Strengthening Ties: Martial Arts as a Catalyst for Social Capital

On Saturday, April 13th, our "Community and Connection" event held simultaneously in Irvine and Redwood City, CA, brought together high school and college students for a day focused on martial arts and building social capital. Guest speaker Hamilton Chu, CEO of Second Dinner, shared insights on how social capital can be used to create opportunity and enrich lives, which was a highlight for many attendees.

The event combined martial arts training with a practical workshop on networking, offering students valuable skills to enhance their personal and professional lives. The workshop was led by Ben Drutman, President of Simon Scholars and the Simon Family Foundation, who has run this successful workshop for over a thousand Scholars in recent years. 

The workshop centered on how to initiate new conversations and cultivate long-term relationships with mentors, professionals, and peers. Ben emphasized the critical role of confident and welcoming body language in networking, which our students excel at due to their martial arts training where they must present openness, calmness, and confidence when coming face-to-face with peers and adults who challenge them physically and mentally.   

As the event wrapped up, participants left with new connections and a greater understanding of how to build and leverage their networks effectively. This event is part of Budo Accelerator’s ongoing effort to provide meaningful educational experiences that extend the critical life skills developed through martial arts into everyday life.