find it by googling Professor Dennis Asche, or BJJ Hero’s. It is a truly inspirational web page. Most notably though he is known for fighting his way to the “Mecca” of BJJ and spending 12 years with the Royal Family. In 2003 he won a ticket to Rio and trained and fought with the Gracie’s. His dojo is filled with photos of him with legends of the sport. He was awarded his black belt by “Gordo” himself. Truly an impressive resume, inspiring. Connection Rio? Connection Rio Jiu Jitsu Academy (CRA) is definitely not for everybody. If you step out onto the mat, you had better bring your A game. Nothing but tough love. It will harden you, it will hurt you. If you are competition oriented it will definitely prepare you, if you survive without injury. Is it a good place for your children? Well, you’ll have to decide that for yourselves. We wish you well on your journey, our own continues on and we are now practicing Muay Thai and wrestling to broaden our horizons. Peace, pot, and microdot! PS shout out to Mikey, Sam, Tye, Kevin, and Kilee. We’ll never forget. Oh, and who could ever forget John and Max BangSon