Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Participates in Global Giving Initiative with GiveDirectly

Continuing with its mission to extend the boundaries of martial arts principles, Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Brooklyn Vindyha Yoga recruited staff and students alike to participate in a global giving initiative during the month of July. With contributions flowing to GiveDirectly, whose mission is to send money directly to the extreme poor, the Brooklyn martial arts organization raised donations.

GiveDirectly sends money directly to the extreme poor in Kenya and Uganda. They aim to identify the poorest recipients using objective criteria like housing material. Cash transfers have been shown to reduce poverty and improve lives, and an evaluation of GiveDirectly's own program found large and positive impacts across a wide range of outcomes.

“Our commitment is to expand what it means to be a martial artist,” says Professor Jason Lynch of Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s Myrtle Avenue school. “Developing a global scope to give back is a perfect reflection of this philosophy.”

Chief Instructor Gene Dunn adds, “we chose GiveDirectly because it provides immediate support to people in need. There’s an echo for our students in their mission, since our Jiu-Jitsu and Yoga practices aim to give direct support to students in their lives as well.”

A considerable amount of instruction at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Brooklyn Vindhya Yoga follows a notion to deepen community participation. The schools espouse a collaborative ethic that encourages students

“To be able to serve great neighborhoods like Clinton Hill, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Columbia Heights, Gravesend…it’s a gift. And our work is to improve the quality of life in our local communities and beyond. Connecting with GiveDirectly helps to share this vision with our students,” says Professor James Noto.

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s martial arts method emphasizes the collaborative nature of the dojo. Rather than encouraging competition and antagonism, the organization accentuates the connectivity among participants.

“We share a common goal as students on the mat - a commitment to long-term physical, emotional and mental health,” says Dunn. “Feeling safe and secure is a fundamental human need. For us to now play a role in helping people across the world to reach other fundamental needs, like food and shelter, is a pleasure, an honor and an imperative for a mature martial artist.”