Financing BJJ, and supporting young fighters

Sorry in advance for the long post. I have thought about this for a long time, and have a lot to say about it.

I feel like I have a problem that is shared by many BJJ fighters, and I may have an idea for it. While I am fortunate enough to have a job in this economy, I am in debt, and training alone costs a ton. That doesn't even include: multiple gi's, protective equipment, good gear (ankle wraps, compression shorts, etc.), costs for belt tests, or anything else. God knows how expensive those seminars and master classes can be when an elite fighter comes by. Most importantly, I want to compete, but competitions average around $70, plus gas/airfare and extras (drinks or pedialyte or whatever else).

It is really hard for someone who doesn't win black belt tournaments (and thus can get sponsored) to finance BJJ, and I feel like students should start competing early to begin establishing an "A game" and figure out where we stand skill-wise. MMA and BJJ are rising fast, and the next generation of fighters needs some support to push them to an even higher level. You see young people like those 2 little boys who train with a bunch of pros all day and look like they could take me apart in 10 seconds, or JM or Gabby, and you know there are a ton more future monsters out there that should be getting the chance to compete, but can't.

We need to recognize that the established "best" are aging, and that ADCC 2021 will be full of totally different and much younger names (2009 started to show this w/ guys like Rafael Mendes, and the retirement from competition of a few legends like Saulo Riberio and Leo Vieira). Sadly, most people drawn to fighting are not rich, and often are broke. The grappling community has to help sustain itself, and support it's fighters directly if it wants to continue to stay ahead of the curve, especially in MMA.

On that note, I want to do the following. I want to go to clothing and equipment companies, tournament organizations, MMA companies, groups like NABJJF and IBJJF, etc and ask for support on starting a scholarship program for young BJJ fighters. This would not necessarily be solely for the prodigies ... the criteria would be some mix of passion, financial need / personal situation, and maybe skill some of the time, similar to need-based scholarships at colleges. My first instinct is that we could run an essay contest or something, or maybe ask for essays, a bio, and some grappling vids.

Smaller copmaines could offer the student free gear, or local schools could give free classes with a few private lessons each month. Bigger organizations would hopefully send some $$, knowing that it really doesn't take all that much in the grand scheme of things to cover competition costs for a few students. I would guess that $800-1k plus $300-400 worth of gear (which would cost the company much less to make) could very comfortably support an avid competitor for a year, maybe even two. In other words, 10-20 companies could send small amounts of support and still make a huge difference in the lives of 25 up-and-coming fighters.

Not only would this support the market in which they thrive, but it would also be great, cheap advertising / PR. It makes a great story, especially if one of the students starts tearing up competitions, and a simple patch on their gis could get the name/idea out there quickly. The BJJ world is small, and everyone talks. It's a win-win for everyone involved. So I want to ask a few things to the most open-minded group of fighters in the world. First, what do you think? Second, what changes or additions would you make? Third, what types of groups would be good to approach with this? Finally, if it did take off, would any of the TPJJ schools or gear-makers pitch in? Thanks for reading this short book I seem to have just written, and thanks for your ideas.

Try looking for wrestling clubs or small non profit judo programs in your community. When you are in a financial dry spell you might be able to supplement your training with some of those programs.

Thanks for the advise, I will check them out for myself. However, this is more a general idea that I think should be done for others, not just myself. If I did create a program like this, benefiting myself would probably be a conflict of interest anyway.

Actually, that is proven effective program that we do at or gym. I have gone out and found companies, restaurants, and other businesses to help our "At Risk" programs. We take kids off the streets, teach them what a "Family" really is, and the scholarships, that we have set up, pay for training, and comps. But we require very strict details to be followed.As many of you already know, we lost a good kid a few weeks ago, together with the help of other students, and some of you. We were able to use the funds to help the families out. And we are now building up a scholarship in Manny Tiag Nam Bruce's honor. He love jits, and this is a way to keep his memory alive on our mats. It's all about the Family.....You bleed and sweat with me today, you will be remembered as my brother forever!
Sha'Ag!!
Coringao

I think HDNet did a piece on a MMA gym that took at risk kids and trained them for free. The trade off was that the kids did work around the facility in exchange for free or reduced cost classes. Maybe you could start up an organization that networks interested gyms with facilities that handle these same kids? A middle man of sorts?

Thanks again for the input. Coringao, it's awesome that you are already doing something like this...it's one thing to say that something needs to be done, and quite another to actually take the initiative. BJJ needs more cohesion, and more recognition that we are all on the same team, or even in the same family. Props to you.

What I want to do, as AJ was suggesting, is bring together a list of groups in every category, from gear to training to competitions, to fully sponsor some of these kids. I want to have a strong selection process to pick out the most passionate students out there, and my hope is that, by scaling this up from one gym to a whole program, this can gain momentum, pick up more sponsors, and therefore help more students. Plus, how cool would it be if these kids could get master classes or private lessons from a series of masters, like a mini tour. Imagine getting to say that in 3 months, you trained with a who's who of top instructors such as Eddie, Coringao, Denny, a few Gracie disciples, maybe Marcelo or Ryan Hall or someone...it would be an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. And again, the PR value of something like this (as a reason for the sponsoring companies to get involved) would be off the charts if it was marketed properly.

I feel like getting great instructors to give some of their time would be far easier than getting companies to send money. Do you guys think any companies would even consider this if I formalized everything, or would they laugh me out of the room for asking for free shit?

I think its a great idea, personally i started Jiu Jitsu at 17 and now im 20. Thankfully my mother helped me out allot and we basically have a single united money account with me and her working. Now im training with Saulo and Xande Ribeiro in a great school and im dedicated , having a good learning curve, passion and love for the art while also being freakishly flexible.Many guys competed at my old and new schools while i couldn't really afford it, competing only once, however my fellow Jiu Jitsu brothers would compete and win or place in high level tournaments at my belt level and i would go even with them or actually beat them most of the time( even though competition timing is different then rolling at school those guys would beat most guys in the academy after they won the tourneys besides me) so just being objective it seams i have some talent to consider while i might not be the best... And now im at a crossroads in my life since i have to go to college in spring and choose a career at my age and start making some real money besides working at a local Subway lol to support my family. However non of the career choices seem appealing to me especially with my love for martial arts so a scholarship like the one you mentioned would be a great thing indeed because i have my single, old tattered Gi ready to fall apart and i cant even afford to buy a good condition used one from a friend lol. Realistically, with the elite level of my school and my relative youth of age at the start of my Jiu Jitsu training and my with my passion and love for it i might make a career out of it, however i cannot afford tournaments with prices like 80$ much at all, and thats what makes you recognizable and makes you a career really, even though im quite confident that if i DO compete ill do well and might even be a world champ at mi belt level( I apologize if that is my ego speaking lol) I think to make your idea a reality realistically you must find another person or a few to help with the company recruitment and the pushing of all of the details do get such scholarships, one head is good but two heads are better: ) Great idea and a great post, your concern is well appreciated.

Mr Aces. Great plan. Iv done similar projects myself and it really is worth it, but be aware, how ever much work you think it will be, multiply that by about ten. But like I said, it is worth it.

http://www.blackmatmma.org/

Here you go AJ, I saw it too.

great idea....but like tim said its going to take alot of your time and legwork.