Martial Arts and Social Impact?

Yes! Budo is a category of martial arts designed not for fighting, but to train leaders and create social mobility. Developed hundreds of years ago, these Budo arts had powerful social impact. Many generations later, that impact has faded.

We combine Budo with modern approaches to leadership, mentoring, and social capital development, creating a powerful formula for economic mobility and wellbeing.

We turn a dojo into a laboratory for life. Students challenge and elevate themselves and each other intellectually, physically, emotionally, and ethically. This approach amplifies students’ ability to put skills into practice in real world high-pressure interactions.

Creating Opportunity and Economic Mobility

Over 90% of our students are, or will be, the first in their families to attend college. They are likely to have a lower-income family, and 33% will leave college without a degree. And those who do obtain their degree, earn 30% less than students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree.

Our programs provide students with the essential skills today’s organizations seek, and build social capital in the Budo community - a diverse, global network that gives students mentorship, exposure to new ideas, cultures, and opportunities. According to Opportunity Insights, the largest predictor of economic mobility is the creation of friendships across socio-economic classes, which our programs facilitate in a unique and powerful way.