At Groundwork Foundation, our work begins with one simple belief: access changes everything. We partner directly with local academies, community leaders, schools, and youth organizations to identify underserved children and communities that lack safe spaces, mentorship, and opportunity. From there, we implement our proven three-step model—Mat Time → Mentorship → Opportunity—to create real, lasting change.
We provide consistent training access through academy partnerships and community programs, often funding tuition, uniforms, and equipment so financial hardship never becomes a barrier. Alongside mat time, we build structured mentorship systems, pairing students with positive role models and incorporating life-skills education, leadership development, and academic accountability. As students grow, we expand opportunity through scholarships, competition access, travel support, and vocational pathways tied to jiu-jitsu.
Our programs are delivered through:
- Local academy partnerships
- Community outreach and after-school programs
- Mentorship networks
- Athlete and student scholarships
We remain actively present, not just in training spaces but also at regional and international tournaments, community events, and mission sites worldwide, allowing us to stay connected to the athletes and communities we serve. All support raised goes directly toward scholarships, coaching, travel, mats, gear, and transparent reporting, ensuring every dollar creates measurable impact.
This model has already allowed us to support 90+ youth across the U.S., Mexico, and the Philippines, fund annual tuition in Southern Leyte, donate 120+ gis, collaborate with the Philippines Youth National Team, and launch new international program sites with local government and academy partners.
At every level, our work is hands-on, relational, and built for sustainability—so that what begins on the mat continues to change lives far beyond it.