Empowering the Next Generation: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kali at Budo Accelerator's Latest Workshop

This February, Budo Accelerator, in partnership with Simon Scholars, took another step towards nurturing tomorrow's leaders through the transformative power of martial arts. Building on the success of our previous collaborations, we hosted over 180 high school students for a day of learning, growth, and empowerment.

Our recent full-day intensive was held with the aim of diving deeper into the realms of resilience, adaptability, and courage. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, under the expert guidance of Jay Zaballos from the Jean Jacques Machado Academy, offered students a hands-on experience in facing and overcoming challenges, and seeing the growth that can come through challenge and adversity.

The Kali sessions, led by Mark Cheng, a certified instructor under the legendary Dan Inosanto (Bruce Lee's best friend and one of his top students) introduced the traditions of Filipino martial arts. Students learned the value of teamwork, adaptability, and how to bounce back from failure or missteps.

The day wasn’t just about martial arts; it was an exploration of self-discovery, pushing boundaries, and embracing the potential within each student to lead and inspire. As we look back on a day filled with learning and insight, we’re reminded of transformative power of the martial arts.

We are immensely grateful to our instructors, our partners at Simon Scholars, and, most importantly, the students, whose eagerness to learn and grow continues to inspire our mission. As we look forward to our next event, we are excited about the endless possibilities that lie in the intersection of martial arts and leadership development. We’re not just learning martial arts; we are creating a legacy of leadership, community, and opportunity that will resonate for generations to come.