This Friday, we’re rolling for a cause.
On Friday, November 13, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, 5 Minds Martial Arts is hosting Roll for Veterans, a Veterans Day open mat fundraiser for the We Defy Foundation. Come train, sweat, and help a combat veteran get on the mats. The suggested donation is $20.
What Is Roll for Veterans?
Every November, the We Defy Foundation runs Veterans Day Ruck & Roll, a nationwide fundraiser hosted by jiu-jitsu gyms and ruck clubs. Ruck clubs throw on a weighted pack and walk. Jiu-jitsu gyms roll. Every event raises money for the same mission.
We’re a jiu-jitsu gym, so we’re keeping it simple: we roll.
There’s no class plan and no curriculum. It’s an open mat, which means you pick your partners, train at your own pace, and roll as many rounds as your cardio allows. White belts, black belts, and everyone in between are welcome.
Why We Defy?
The We Defy Foundation helps combat veterans with military-connected disabilities recover through Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fitness training. They connect veterans with approved training facilities across the country, so a vet carrying invisible or physical wounds has somewhere to go, people to train with, and something to work toward.
Anyone who trains knows why that matters. The mat gives you structure, a community, and a couple of hours where your brain has to focus on one thing. For a lot of veterans, that’s not a hobby, it’s a lifeline.
Veterans Day is Wednesday. We wanted to do something that actually helps, not just post a flag and call it done.
Event Details
- What: Roll for Veterans Open Mat
- When: Friday, November 13, 4:30 to 6:00 PM
- Where: 5 Minds Martial Arts, 8503 Whitesburg Drive, Suite B, Huntsville, AL 35803
- Cost: $20 suggested donation, benefiting the We Defy Foundation
- Who: Open to all academies and skill levels. Members and non-members welcome.
- Bring: Gi, no-gi, or both, water, and a good attitude
How to Donate
You can donate at the door or online at our fundraising page: [donation link coming soon].
Can’t make it Friday? You can still donate. Every dollar goes toward getting a veteran on the mats.
Questions? Call or text us at (256) 503-8312, send us a message on Facebook or Instagram or email at [email protected]