For combat veterans transitioning back to civilian life the gap between military service and everyday society can feel insurmountable. Two advocates from the We Defy Foundation are working to bridge that divide through Brazilian jiu-jitsu offering struggling service members a lifeline when they need it most.
Brian Grant, national ambassador coordinator and Sean Robichaud, Philadelphia coordinator for We Defy Foundation recently discussed how their organization provides combat veterans with long-term support through martial arts training.
Founded in 2015 by triple amputee Joey Bozik and special forces veteran Alan Shebaro the foundation has grown from a simple conversation into a national movement that has awarded 2,000 scholarships to 513 veterans.
“We provide combat veterans coping with military-connected disabilities a long-term means to overcome their challenges through Brazilian jiu-jitsu,” Grant explained.
The program targets veterans with an 80% VA disability rating or higher offering them a full year of training at vetted gyms across all 50 states.
What makes jiu-jitsu particularly effective according to both men is its ability to quiet the mind.
“I’ve never gone into a jiu-jitsu gym and trained hard while someone’s trying to choke me out and thought about my bills,” Grant said, highlighting how the demanding nature of the sport forces practitioners to stay present.
Robichaud highlighted the community aspect as equally important.
“When you go into a jiu-jitsu gym, there’s a veteran community but there’s also a lot of people that aren’t veterans. So you’re forced to interact with normal people,” he said.
This integration helps veterans reconnect with civilian society in a supportive environment.
The foundation operates on an impressive financial model with 82% of donations going directly to scholarships.
“If you can raise 300 bucks, that’s 300 bucks we didn’t have and that’ll pay for someone a couple months of jiu-jitsu,” Grant noted.
The organization’s transparency and efficiency have earned trust within the veteran community.
Both men shared personal experiences with the military’s ongoing struggle with loss of service members to self-harm.
Grant stated plainly: “I’ve had people tell me as they stay on as ambassadors they no longer want to take their lives because they have the community.”
The We Defy model pairs each scholarship recipient with a mentor typically a veteran between blue and brown belt rank who provides guidance and accountability. Veterans train at least twice weekly at approved facilities with the foundation covering tuition costs that average $2,500 annually.
Robichaud described his own transition experience recalling how training at Balance Studios in Philadelphia provided immediate relief on his last day of active duty.
“I was so in my head that whole drive and my friend Dan was like, ‘Can you come on the mat? I need to work on something.’ It was seamless,” he recalled.
The foundation’s largest annual fundraiser takes place at Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City each February raising upward of $70,000 through seminars taught by world-class instructors. Additional events occur nationwide organized by over 500 volunteer ambassadors working with 1,200 vetted gyms.
The foundation continues expanding its reach recently launching the a Series which hosts seminars on decommissioned naval vessels. With partnerships including ADCC and Fuji We Defy maintains visibility within the martial arts community while staying focused on its core mission, giving veterans the tools to rebuild their lives one training session at a time.
