The Legion Project is a non-profit organization whose goal is to use Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a vehicle to deal with some of the negative effects of PTSD, depression, Anxiety, etc. Our organization, with the help of many private BJJ gyms, training centers and academy’s, offers free Jiu Jitsu classes to Veterans (Active/National Guard/Reserve/Retired/Former), Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS, First Responders, etc. For many who are well initiated within the Jiu Jitsu community, it is widely known the very positive spiritual, emotional and psychological benefits that Jiu Jitsu presents. Jiu Jitsu is a very personal experience. Given of course, the obvious benefits such as exercise and self-defense, Jiu Jitsu helps to learn and even re-learn ideas such as trust, temperance, self-discipline, etc., but most of all self-respect. Without self-respect the rest of these ideas can start unraveling, sometimes to the point of no return. Enter The Legion Project. 

With The Legion Project, we truly believe in the mantra “nobody gets left behind.” Our story begins with our founder’s brother. He was a former combat medic who, like many, had trouble dealing with grief of having lost many on the battlefield. Eventually, after enough time, that grief finally caught up with him. And like many who get overwhelmed with that grief, all at once, he attempted suicide by way of medications. He went to his brother’s house and informed him of the decision he made. His brother, my partner, being the martial artist and trainer that he is made a quick decision that ended up saving his life. He took him into his basement where he had mats to roll and kept him rolling all night long until he worked all of those medications out of his system. Then my partner asked him “how could you come here and do this at my house?” His answer, “because it felt safe.” 

We have many Police Officers who work throughout the City of Columbus and Franklin County. During the protests that took place in 2020, many of our Police Officers who attend The Legion Project generally expressed the same sentiment; that had it not been for The Legion Project they would never have left their homes as they felt unwelcome most places they went, even in regular clothing, and nobody knew they were Police Officers. 

We have now been operating since 2018. Since our inception, we have added seven chapters in Franklin County and one in Wythe County, Virginia. We operate out Grove City BJJ in Grove City and have chapters at Ronin Training Center in Grandview Heights, Triumph BJJ in Dublin, Endeavor Defense and Crossfit in Hilliard, Roundtown BJJ in Circleville, Delta Grappling Academy in Heath, Ohio Combat Sports Academy in Reynoldsburg and Wythe County, Virginia. And through the efforts of all of our Chapters and their home training centers, we continue to grow. 

Per our slogan, “Keep Movin Forward!!” Until everybody comes home.