Founder story
I started Roll Model Project after watching a kid train hard for months, show real progress, and then just stop showing up — not because he lost interest, but because tuition came due and his family couldn't cover it. That gap between wanting to train and being able to afford it isn't rare. It's the norm for a lot of families in San Diego County.
Bjorn was the first gym that said yes. That partnership, and the work of filing as a 501(c)(3) in San Diego County, turned an idea into something real.
Our goal by the end of next year: 10+ sponsored spots across 10 academies in San Diego County.
Why jiu-jitsu
Jiu-jitsu does not cut anyone. There is no bench and no roster. A kid who shows up gets coached, and the feedback is immediate and honest.
Three nights a week in a good academy replaces unsupervised hours with adults who notice absences, discipline that is earned rather than issued, and peers pulling in the same direction.
The one thing standing between that room and a kid in an underserved San Diego neighborhood is a monthly invoice. So we help cover it — full or partial, whatever it takes to keep the kid on the mat.