Budo Accelerator

for first-gen college students

Leadership, Community, Opportunity

Develop essential leadership and professional skills, join a community of friends and mentors, and learn awesome martial arts in a non-competitive environment

About the Program

Martial arts and Leadership?

Yes! Budo (a category of martial arts) was developed hundreds of years ago to train leaders and create social mobility. We combine Budo with modern approaches to leadership training to make it more awesome.

Our programs run throughout the academic year and meet once a week for 2 hours.

Open to:

First-gen college students, age 18-25

Full scholarships for accepted students

No martial arts experience required

Program held at Ikazuchi Dojo in Irvine. Need transportation? If you’re within 10 miles of Irvine, we’ve got you covered!

Build Leadership

We use a dojo as a laboratory for life where we can challenge and elevate ourselves and each other. Together, we learn an approach to leadership based on collaboration, respect, and interdependence.

Build Friendships

Make new friends and meet mentors who can provide insight, inspiration, and access to academic and professional opportunities.

Build Your Future

Develop the skills and attributes leading organizations need, build new connections for professional advancement, and practice Budo- not just martial arts, but a way of life that makes you a stronger, happier, and better version of yourself.

  • Diane Vu

    “Budo Accelerator has changed my life. The martial arts-based leadership program is helping me to become the person I know I can be. I feel the change happening and I see it my classmates too, who I can now call my friends.”

  • Carlos Flores

    “This program greatly improved my leadership and communication skills through the art of Aikido. Budo Accelerator is truly the start of an amazing thing.”

  • Joyce Huang

    “Budo Accelerator allowed me to learn more about myself as a person through ways of expressing myself both in the dojo and in real life situations. And through the program, I was able to make so many new friends and connections.”

  • Brianna Baker

    “Budo Accelerator has been a truly transformational experience. This program expertly addresses first-generation specific issues surrounding leadership and confidence through intriguing presentations, thoughtful practice exercises, and innovative connections to the art of aikido that promote discipline, resilience, and adaptability.”

  • Jozylynn Auditor

    Budo Accelerator has allowed me to not only become knowledgeable with the art of aikido, but also has enhanced my leadership skills tremendously. I would recommend anyone to take part in this opportunity and I am glad I was able to experience this class.

Our Impact

92%

of students leave our program with good or great career knowledge and skills.

100%

of students make friends in our programs.

23% vs. 85%

of students who reported good or great knowledge of Public Speaking before vs. after our program.

94%

of students demonstrate gains in creativity and innovation

FAQs

  • Our college programs run throughout the academic year. You can join our programs at the start of any of our fall, winter, and spring sessions.

  • We have multiple programs running at any given time. We will update you on our current schedule after you apply.

  • We have discussions, small group activities, and guest speakers focused on leadership. We also do non-competitive martial arts training that reinforces the leadership concepts we teach, and is just very cool to do.

    You’ll also get a membership to Ikazuchi Dojo where you can practice aikido up to 7 days a week. You can level up your martial arts skills and meet lots of interesting people from all walks of life.

  • We cover topics such as resilience, empathy, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. We teach how to engage with mentors, manage time, regulate stress, navigate conflict, and how to generally be a better human.

    Most importantly, you’ll not only learn the theory, but you’ll get to observe and practice these things in high pressure interactions through martial arts training. (Don’t worry, it will be fun and safe!)

  • The program is open to college students in Orange County, CA.

  • If you don’t have your own transportation but are within10 miles Ikazuchi Dojo, we’ll provide you with an Uber voucher to get back and forth to the dojo.

    If you’re farther away than that but still want to join the program, please apply and tell us the details in the open comments section of the application form.

  • We’d love to chat! Send us an email at hello@budoaccelerator.org and we’d be happy to answer your questions.